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A28 u.s. news
Diahuebs 14 Januari 2021

Trump’s wall of GOP support breaks during impeachment vote

ing political donations to any of new protests planned for
of the 147 Republicans who the coming days.
perpetuated Trump’s false
claims of election fraud by “I call on ALL Americans to
voting to reject Biden’s vic- help ease tensions and calm
tory last week. tempers,” Trump wrote.

The president’s remaining At the same time, a collection
allies warn that Republicans of ambitious Republicans are
who cross him publicly risk a trying to position themselves
conservative backlash in their to run for the White House
next elections. in 2024. They are also con-
tending with Trump’s legacy.
“Public and private polling One of them, Maryland Gov.
shows Republican grass- Larry Hogan, reminded re-
roots voters strongly oppose porters on Tuesday that he’s
impeachment,” said Jason condemned the Trump presi-
Miller, a Trump senior ad- dency from the very begin-
viser. “Any Republican sena- ning.
tor or congressman voting
for impeachment will be held “I’ve been in the same place
accountable in their next pri- I’ve been for the whole four
mary election.” years. A lot of people have
just changed their position,”
It’s unclear whether the cha- Hogan said, while vowing
(AP) – The unbreakable a post-Trump era, there’s still to convict him in the upcom- os in Washington represents not to leave the GOP. “I don’t
wall of Republican support a large bloc that will stand ing Senate trial, which will an existential threat to the want to leave the party and let
that encouraged and enabled with him even after he fueled spill into Biden’s presidency. party, but it almost certainly these people who did a hos-
Donald Trump’s norm-shat- a riot. “While the press has been threatens to undermine the tile takeover four years ago
tering presidency cracked on full of speculation, I have not GOP’s short-term political take over.”
Wednesday. Many House Republicans made a final decision on how goals. History suggests that
downplayed the signifi- I will vote and I intend to Republicans, as the minority Despite Hogan’s confidence,
A group of 10 House Re- cance of the insurrection and listen to the legal arguments party in Washington, should he is far less popular among
publicans joined Democrats Trump’s role, drawing false when they are presented to regain control of the House Trump’s loyal base — a group
to impeach Trump for incit- comparisons between the the Senate,” McConnell said. or Senate in 2022. likely to hold great sway in
ing a deadly riot at the U.S. deadly storming of the Capi- McConnell also called major the selection of the party’s
Capitol last week. The vast tol by a largely white mob and Republican donors this week- Trump made no public ap- next presidential nominee
majority of the GOP stood isolated incidents of looting end to gauge their thinking pearances on Wednesday. — than the likes of Sens. Ted
by Trump. But even some of and violence related to civil about Trump and was ada- But since last week’s deadly Cruz of Texas and Josh Haw-
those who opposed impeach- rights protests last summer. mantly told that Trump had attack, he has publicly and ley of Missouri, two other
ment condemned Trump’s clearly crossed a line. Mc- privately denied any respon- 2024 prospects who voted
behavior and blamed him for “The left in America has in- Connell told them he was sibility for the insurrection. to reject Biden’s victory last
sparking the insurrection. cited far more violence than through with Trump, said During a brief trip to the week, even after the uprising.
the right,” said Rep. Matt the strategist, who demanded U.S.-Mexico border on “Republican leaders do not
“The president bears respon- Gaetz, a Florida Republican anonymity to describe Mc- Tuesday, he offered those know how to move forward,”
sibility for Wednesday’s at- who was among the 197 who Connell’s conversations. who support impeachment Republican pollster Frank
tack on Congress by mob opposed impeachment. The New York Times first an ominous warning: “Be Luntz said. “Everybody’s
rioters,” said House Republi- reported McConnell’s views careful what you wish for.” afraid that Donald Trump
can Leader Kevin McCarthy, Still, the stunning nature of on impeachment on Tuesday. Shortly before the House’s will tell people to come after
R-Calif., while warning that the mob violence shook many A growing collection of cor- final vote, he issued a written them, but they also realize
a second Trump impeach- lawmakers. Rep. Liz Cheney, porations, many of them re- statement calling on his sup- they’re losing the center of
ment would further divide the No. 3 Republican in the liably Republican donors, porters not to engage in any America. They’re trapped.”
America. House, gave rank-and-file have promised to stop send- more violence in the rounds
conservatives the green light
A more consequential vote to abandon Trump in a scath-
awaits later this month in ing statement on the eve of
the Senate, where Trump’s the vote.
party is hardly rallying to his
side. Senate Majority Leader “There has never been a
Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., greater betrayal by a presi-
hasn’t ruled out convicting dent of the United States of
Trump, giving fellow Repub- his office and his oath to the
licans cover if they choose Constitution,” she said.
that option. That step could
ultimately prevent Trump More ominously for Trump,
from holding public office McConnell believes Trump
again. committed impeachable of-
fenses and considers Demo-
It’s a dramatic turn of events crats’ impeachment drive an
for a president who has en- opportunity to reduce the
joyed virtually unyielding divisive, chaotic president’s
loyalty from his party over hold on the GOP, a Repub-
four tumultuous years in of- lican strategist told The As-
fice. But the House impeach- sociated Press on Wednesday.
ment showed how challeng- In a note to his fellow Repub-
ing the coming months will lican senators on Wednesday,
be for the GOP. While some McConnell confirmed that
are clearly eager to move into he had not ruled out voting