theguardian--2020-02-05--Donald Trump acquitted on both articles in Senate impeachment trial

Donald Trump has been acquitted in his Senate trial on both of the articles of impeachment he faced , ending the threat that he would be removed from office and concluding the impeachment process .
Voting largely along party lines , the senators found Trump not guilty of the first article of impeachment , abuse of power , by a 52-48 tally , and not guilty of the second article of impeachment , obstruction of Congress , by a 53-47 tally .
Trump became the third president in US history to be impeached by the House of Representatives but acquitted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ majority of 67 senators would have been required to remove him .
As the historic vote landed , Democrats protested Trump had not won a true acquittal because , in the words of Senator Chris Murphy of Connecticut , the trial was “ a show trial ” .
The acquittal votes came after the chamber ’ s Republican majority defeated an effort to call witnesses at the trial who could have testified directly to Trump ’ s alleged misconduct .
Republican Mitt Romney of Utah was the only Republican to vote in favor @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the only senator in history to vote to remove a president from his own party in an impeachment trial .
Romney voted “ guilty ” on article 1 , for abuse of power , and “ not guilty ” on article 2 , for obstruction of Congress .
“ I support a great deal of what the president has done , ” Romney said on the Senate floor .
“ But my promise before God to apply impartial justice required that I put my personal feelings and political biases aside .
“ The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of public trust ... Corrupting an election to keep oneself in office is perhaps the most abusive and destructive violation of one ’ s oath of office that I can imagine.
” Chief Justice John Roberts , who presided at the two-week trial , thanked the senators for their patience “ as I attempted to carry out ill-defined responsibilities in an unfamiliar setting ” .
“ You have been generous hosts , and I look forward to seeing you again under happier circumstances , ” Roberts said as the trial concluded .
Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a White House meeting for Ukraine on the announcement of a pair of investigations : one into his potential rival for the White House in the 2020 election , Joe Biden , and son Hunter Biden ; and a second into a conspiracy theory that Ukraine , instead of Russia , was behind foreign tampering in the 2016 US election .
Democrats launched a formal impeachment inquiry in September , a month after an anonymous whistleblower filed a complaint accusing Trump of soliciting foreign interference in the upcoming 2020 election .
A day @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the White House released a partial transcript of a 25 July call between Trump and the Ukranian president , Volodymyr Zelenskiy , in which Trump told Zelenskiy “ the United States has been very , very good to Ukraine ” and then asked for a “ favor ” .
Two months of fact-finding and closed-door depositions were followed by public hearings in December in which multiple White House officials and federal employees defied Trump to testify before Congress .
One witness , former national security council ( NSC ) official Fiona Hill , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ out Trump ’ s Ukraine scheme were “ being involved in a domestic political errand .
And we [ at NSC ] were being involved in national security foreign policy , and those two things had just diverged ” .
Trump was impeached on 18 December 2019 .
In the Senate trial that followed , Republicans argued Trump ’ s removal would rob a decision from American voters of whether to return Trump to office in the November election .
“ Our founding documents provide for duly elected presidents who serve with ‘ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not at the pleasure of the United States Congress , ” said retiring Republican Lamar Alexander of Tennessee , once thought to be a potential defector .
“ Let the people decide.
” But Democrats rejected the Republican defenses , arguing that , if left in office , Trump would continue to try to find a way to tamper in the 2020 election .
“ When the framers wrote the constitution , they didn ’ t think someone like me would serve as a United States senator , ” said Democrat Kamala Harris @ @ @ @ @ @ @ senator of Indian or Jamaican ancestry .
“ But they did envision someone like Donald Trump being president of the United States .
Someone who thinks he is above the law and that rules don ’ t apply to him .
So they made sure our democracy had the tool of impeachment to stop that kind of abuse of power.
” As impeachment wound down , Trump was enjoying a streak of developments welcomed by the White House , from a Gallup poll this week pegging Trump ’ s approval rating at a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the reporting in Monday ’ s Iowa caucuses , muddling the opposition race .
Democratic senators held ranks in opposing Trump , however .
Doug Jones of Alabama , who faces a difficult election in November in a heavily pro-Trump state , declared on the senate floor on Wednesday morning that he would vote to convict on both articles of impeachment .
“ I can not and will not shrink from my duty to defend the constitution and to do impartial justice , ” Jones said .
“ These actions were more than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of power.
” In speeches on the Senate floor on Wednesday , Democrat after Democrat portrayed the imminent acquittal not as a vindication for Trump , but as a condemnation for the Senate .
“ This is not an exoneration of Donald Trump , ” said Democrat Tammy Baldwin of Wisconsin .
“ It is a failure to show moral courage and hold this president accountable .
”

