Donald Trump is spiraling out of control
President Donald J. Trump, IMPOTUS the Third, retweeted a tweet that contained the identity of the alleged whistleblower. His supporters and the feckless GOP celebrated his being different and his tough guy status. David Frum, no liberal by any means, posted his Atlantic article about Trump and his illegal conduct, “A Gangster in the White House.” Frum wrote that Trump once again ignored his legal advisors’ counsel, and that what he calls “counter-punching” is instead retaliation, writing:
In the meantime, though, the country is left once again with the problem of a president who refuses to obey the law. Trump is organizing from the White House a conspiracy to revenge himself on the person who first alerted the country that Trump was extorting Ukraine to help his reelection: more lawbreaking to punish the revelation of past lawbreaking. Impeaching a president whose party holds a majority in the Senate obviously presents many grave practical difficulties. But Trump’s post-Christmas mania confirms House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s prediction that Trump would impeach himself.
In recent days, much has been written about President Richard M. Nixon and his decision to resign rather than face the possibility of formal impeachment by the House and conviction by the Senate. In this instance, we know that there are not enough Republican Senators to convict Trump, let alone demand that the trial of Trump be anything more than a sham.
But the real danger for this nation and the rule of law and norms that have been in place for more than 230 years is that this president, as demonstrated by his actions over the weekend, will not tame his criminal impulses, but will behave more and more like a man who knows there are no consequences for anything he does. Conspiring with Russia, emoluments violations, paying off witnesses with campaign money, are all part of his daily behavior and conduct. Trump knows that the GOP is not only feckless, but codependents in his dismantling of the republic. Frum is right – we have a gangster in the White House.
Daniel is a lawyer writing and teaching about SCOTUS, and is the author of the book “The Chief Justices” about the SCOTUS as seen through the center seat.