TRUMP TRIBUNAL

 

Sunday, February 7, 2021

THE TRUMP TRIBUNAL

FACTS & OPINIONS

These are some of publicly available knowable facts regarding the second Impeachment Trial of Donald John Trump now scheduled to begin in coming week:

• On January 6, 2021 there was a riot at United States Capital involving extensive physical damage to the building and death threats against members of Congress, Speaker of the House, and Vice-President of the United States. Those threats made more ominous by the bringing to scene of a custom built gallows. Because people died in commission of felony(s), under law as commonly practiced in the United States participants in and instigators of the riot could be culpable for five counts of felony murder.

• In the sixty-days preceding this riot Trump is known to have used his Twitter access and public utterances to encourage and enable supporters to gather on this specific date to ‘take back our country’ and to ‘stop the steal’ of the 2020 election. It should be here noted the Supreme Court has adjudged Tweets by a President are official statements of his government and can be so relied upon.

• Immediately prior to riot Trump and others gave speeches which might have been interpreted as license to do ‘what was necessary’. People involved in pro-Trump demonstrations had reasonable basis to believe Trump had ‘apparent authority’ to give permission to enter Capital and ‘stop the steal’ in the form of stopping Constitutionally required count of Electoral votes. According to legal experts the First Amendment does not provide ‘free speech’ protection for “Imminent lawless actions” (Schenck v. United States, 1919).

• There are reliable reports indicating some degree of organization was involved, although there is no public direct evidence any party who may have been involved had ‘command and control’ of events as they ultimately transpired. Of the some 200 who have been identified and/or charged, all have indicated allegiance to Trump. [NOTE: Solely in this writer’s understanding, given known facts of riot, motivations of participants are irrelevant.]

• Impeachment by Democrat controlled House of Representatives was rushed through for reasons involving time constraints, immediate desire of vengeance for trauma inflicted, personal animus, and political motivations.

The above, combined with many years of observation of the human condition, lead this writer to propose result of this Impeachment Trial -- lacking a moment of ‘profiles in courage’-- will differ little from result of the first trial. History indicates both Parties will sacrifice duty, honor, country for sake of a political solution. A solution which, in their individual estimations, will most likely assure their own power, privilege, and profit.

Welcome to America 2021