Democrats have a back-up plan in case the Senate doesn’t convict Trump on impeachment

[mystery-ak]

  Democrats have a back-up plan in case the Senate doesn’t convict Trump on impeachment

By Michael Wilner
February 08, 2021 02:38 PM,

WASHINGTON

House and Senate Democrats may push ahead this week with a censure resolution to bar former President Donald Trump from holding future office over his role in the U.S. Capitol riot, anticipating acquittal in the Senate impeachment trial, several sources familiar with the matter told McClatchy.

The effort to draft the resolution that would invoke a provision of the 14th Amendment began quietly in January and gained momentum over the weekend, as Democratic Sen. Tim Kaine of Virginia and Republican Sen. Susan Collins of Maine gauge whether the measure could attract bipartisan support.

The reception has been lukewarm so far from Democrats, who would prefer to see the former president convicted in the impeachment trial, and from Republicans, who fear political consequences in barring Trump from office.

But a group of Democratic lawmakers may still proceed with the censure resolution this week, hoping to build public support and political momentum for the alternative as the trial proceeds, two sources said.

Some Democratic lawyers warn the strategy could backfire if taken to court and provide Trump with a rallying cry to run again for president in 2024, while others see it as the last, best chance to hold him accountable for attempting to overturn the 2020 presidential results and disrupt Congress’ certification of his loss.

excerpt:

Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz of Florida first raised the idea of a dual-track process that would reserve a second constitutional pathway. Kaine then began exploring the idea on the Senate side.

Their attention has focused on Section 3 of the 14th Amendment, a rarely cited Civil War-era provision which allows Congress to bar individuals from holding office if they have “engaged in insurrection.” A resolution to censure Trump would require a simple majority vote to pass in the House and Senate.

Read more here: https://www.miamiherald.com/news/politics-government/article249077830.html#storylink=cpy

[Wingnut]

Bring it!. 

[PeteS in CA]

That clause of the 14th Amendment refers to a 4-year "incident" in which ~2/3 of a million men were killed and many more were maimed. IMO, trying to get a court to consider a 14th Amendment claim against Trump is likely to result in laughter. And even if it didn't, being in court would result in evidence having to be presented, the very last thing the Dems should want to be required to do.

[sneakypete]

The FACT that the entire Dim leadership is THIS focused on making sure Trump is never allowed to run for office again only highlights how badly we need him to run again. NOBODY else scares them like he does,and THEY think there are good reasons for their fear.

I am inclined to agree with them on this.

Trump 2024!

[Sled Dog]

The FACT that the entire Dim leadership is THIS focused on making sure Trump is never allowed to run for office again only highlights how badly we need him to run again. NOBODY else scares them like he does,and THEY think there are good reasons for their fear.

I am inclined to agree with them on this.

Trump 2024!

Agreed.

The Rodents and the RINOs are both terrified that Trump will win the next election, just like he won in 2020, but this time the people won't accept the steal.

So they have to stop him from being on the ballot any way they can.

Clause 3 of 14th Amendment doesn't apply to the President of the United States today.  He's not a survivor of the Civil War.

[skeeter]

That clause of the 14th Amendment refers to a 4-year "incident" in which ~2/3 of a million men were killed and many more were maimed. IMO, trying to get a court to consider a 14th Amendment claim against Trump is likely to result in laughter. And even if it didn't, being in court would result in evidence having to be presented, the very last thing the Dems should want to be required to do.

The is a lot of stuff going on right now that would’ve been laughed at five years ago. I don’t put anything past the crew running things is DC anymore. They’re holding the entire deck.

[christian]

The Trump haters, Never Trumpers procured their one party nation of America hating, China-Russia loving democrats.  There is no longer anything to bitch about, your livin in their utopia!