Donald Trump has been acquitted in his Senate trial on both of the articles of impeachment he faced, ending the threat that he would be removed from office and concluding the impeachment process.
Voting largely along party lines, the senators found Trump not guilty of the first article of impeachment, abuse of power, by a 52-48 tally, and not guilty of the second article of impeachment, obstruction of Congress, by a 53-47 tally.
Trump became the third president in US history to be impeached by the House of Representatives but acquitted in a Senate trial. A two-thirds majority of 67 senators would have been required to remove him.
As the historic vote landed, Democrats protested that Trump had not won a true acquittal because, in the words of Senator Chris Murphy of Connecticut, the trial was “a show trial”. The acquittal votes came after the chamber’s Republican majority defeated an effort to call witnesses at the trial who could have testified directly to Trump’s alleged misconduct.
Mitt Romney was the only Republican to vote in favor of convicting Trump – and he became the only senator in history to vote to remove a president from his own party in an impeachment trial. Romney voted “guilty” on article 1, for abuse of power, and “not guilty” on article 2, for obstruction of Congress.
“I support a great deal of what the president has done,” Romney said on the Senate floor. “But my promise before God to apply impartial justice required that I put my personal feelings and political biases aside.
“The president is guilty of a flagrant abuse of public trust. Corrupting an election to keep oneself in office is perhaps the most abusive and destructive violation of one’s oath of office that I can imagine.”
01:55 'The president is guilty': Romney votes to convict Trump – video
Chief Justice John Roberts, who presided at the two-week trial, thanked the senators for their patience “as I attempted to carry out ill-defined responsibilities in an unfamiliar setting”.
“You have been generous hosts, and I look forward to seeing you again under happier circumstances,” Roberts said as the trial concluded.
Trump was impeached for conditioning military aid and a White House meeting for Ukraine on the announcement of a pair of investigations: one into his potential rival for the White House in the 2020 election, Joe Biden, and son Hunter; and a second into a conspiracy theory that Ukraine, instead of Russia, was behind foreign tampering in the 2016 US election.
Democrats launched a formal impeachment inquiry in September, a month after an anonymous whistleblower filed a complaint accusing Trump of soliciting foreign interference in the upcoming 2020 election.
A day after the impeachment inquiry was formalized, the White House released a partial transcript of a 25 July call between Trump and the Ukranian president, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, in which Trump told Zelenskiy “the United States has been very, very good to Ukraine” and then asked for a “favor”.
Two months of fact-finding and closed-door depositions were followed by public hearings in December in which multiple White House officials and federal employees defied Trump to testify before Congress.
One witness, former national security council (NSC) official Fiona Hill, testified during public hearings that officials carrying out Trump’s Ukraine scheme were “being involved in a domestic political errand. And we [at NSC] were being involved in national security foreign policy, and those two things had just diverged”.
Trump was impeached on 18 December 2019. In the Senate trial that followed, Republicans argued Trump’s removal would rob a decision from American voters of whether to return Trump to office in the November election.
“Our founding documents provide for duly elected presidents who serve with ‘the consent of the governed’, not at the pleasure of the United States Congress,” said retiring Republican Lamar Alexander of Tennessee, once thought to be a potential defector. “Let the people decide.”
But Democrats rejected the Republican defenses, arguing that, if left in office, Trump would continue to try to find a way to tamper in the 2020 election.
“When the framers wrote the constitution, they didn’t think someone like me would serve as a United States senator,” said Democrat Kamala Harris of California, who is the first senator of Indian or Jamaican ancestry.
“But they did envision someone like Donald Trump being president of the United States. Someone who thinks he is above the law and that rules don’t apply to him. So they made sure our democracy had the tool of impeachment to stop that kind of abuse of power.”
As impeachment wound down, Trump was enjoying a streak of developments welcomed by the White House, from a Gallup poll this week pegging Trump’s approval rating at a personal-best 49% to a malfunction in the reporting in Monday’s Iowa caucuses, muddling the opposition race.
Democratic senators held ranks in opposing Trump, however. Doug Jones of Alabama, who faces a difficult election in November in a heavily pro-Trump state, declared on the senate floor on Wednesday morning that he would vote to convict on both articles of impeachment.
“I cannot and will not shrink from my duty to defend the constitution and to do impartial justice,” Jones said. “These actions were more than simply inappropriate, they were an abuse of power.”
In speeches on the Senate floor on Wednesday, Democrat after Democrat portrayed the imminent acquittal not as a vindication for Trump, but as a condemnation for the Senate.
“This is not an exoneration of Donald Trump,” said Tammy Baldwin of Wisconsin. “It is a failure to show moral courage and hold this president accountable.”


theguardian--2020-02-05--Democrats scramble to compete with each other – and Trump – after Iowa

