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U.S. NEWS Tuesday 26 January 2021

Trump’s sway over GOP tested as impeachment heads to Senate

By MARY CLARE JALONICK did during Trump’s first im-
and LISA MASCARO peachment, potentially af-
Associated Press fecting the gravitas of the
WASHINGTON (AP) — proceedings. The shift is
The impeachment case said to be in keeping with
against Donald Trump is protocol because Trump is
heading toward a historic no longer in office.
Senate trial, but Republi- Instead, Sen. Patrick Leahy,
can senators are easing off D- Vt., who serves in the
their criticism of the former largely ceremonial role of
president and shunning Senate president pro-tem-
calls to convict him over pore, is set to preside.
the deadly riot at the U.S. Leahy told reporters at the
Capitol. Capitol his role will be “mak-
It’s an early sign of Trump’s ing sure that procedures
enduring sway over the are followed,” not present-
party. ing the case. He said he is
House Democrats were to certain that with his many
carry the sole impeach- decades in the Senate he
ment charge of “ incite- is seen by colleagues as an
ment of insurrection “ across impartial arbiter.
the Capitol late Monday, Leaders in both parties
the prosecutors making agreed to a short delay
the ceremonial walk to the In this Jan. 6, 2021, file photo with the White House in the background, President Donald Trump in the proceedings that
Senate. But Republican de- speaks at a rally in Washington. serves their political and
nunciations of Trump have Associated Press practical interests, even as
cooled since the Jan. 6 riot. National Guard troops re-
Instead Republicans are are their voters. Security re- donors who are distancing Senate Majority Leader main at the Capitol amid
presenting a tangle of le- mains tight at the Capitol. themselves from Trump and Chuck Schumer said Re- security threats on lawmak-
gal arguments against the “I think the trial is stupid, I voters who demand loyalty publicans appear more ers ahead of the trial.
legitimacy of the trial and think it’s counterproduc- to him. One Republican, eager to argue over trial The start date gives Trump’s
questions whether Trump’s tive,” said Sen. Marco Ru- Sen. Rob Portman of Ohio, process than the substance new legal team time to
repeated demands to bio, R-Fla.. He said that “the announced Monday he of the impeachment case prepare its case, while
overturn Joe Biden’s elec- first chance I get to vote to would not seek reelection against Trump, perhaps to also providing more than
tion really amounted to in- end this trial, I’ll do it” be- in 2022 citing the polarized avoid casting judgment on a month’s distance from
citement. cause he believes it would political atmosphere. the former president’s “role the passions of the bloody
What seemed for some be bad for the country and For Democrats the tone, in fomenting the despica- riot. For the Democratic-
Democrats like an open- further inflame partisan divi- tenor and length of the ble attack” on the Capitol. led Senate, the intervening
shut case that played out sions. upcoming trial, so early in He said there’s only one weeks provide prime time
for the world on live televi- Arguments in the Senate Biden’s presidency, poses question “senators of both to confirm some of Biden’s
sion, as Trump encouraged trial will begin the week its own challenge, forcing parties will have to answer key Cabinet nominees.
a rally mob to “fight like of Feb. 8, and the case them to strike a balance before God and their own Sen. Chris Coons, D-Del.,
hell” for his presidency, is against Trump, the first for- between their vow to hold conscience: Is former Presi- questioned how his col-
running into a Republican mer president to face im- Trump accountable and dent Trump guilty of inciting leagues who were in the
Party that feels very differ- peachment trial, will test their eagerness to deliver an insurrection against the Capitol that day could see
ently. Not only are there a political party still sorting on the new administration’s United States?” the insurrection as anything
legal concerns, but sena- itself out for the post-Trump priorities following their On Monday, it was learned other than a “stunning vio-
tors are wary of crossing era. Republican senators sweep of control of the that Chief Justice John lation” of the nation’s his-
the former president and are balancing the de- House, Senate and White Roberts is not expected to tory of peaceful transfers of
his legions of followers who mands of deep-pocketed House. preside at the trial, as he power. q

Watchdog probes if DOJ officials tried to overturn election

By MICHAEL BALSAMO ment officials but will not ed the inspector general
Associated Press extend to other govern- launch a probe “into this
WASHINGTON (AP) — The ment officials. The Justice attempted sedition.” The
Justice Department’s in- Department watchdog in- watchdog’s probe is part
spector general is launch- vestigation follows a report of a growing number of ef-
ing an investigation to ex- in The New York Times that forts underway to investi-
amine whether any former a former assistant attorney gate the attempts by Trump
or current department of- general, Jeffrey Clark, had and his allies to subvert the
ficials “engaged in an im- been discussing a plan election results. The moves
proper attempt” to over- with then-President Donald culminated in a deadly
turn the results of the 2020 Trump to oust the acting at- Jan. 6 riot at the U.S. Capi-
presidential election. torney general and try to tol and a second impeach-
Inspector General Michael challenge the results of the ment of Trump, this time for
Horowitz said Monday that 2020 race by falsely say- inciting an insurrection. Also In this Dec. 18, 2019, file photo, Department of Justice Inspector
the investigation will inves- ing there had been wide- on Monday, the voting ma- General Michael Horowitz testifies on Capitol Hill in Washington.
tigate allegations concern- spread election fraud. chine company Dominion Associated Press
ing the conduct of former Senate Majority Leader Systems filed a defamation al attorney Rudy Giuliani for about widespread voting
and current Justice Depart- Chuck Schumer demand- suit against Trump’s person- his repeatedly false claims fraud in the election.q