Things just keep getting uglier for Donald Trump
Donald J. Trump, IMPOTUS the Third, is still awaiting the transfer of the articles of impeachment from the House to the Senate for his trial. While some have questioned the wisdom of Speaker Nancy Pelosi in holding back the articles, it appears more are coming around to agreeing with the approach. For example, Tom Nichols, @radiofreetom, tweeted over the weekend: “I argued with @JRubinBlogger and others that Pelosi shouldn’t hold up the impeachment articles for very long, if at all. I didn’t think it would matter. This makes clear that I was wrong and Pelosi and everyone else was right.”
That tweet was in response to the New York Times timeline of the Ukraine matter, including evidence that Pompeo, Bolton and Esper met with IMPOTUS trying to convince him to release the aid to Ukraine, but were rebuffed. Now comes word that Mick Mulvaney is riding the “IMPOTUS bus” and appears ready to throw IMPOTUS under said bus. It appears Mulvaney, acting chief of staff, is now acting bus driver. In the same piece, there is a statement about Mulvaney and his efforts to distance himself from the scandal. The New York Times story discloses:
“Mr. Mulvaney is said by associates to have stepped out of the room whenever Mr. Trump would talk with [Rudy] Giuliani to preserve Mr. Trump’s attorney-client privilege, leaving him with limited knowledge about their efforts regarding Ukraine. Mr. Mulvaney has told associates he learned of the substance of Mr. Trump’s July 25 call weeks after the fact.”
The reality is that Trump is so adamant about no real Senate trial, something Pelosi is pressing for, because none of his “perfect witnesses” can describe a “perfect call” or fact pattern that exonerates IMPOTUS. As for Mulvaney, you might recall he also came out and at a press conference stated that this is normal behavior and done all the time by presidents. So, Mulvaney must carefully drive that bus so he does not throw himself under while avoiding exposure for his involvement in the matter. IMPOTUS should be nervous about the acting bus driver, and who might be next driving the bus off the cliff.
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.