Tired and bickering Democratic candidates frantically crisscrossed New Hampshire on Wednesday morning as they tried to regain their footing after the breakdown of the Iowa caucuses voting process threw the 2020 US election into chaos earlier in the week .
On the day that a buoyant Donald Trump went from a triumphalist State of the Union address to expecting acquittal in the final vote of his impeachment trial in Washington , Democrats scrambled to appear competitive both with Trump and with each other on a tense campaign trail .
Joe Biden , speaking at a crowded church event on a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Wednesday morning , was noticeably down – but insisted he was far from out after a disappointing showing in the results that have trickled in from Iowa so far .
“ I ’ m not going to sugarcoat it .
We took a gut punch in Iowa , ” he told the crowd .
“ The whole process took a gut punch , ” he added .
Those comments reflect the view among Democrats that the Iowa caucuses left the Democratic primary field in disarray and that Biden lost significant ground against his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vote collection process collapsed on Monday night .
Biden said : “ You know , 24 hours later we ’ re still trying to figure out what happened .
At this rate New Hampshire might get the first vote after all.
” The New Hampshire primary is next Tuesday .
Biden has been placed a disappointing fourth so far in Iowa , behind the leading Pete Buttigieg , Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren , despite being the frontrunner in national polls .
“ This isn ’ t the first time in my life @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Biden said , adding : “ I ’ m not going anywhere.
” The former vice-president in Barack Obama ’ s administration is sticking with his overall viability , or electability , as his rationale for voters to pick him over other more adventurous choices .
He told voters to ask themselves : “ ‘ Can the person I ’ m voting for beat Donald Trump ?
’ I believe I can.
” Meanwhile , Buttigieg was taking every opportunity on Tuesday and Wednesday to proclaim victory in Iowa and leverage his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Hampshire , which holds the first primary vote in the nation next Tuesday , followed by contests in Nevada and South Carolina later this month .
The official overall winner of the Iowa caucuses , held on Monday , still had not been declared on Wednesday morning , after the breakdown of a new data collection app threw the contest into utter chaos .
Party organizers had to rely on an overwhelmed phone system and paper votes in the end , and with between 60 % and 70 % of voting precincts ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the 38-year-old former mayor of South Bend , Indiana , remained slightly ahead of Vermont senator Sanders .
Later on Wednesday morning , sitting US senators Sanders , Warren and Amy Klobuchar again had to interrupt their races to fly back to Washington for the final impeachment vote on Trump .
The president was expected to be acquitted by a loyal Republican majority in the Senate later on Wednesday , not thrown out of office as Democrats strived to do by impeaching him on charges that he abused his office by pressuring @ @ @ @ @ @ @ holding back US military aid for leverage .
Despite having been impeached , Trump has been gleeful about the mess in Iowa as he seeks to ride the strong economy and an enthusiastic conservative base to re-election .
The Democratic candidates will rush back to the campaign trail shortly after the impeachment vote , with no time to lose and the New Hampshire primary taking on increased significance in the wake of the Iowa confusion .
In the lead-up to the Iowa caucuses , polling had showed Sanders with a significant lead over @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the top .
The belated results proved disappointing for both .
Warren , who has been struggling to recapture the traction she was building during a surge last year , held an event in New Hampshire at the same time as Biden on Wednesday morning before heading to Washington .
With the three leading men on an attention-grabbing seesaw of good and bad news , Warren ’ s position of being solidly in the middle of the field coming out of Iowa brings the growing risk of invisibility .
Accompanied to New Hampshire @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Tuesday , Buttigieg was both emotional and ebullient as he acknowledged leading the field in Iowa .
But he admitted his campaign ’ s weakness when asked how he would win over reluctant African American voters – a persistent question for his candidacy , saying he “ had a lot of work to do ” in states such as South Carolina .
“ And the process of proving that begins here in New Hampshire as we make our way on to states like Nevada , South Carolina and the Super Tuesday states as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ support , ” he said .
Sanders , with his wife , Jane , out on the campaign trail , too , has been making overt efforts to court the large number of Latino voters in Nevada .
And with Biden overwhelmingly the favorite with the majority African American Democratic party electorate in South Carolina , Buttigieg could be in danger of peaking too soon .
On Wednesday , Biden attacked both Sanders , a self-declared socialist , and the more moderate Buttigieg , an openly gay military veteran .
“ I have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ service to this nation but I do believe it ’ s a risk , to be just straight up with you , for this party to nominate someone who ’ s never held office higher than mayor of a town of 100,000 people.
” Biden warned that Democrats on all levels would face a tougher election in November if Sanders got the party nomination to fight for the White House .
Alluding to Sanders ’ s longtime identification as a democratic socialist , Biden warned every Democrat “ will have to carry the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Attendees at the Biden event were a mix of curious voters and hardcore committed Biden supporters .
Jess Knowles , 25 , came because he was curious about the former vice-president but also worried how he would fair against Trump in the general election .
“ If he stumbles over words or seems a little foggy , that won ’ t end well .
So I ’ m here to see how he is on the stump , ” Knowles said .
Thomas Young , a firm Biden supporter , said the still-developing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ I don ’ t see that as indicative as everybody else does .
I don ’ t see that as ‘ OK , Pete Buttigieg is going to win ’ , ” he said .
Paul Turner , an undecided Democrat at the event , said : “ I ’ m looking for Biden to rebound – I ’ m for looking for more excitement , more energy from him , to get more of the youthful vote .
If you look at the numbers , my demographic in the 40s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I think .
In this area in particular it ’ s very important for Biden to make a strong appeal and I don ’ t know what it ’ s going to take for that .
I ’ m kind of waiting for him .
”

Daniel Strauss in Somersworth, New Hampshire, and Joanna Walters in New York

Tired and bickering Democratic candidates frantically crisscrossed New Hampshire on Wednesday morning as they tried to regain their footing after the breakdown of the Iowa caucuses voting process threw the 2020 US election into chaos earlier in the week.
On the day that a buoyant Donald Trump went from a triumphalist State of the Union address to expecting acquittal in the final vote of his impeachment trial in Washington, Democrats scrambled to appear competitive both with Trump and with each other on a tense campaign trail.
Joe Biden, speaking at a crowded church event on a crisp sunny day in New Hampshire on Wednesday morning, was noticeably down – but insisted he was far from out after a disappointing showing in the results that have trickled in from Iowa so far.
“I’m not going to sugarcoat it. We took a gut punch in Iowa,” he told the crowd.
“The whole process took a gut punch,” he added.
Those comments reflect the view among Democrats that the Iowa caucuses left the Democratic primary field in disarray and that Biden lost significant ground against his chief rivals in the state after the vote collection process collapsed on Monday night.
Biden said: “You know, 24 hours later we’re still trying to figure out what happened. At this rate New Hampshire might get the first vote after all.” The New Hampshire primary is next Tuesday.
Biden has been placed a disappointing fourth so far in Iowa, behind the leading Pete Buttigieg, Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren, despite being the frontrunner in national polls.
“This isn’t the first time in my life I’ve gotten knocked down,” Biden said, adding: “I’m not going anywhere.”
The former vice-president in Barack Obama’s administration is sticking with his overall viability, or electability, as his rationale for voters to pick him over other more adventurous choices. He told voters to ask themselves: “‘Can the person I’m voting for beat Donald Trump?’ I believe I can.”
Meanwhile, Buttigieg was taking every opportunity on Tuesday and Wednesday to proclaim victory in Iowa and leverage his surge to try to win in New Hampshire, which holds the first primary vote in the nation next Tuesday, followed by contests in Nevada and South Carolina later this month.
The official overall winner of the Iowa caucuses, held on Monday, still had not been declared on Wednesday morning, after the breakdown of a new data collection app threw the contest into utter chaos.
Party organizers had to rely on an overwhelmed phone system and paper votes in the end, and with between 60% and 70% of voting precincts’ results made known by Wednesday, Buttigieg, the 38-year-old former mayor of South Bend, Indiana, remained slightly ahead of Vermont senator Sanders.
Later on Wednesday morning, sitting US senators Sanders, Warren and Amy Klobuchar again had to interrupt their races to fly back to Washington for the final impeachment vote on Trump.
The president was expected to be acquitted by a loyal Republican majority in the Senate later on Wednesday, not thrown out of office as Democrats strived to do by impeaching him on charges that he abused his office by pressuring the Ukrainian government to investigate Biden while holding back US military aid for leverage.
Despite having been impeached, Trump has been gleeful about the mess in Iowa as he seeks to ride the strong economy and an enthusiastic conservative base to re-election.
Elizabeth Warren campaigns in Nashua, New Hampshire, on 5 February. Photograph: Cj Gunther/EPA
The Democratic candidates will rush back to the campaign trail shortly after the impeachment vote, with no time to lose and the New Hampshire primary taking on increased significance in the wake of the Iowa confusion.
In the lead-up to the Iowa caucuses, polling had showed Sanders with a significant lead over his rivals and Biden also jostling near the top. The belated results proved disappointing for both.
Warren, who has been struggling to recapture the traction she was building during a surge last year, held an event in New Hampshire at the same time as Biden on Wednesday morning before heading to Washington. With the three leading men on an attention-grabbing seesaw of good and bad news, Warren’s position of being solidly in the middle of the field coming out of Iowa brings the growing risk of invisibility.
Accompanied to New Hampshire by his husband, Chasten, on Tuesday, Buttigieg was both emotional and ebullient as he acknowledged leading the field in Iowa.
Pete Buttigieg speaks in Hampton, New Hampshire, on 4 February. Photograph: Brendan McDermid/Reuters
But he admitted his campaign’s weakness when asked how he would win over reluctant African American voters – a persistent question for his candidacy, saying he “had a lot of work to do” in states such as South Carolina.
“And the process of proving that begins here in New Hampshire as we make our way on to states like Nevada, South Carolina and the Super Tuesday states as well. And we will earn that support,” he said.
Sanders, with his wife, Jane, out on the campaign trail, too, has been making overt efforts to court the large number of Latino voters in Nevada.
And with Biden overwhelmingly the favorite with the majority African American Democratic party electorate in South Carolina, Buttigieg could be in danger of peaking too soon.
On Wednesday, Biden attacked both Sanders, a self-declared socialist, and the more moderate Buttigieg, an openly gay military veteran.
“I have great respect for Mayor Pete and his service to this nation but I do believe it’s a risk, to be just straight up with you, for this party to nominate someone who’s never held office higher than mayor of a town of 100,000 people.”
Biden warned that Democrats on all levels would face a tougher election in November if Sanders got the party nomination to fight for the White House. Alluding to Sanders’s longtime identification as a democratic socialist, Biden warned every Democrat “will have to carry the label he chose for himself”.
Attendees at the Biden event were a mix of curious voters and hardcore committed Biden supporters. Jess Knowles, 25, came because he was curious about the former vice-president but also worried how he would fair against Trump in the general election.
“If he stumbles over words or seems a little foggy, that won’t end well. So I’m here to see how he is on the stump,” Knowles said.
Thomas Young, a firm Biden supporter, said the still-developing Iowa results didn’t sway him.
“I don’t see that as indicative as everybody else does. I don’t see that as ‘OK, Pete Buttigieg is going to win’,” he said.
Paul Turner, an undecided Democrat at the event, said: “I’m looking for Biden to rebound – I’m for looking for more excitement, more energy from him, to get more of the youthful vote. If you look at the numbers, my demographic in the 40s, Bernie’s edging him, I think. In this area in particular it’s very important for Biden to make a strong appeal and I don’t know what it’s going to take for that. I’m kind of waiting for him.”


theguardian--2020-02-05--Impeachment was a health-check for American democracy. It is not well | Andrew Gawthrope

The acquittal of Donald Trump reminds us once again of the fragility of American democracy .
The failure of impeachment along blatantly partisan lines means that the crucial barriers protecting us from authoritarianism can not be relied on .
The fate of the country ’ s institutions are left to the mercies of a man singularly unfit to safeguard them .
The slow creep of authoritarian rule need not be dramatic .
It can even , as impeachment seemed at times , be rather boring .
Democracy can die by inches , with precedents being established and barriers swept away @ @ @ @ @ @ @ see what is happening until it is too late .
Historians may look back on the past few years as just such a time , with today ’ s acquittal bringing to maturity a process from which American democracy may take a long time to recover .
It might not even be Donald Trump who consummates the transition .
The changes he has wrought over Republican politics will encourage his successors to follow in his footsteps .
Horrifyingly , these successors may even be intelligent and competent , unlike their forefather .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in which everything – especially truth and principle – is subordinated to the quest for total victory .
Perhaps this army will stand down once Trump leaves the scene , or there will be no new general to take up its banner .
It seems unlikely .
But the immediate danger is posed by Trump himself and his enablers .
The US Senate majority ’ s collective shrug in the face of Trump ’ s crimes rips away the final theoretical restraint on his actions .
Alan Dershowitz , one of Trump ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to claim that the president can legally do anything in pursuit of his own re-election if he believes that doing so is in the public interest , almost as if Trump really could shoot someone on Fifth Avenue provided that person was on their way to vote for a Democrat .
Dershowitz later attempted to clarify his remark by saying that it wouldn ’ t apply if the president ’ s act was specifically prohibited by law .
This was a strange clarification given that Trump did in fact violate the law when @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump anyway has previously claimed that the constitution gives the president the power to do “ whatever I want ” .
Before his acquittal , these bizarre theories of executive power have been just that – theories .
Now they carry the force of precedent .
The abjectness of the Republican party compounds the danger .
If they stuck by the president through the Ukraine affair they will stick by him through anything .
They have acted like the totalitarian functionaries who Hannah Arendt said view the difference between truth and falsehood as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ power of the man who can fabricate it ” .
And while they may have the power to fabricate “ truth ” for those living in the rightwing media bubble , to everyone else – including the 71 % of the public who wanted the Senate to call witnesses – their disconnect from reality has been cringeworthy .
A theory of executive supremacy , a supine legislature and a credulous , adoring segment of the population – which does not need to be a majority – are the ingredients that authoritarianism is made @ @ @ @ @ @ @ t restrained by principle , the fate of American democracy now rests on the question of whether Trump knows the right way to mix the ingredients together .
By far the greatest risk will come in November .
We know by now that the standard rightwing playbook calls for painting the Democratic nominee as a dangerous radical hellbent on destroying America , and claiming that millions of “ illegals ” voted for them , rendering the election result void .
Imagine this rhetoric unfolding as Trump endures a narrow electoral loss and refuses @ @ @ @ @ @ @ faith that a Senate and a US supreme court in the hands of his servants will show him the door ?
Arendt also understood that those who use their power to construct a world of falsehoods for their supporters eventually have to destroy the power of those who would challenge it with the truth .
This is why lies are so dangerous in a democracy , and it is why Trump and his allies systematically attack all independent sources of factual authority in society : the media , the civil service , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tyrants to face up to the authority of the greater part of the public which does not live in their dreamworld , are perhaps the greatest threat of all .
That is why Trump can not help but try to subvert them , and it is why he will inevitably do so again .
None of this means that impeachment was a mistake .
Like acquittal , a failure to impeach at all would have sent the same signal : that there are no limits on Trump ’ s actions .
Impeachment at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and the law alive .
But now we must be very careful .
They are about to – they must – come to try to extinguish that torch .
Only an electoral repudiation so vast that it can not be questioned can prevent them , and it must be won at a time when their power has never been less restrained by law or principle .
The fate of democracy in America depends on it .
• None Andy Gawthorpe is a historian of the United States at Leiden University

The acquittal of Donald Trump reminds us once again of the fragility of American democracy. The failure of impeachment along blatantly partisan lines means that the crucial barriers protecting us from authoritarianism cannot be relied on. The fate of the country’s institutions are left to the mercies of a man singularly unfit to safeguard them.
The slow creep of authoritarian rule need not be dramatic. It can even, as impeachment seemed at times, be rather boring. Democracy can die by inches, with precedents being established and barriers swept away so gradually that we don’t see what is happening until it is too late. Historians may look back on the past few years as just such a time, with today’s acquittal bringing to maturity a process from which American democracy may take a long time to recover.
It might not even be Donald Trump who consummates the transition. The changes he has wrought over Republican politics will encourage his successors to follow in his footsteps. Horrifyingly, these successors may even be intelligent and competent, unlike their forefather. The right has entered a permanent war footing in which everything – especially truth and principle – is subordinated to the quest for total victory. Perhaps this army will stand down once Trump leaves the scene, or there will be no new general to take up its banner. It seems unlikely.
But the immediate danger is posed by Trump himself and his enablers. The US Senate majority’s collective shrug in the face of Trump’s crimes rips away the final theoretical restraint on his actions. Alan Dershowitz, one of Trump’s lawyers, went so far as to claim that the president can legally do anything in pursuit of his own re-election if he believes that doing so is in the public interest, almost as if Trump really could shoot someone on Fifth Avenue provided that person was on their way to vote for a Democrat.
Dershowitz later attempted to clarify his remark by saying that it wouldn’t apply if the president’s act was specifically prohibited by law. This was a strange clarification given that Trump did in fact violate the law when he withheld aid to Ukraine, and Trump anyway has previously claimed that the constitution gives the president the power to do “whatever I want”. Before his acquittal, these bizarre theories of executive power have been just that – theories. Now they carry the force of precedent.
A theory of executive supremacy, a supine legislature, and a credulous, adoring segment of the population are the ingredients that authoritarianism is made of
The abjectness of the Republican party compounds the danger. If they stuck by the president through the Ukraine affair they will stick by him through anything. They have acted like the totalitarian functionaries who Hannah Arendt said view the difference between truth and falsehood as something which “depends entirely on the power of the man who can fabricate it”. And while they may have the power to fabricate “truth” for those living in the rightwing media bubble, to everyone else – including the 71% of the public who wanted the Senate to call witnesses – their disconnect from reality has been cringeworthy.
A theory of executive supremacy, a supine legislature and a credulous, adoring segment of the population – which does not need to be a majority – are the ingredients that authoritarianism is made of. Because he certainly isn’t restrained by principle, the fate of American democracy now rests on the question of whether Trump knows the right way to mix the ingredients together.
By far the greatest risk will come in November. We know by now that the standard rightwing playbook calls for painting the Democratic nominee as a dangerous radical hellbent on destroying America, and claiming that millions of “illegals” voted for them, rendering the election result void. Imagine this rhetoric unfolding as Trump endures a narrow electoral loss and refuses to concede. Can we have any faith that a Senate and a US supreme court in the hands of his servants will show him the door?
Arendt also understood that those who use their power to construct a world of falsehoods for their supporters eventually have to destroy the power of those who would challenge it with the truth. This is why lies are so dangerous in a democracy, and it is why Trump and his allies systematically attack all independent sources of factual authority in society: the media, the civil service, the law. Elections, which force would-be tyrants to face up to the authority of the greater part of the public which does not live in their dreamworld, are perhaps the greatest threat of all. That is why Trump cannot help but try to subvert them, and it is why he will inevitably do so again.
None of this means that impeachment was a mistake. Like acquittal, a failure to impeach at all would have sent the same signal: that there are no limits on Trump’s actions. Impeachment at least kept the torch of the truth and the law alive. But now we must be very careful. They are about to – they must – come to try to extinguish that torch. Only an electoral repudiation so vast that it cannot be questioned can prevent them, and it must be won at a time when their power has never been less restrained by law or principle. The fate of democracy in America depends on it.


theguardian--2020-02-05--Impeachment didn't remove Trump. But what if elections won't either? | Lawrence Douglas

By all measures , the president was a malicious demagogue with a “ taste for public performance ” , reviled for his “ swaggering vanity ” .
Many considered him incompetent and unfit for office ; some called him mad .
He impugned the character of the country ’ s most famous war hero but was , himself , “ exquisitely sensitive to slights , real or perceived ” .
He inflamed racial tensions and embraced the cause of white supremacists .
He liked to “ humiliate , harass , and hound ” his enemies , real and imagined .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Congress and bullied men , believing his enemies were enemies of the people ” .
A leading senator lamented that “ he has introduced the most fearful system of corruption and demoralization into any government in modern history ” .
The hostilities between Congress and the president became so great that impeachment was all but inevitable .
Sound familiar ?
Yet much as this may sound like a portrait of the current inhabitant of the White House , it is in fact Brenda Wineapple ’ s description of Andrew Johnson in her immensely @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trial of Andrew Johnson and the Dream of a Just Nation .
Johnson , as we recall , was the first president in American history to be impeached , and like Donald Trump survived removal by the Senate – in Johnson ’ s case , by a single vote .
Many contemporaneous lawmakers and observers considered the Senate ’ s failure to convict a disaster , a dreadful misstep that left a vindictive , divisive and intemperate man in power .
And yet as Wineapple makes clear , even if the effort to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also wasn ’ t the failure it was immediately perceived to be .
In fact , the impeachment left Johnson badly weakened , “ reduced … to a shadow ” .
He could not even secure his party ’ s nomination in 1868 , and was out of office the next year .
Alas , it ’ s hard to imagine Trump ’ s impeachment as having any such positive upside .
We can safely assume that far from chastened by his brush with removal , Trump will be only more brazen in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not ?
Mitch McConnell and his minions have essentially given the president carte blanche to ignore constitutional norms , signing off not only on his effort to solicit foreign meddling in the 2020 election , but more disturbingly on his unprecedented stonewalling of Congress ’ s oversight powers .
The framers of the constitution created the impeachment process as a critical bulwark against executive malfeasance ; Senate Republicans have now in effect removed that bulwark .
Which turns all our attention to 3 November 2020 – election day .
For those who questioned @ @ @ @ @ @ @ propriety or even the necessity – of impeaching the president , focusing on 2020 was always the better way to go .
At issue on that day will not be whether Trump committed high crimes or misdemeanors but whether he has earned another term as the nation ’ s chief executive .
Republican lawmakers can not accuse Democrats of trying to defeat the will of the people if the people vote Trump out of the White House .
That , at least , is the hope .
And yet the belief that defeating @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of removing him from office is to miss the singular menace that this president represents to a basic principle of democratic governance : the peaceful succession of power .
Here my concern is not that Trump might try to steal the 2020 election through disinformation , foreign interference and voter suppression , real as those concerns are .
Rather my concern is different : what if Trump loses in 2020 election but the result is exceptionally close , turning on the outcome in a handful of swing states ?
In 2016 , Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ any outcome short of victory .
The fact that Trump ’ s acquittal in the Senate should come fast on the heels of a major app malfunction in Iowa highlights the gravity of threat we face this coming November .
Imagine , then , how Trump would spin even the most innocent software glitch in 2020 , should he lose : he will unleash a Twitter storm , working to cast any acts of incompetence and confusion at the polls as signs of a grand , organized conspiracy to finish the work that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he will find support from his megaphones in the rightwing media .
And the Senate trial makes clear that far from opposing Trump ’ s refusal to accept electoral defeat , Republican lawmakers will eagerly abet the president ’ s attack .
Come 3 November , a slender victory by the Democratic challenger will not free us from the chaos of this presidency .
Trump will not go quietly .
He might not go at all .
• None Lawrence Douglas is the James J Grosfeld professor of law , jurisprudence and social @ @ @ @ @ @ @ opinion writer for Guardian US .
His newest book , Will He Go ?
Trump and Looming Election Meltdown in 2020 , will appear in May

By all measures, the president was a malicious demagogue with a “taste for public performance”, reviled for his “swaggering vanity”. Many considered him incompetent and unfit for office; some called him mad. He impugned the character of the country’s most famous war hero but was, himself, “exquisitely sensitive to slights, real or perceived”. He inflamed racial tensions and embraced the cause of white supremacists. He liked to “humiliate, harass, and hound” his enemies, real and imagined. Heedless of consequences, he “baited Congress and bullied men, believing his enemies were enemies of the people”. A leading senator lamented that “he has introduced the most fearful system of corruption and demoralization into any government in modern history”. The hostilities between Congress and the president became so great that impeachment was all but inevitable.
Sound familiar? Yet much as this may sound like a portrait of the current inhabitant of the White House, it is in fact Brenda Wineapple’s description of Andrew Johnson in her immensely readable book, The Impeachers: The Trial of Andrew Johnson and the Dream of a Just Nation. Johnson, as we recall, was the first president in American history to be impeached, and like Donald Trump survived removal by the Senate – in Johnson’s case, by a single vote.
Many contemporaneous lawmakers and observers considered the Senate’s failure to convict a disaster, a dreadful misstep that left a vindictive, divisive and intemperate man in power. And yet as Wineapple makes clear, even if the effort to remove Johnson did not succeed, it also wasn’t the failure it was immediately perceived to be. In fact, the impeachment left Johnson badly weakened, “reduced … to a shadow”. He could not even secure his party’s nomination in 1868, and was out of office the next year.
Mitch McConnell and his minions have essentially given the president carte blanche to ignore constitutional norms
Alas, it’s hard to imagine Trump’s impeachment as having any such positive upside. We can safely assume that far from chastened by his brush with removal, Trump will be only more brazen in his demagoguery and authoritarianism. And why not? Mitch McConnell and his minions have essentially given the president carte blanche to ignore constitutional norms, signing off not only on his effort to solicit foreign meddling in the 2020 election, but more disturbingly on his unprecedented stonewalling of Congress’s oversight powers. The framers of the constitution created the impeachment process as a critical bulwark against executive malfeasance; Senate Republicans have now in effect removed that bulwark.
Which turns all our attention to 3 November 2020 – election day. For those who questioned the tactical wisdom – though not the propriety or even the necessity – of impeaching the president, focusing on 2020 was always the better way to go. At issue on that day will not be whether Trump committed high crimes or misdemeanors but whether he has earned another term as the nation’s chief executive. Republican lawmakers cannot accuse Democrats of trying to defeat the will of the people if the people vote Trump out of the White House.
That, at least, is the hope. And yet the belief that defeating Trump in 2020 provides a tamper-proof method of removing him from office is to miss the singular menace that this president represents to a basic principle of democratic governance: the peaceful succession of power. Here my concern is not that Trump might try to steal the 2020 election through disinformation, foreign interference and voter suppression, real as those concerns are.
Rather my concern is different: what if Trump loses in 2020 election but the result is exceptionally close, turning on the outcome in a handful of swing states? In 2016, Trump essentially announced that he would not accept any outcome short of victory. The fact that Trump’s acquittal in the Senate should come fast on the heels of a major app malfunction in Iowa highlights the gravity of threat we face this coming November.
Imagine, then, how Trump would spin even the most innocent software glitch in 2020, should he lose: he will unleash a Twitter storm, working to cast any acts of incompetence and confusion at the polls as signs of a grand, organized conspiracy to finish the work that Nancy Pelosi started. In this, he will find support from his megaphones in the rightwing media. And the Senate trial makes clear that far from opposing Trump’s refusal to accept electoral defeat, Republican lawmakers will eagerly abet the president’s attack. Come 3 November, a slender victory by the Democratic challenger will not free us from the chaos of this presidency. Trump will not go quietly. He might not go at all.


theguardian--2020-02-05--Trump's State of the Union address: five key takeaways

Donald Trump delivered his third and potentially last formal State of the Union address from the well of the House chamber where he was impeached on the eve of his likely acquittal by a deeply divided Senate .
The 78-minute speech sought to look past impeachment to his re-election in November .
He touted his accomplishments , claiming a strong economy , the killing of the Iranian general Qassem Suleimani and the passage of a bipartisan criminal justice reform bill .
But the mood was fraught on the eve of his acquittal , which is expected to take place on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Few Democrats stood to clap for the president as Republicans chanted “ four more years ” .
Here are five key takeaways : Trump dedicated nearly 20 minutes to ticking through his economic accomplishments , delivering a mix of dubious claims and exaggerations .
“ Our economy is the best it has ever been , ” Trump falsely claimed .
While the unemployment rate is at a 50-year low and wages have risen , the economy is far from the “ best ever ” .
But other boasts were true : average @ @ @ @ @ @ @ administration in the history of our country ” .
He touted the bipartisan renegotiation of the North American Free Trade Agreement , now called the USMCA as well as a deal with China to ease the trade war .
The rosy economic indicators could provide strong tailwinds for the president as he seeks re-election , especially if he faces a Democratic opponent who seeks to remake the economy as a number of candidates have proposed .
Trump inaccurately claimed USMCA would create “ 100,000 new high-paying American auto jobs ” .
A report @ @ @ @ @ @ @ estimated that the deal would add only 28,000 auto industry jobs in the six years following its implementation .
Ever eager to fan the flames of America ’ s culture wars , Trump delivered extended riffs on immigration , abortion , guns and religious liberty – red meat to his conservative base .
“ We don ’ t punish prayer , ” he declared before vowing to “ always protect your second amendment right to keep and bear arms ” .
He highlighted in grisly detail the stories of two US citizens murdered @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to slam cities that refuse to cooperate with federal law enforcement to enforce immigration law .
At another point , he called on Congress to pass a federal ban on “ late-term abortions ” .
He also praised his appointment of two conservative supreme court justices , Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh , both of whom beamed back at the president from the front of the chamber .
“ We have many in the pipeline , ” Trump said , as Republicans broke into another round of deafening applause .
In less than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ third US president to be acquitted by the US Senate after being impeached by the House .
But unlike his Twitter feed , where Trump airs all manner of grievances about the trial and the House leaders who led the effort , he made no mention of it in tonight ’ s speech .
However , the tension was clear .
When Trump approached the rostrum , the House speaker , Nancy Pelosi , appeared to extend her hand but he refused to shake it .
She then omitted the flourish of announcing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ distinct honor of presenting to you the president of the United States ” , instead simply introducing him directly to the chamber .
Then , after Trump finished his remarks , Pelosi tore up a copy of the speech .
Asked by reporters why she did that , Pelosi replied that it was the “ courteous thing to do.
” No matter who the Democratic presidential nominee is in November , Trump and Republicans already plan to define the election as a battle to protect the country against socialism .
In his speech @ @ @ @ @ @ @ socialism destroy American healthcare !
” while also dishonestly claiming that he would always protect patients with pre-existing conditions .
In 2017 , Republicans with Trump ’ s strong support , attempting to repeal the Affordable Care Act and replace it with a plan that would throw millions of Americans off their healthcare and would not guarantee its protections .
At another point , Trump pointed to one of his guests , Juan Guaidó , the Venezuelan opposition leader who the US recognizes as the country ’ s rightful leader .
Trump called @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Nicolás Maduro , a “ socialist dictator ” and “ illegitimate ruler ” .
“ Socialism destroys nations , ” Trump said to whoops and cheers from Republicans .
“ But always remember , freedom unifies the soul.
” It ’ s a tradition for the White House and members of Congress to invite guests who reflect their political priorities .
Among the guests who attended on behalf of the president and first lady was Rush Limbaugh , the controversial conservative radio show host who announced this week that he is undergoing surgery @ @ @ @ @ @ @ remarks , Trump announced that he would receive the country ’ s highest civilian honor , the presidential medal of freedom .
In an unusual move , Trump paused his speech for Melania Trump to present him with the medal .
It was one of several surprises Trump had in store for his guests .
He bestowed an education scholarship on a young girl whose mother could not afford to send her to a private school .
And then , in a made-for-TV moment , Sergeant First Class Townsend Williams returned from deployment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ children in the first lady ’ s box .
Meanwhile , a handful of Democratic lawmakers chose to skip the affair altogether .
The New York congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez said she did not want to “ legitimize ” the president ’ s actions .
“ After much deliberation , I have decided that I will not use my presence at a state ceremony to normalize Trump ’ s lawless conduct & subversion of the Constitution , ” she wrote on Twitter .
“ None of this is normal , and I will not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Pressley said she could not in “ good conscience ” attend the speech , when he “ incessantly stokes fear in people of color , women , healthcare providers , LGBTQ+ communities , low-income families , and many more ” .
Congressman Tim Ryan , an Ohio Democrat , attended the speech but left halfway through .
“ I just walked out of the # StateOfTheUnion , ” he wrote .
“ I ’ ve had enough .
It ’ s like watching professional wrestling .
It ’ s all fake .
”

Donald Trump delivered his third and potentially last formal State of the Union address from the well of the House chamber where he was impeached on the eve of his likely acquittal by a deeply divided Senate. The 78-minute speech sought to look past impeachment to his re-election in November. He touted his accomplishments, claiming a strong economy, the killing of the Iranian general Qassem Suleimani and the passage of a bipartisan criminal justice reform bill.
But the mood was fraught on the eve of his acquittal, which is expected to take place on Wednesday as Republican loyalists stand by him. Few Democrats stood to clap for the president as Republicans chanted “four more years”.
Here are five key takeaways:
Economy
Trump dedicated nearly 20 minutes to ticking through his economic accomplishments, delivering a mix of dubious claims and exaggerations.
“Our economy is the best it has ever been,” Trump falsely claimed. While the unemployment rate is at a 50-year low and wages have risen, the economy is far from the “best ever”.
But other boasts were true: average unemployment is lower now than “any administration in the history of our country”. He touted the bipartisan renegotiation of the North American Free Trade Agreement, now called the USMCA as well as a deal with China to ease the trade war.
The rosy economic indicators could provide strong tailwinds for the president as he seeks re-election, especially if he faces a Democratic opponent who seeks to remake the economy as a number of candidates have proposed.
Trump inaccurately claimed USMCA would create “100,000 new high-paying American auto jobs”. A report released by the US International Trade Commission estimated that the deal would add only 28,000 auto industry jobs in the six years following its implementation.
Culture wars
Ever eager to fan the flames of America’s culture wars, Trump delivered extended riffs on immigration, abortion, guns and religious liberty – red meat to his conservative base.
“We don’t punish prayer,” he declared before vowing to “always protect your second amendment right to keep and bear arms”.
He highlighted in grisly detail the stories of two US citizens murdered by an undocumented immigrant, a way to slam cities that refuse to cooperate with federal law enforcement to enforce immigration law. At another point, he called on Congress to pass a federal ban on “late-term abortions”.
He also praised his appointment of two conservative supreme court justices, Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh, both of whom beamed back at the president from the front of the chamber.
“We have many in the pipeline,” Trump said, as Republicans broke into another round of deafening applause.
Impeachment
In less than 24 hours, Trump will become the third US president to be acquitted by the US Senate after being impeached by the House. But unlike his Twitter feed, where Trump airs all manner of grievances about the trial and the House leaders who led the effort, he made no mention of it in tonight’s speech.
However, the tension was clear. When Trump approached the rostrum, the House speaker, Nancy Pelosi, appeared to extend her hand but he refused to shake it.
Democrats will never stop extending the hand of friendship to get the job done #ForThePeople. We will work to find common ground where we can, but will stand our ground where we cannot. #SOTU pic.twitter.com/ELJqR9q4xD — Nancy Pelosi (@SpeakerPelosi) February 5, 2020
She then omitted the flourish of announcing “I have the high privilege and distinct honor of presenting to you the president of the United States”, instead simply introducing him directly to the chamber. Then, after Trump finished his remarks, Pelosi tore up a copy of the speech.
Asked by reporters why she did that, Pelosi replied that it was the “courteous thing to do.”
Socialism
No matter who the Democratic presidential nominee is in November, Trump and Republicans already plan to define the election as a battle to protect the country against socialism.
In his speech, Trump vowed to “never let socialism destroy American healthcare!” while also dishonestly claiming that he would always protect patients with pre-existing conditions. In 2017, Republicans with Trump’s strong support, attempting to repeal the Affordable Care Act and replace it with a plan that would throw millions of Americans off their healthcare and would not guarantee its protections.
At another point, Trump pointed to one of his guests, Juan Guaidó, the Venezuelan opposition leader who the US recognizes as the country’s rightful leader. Trump called the nation’s current president, Nicolás Maduro, a “socialist dictator” and “illegitimate ruler”.
“Socialism destroys nations,” Trump said to whoops and cheers from Republicans. “But always remember, freedom unifies the soul.”
Guests and no-shows
It’s a tradition for the White House and members of Congress to invite guests who reflect their political priorities. Among the guests who attended on behalf of the president and first lady was Rush Limbaugh, the controversial conservative radio show host who announced this week that he is undergoing surgery for advanced lung cancer.
During his remarks, Trump announced that he would receive the country’s highest civilian honor, the presidential medal of freedom. In an unusual move, Trump paused his speech for Melania Trump to present him with the medal.
It was one of several surprises Trump had in store for his guests. He bestowed an education scholarship on a young girl whose mother could not afford to send her to a private school. And then, in a made-for-TV moment, Sergeant First Class Townsend Williams returned from deployment in Afghanistan to surprise his wife and children in the first lady’s box.
Meanwhile, a handful of Democratic lawmakers chose to skip the affair altogether. The New York congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez said she did not want to “legitimize” the president’s actions.
“After much deliberation, I have decided that I will not use my presence at a state ceremony to normalize Trump’s lawless conduct & subversion of the Constitution,” she wrote on Twitter. “None of this is normal, and I will not legitimize it.”
The Massachusetts congresswoman Ayanna Pressley said she could not in “good conscience” attend the speech, when he “incessantly stokes fear in people of color, women, healthcare providers, LGBTQ+ communities, low-income families, and many more”.
Congressman Tim Ryan, an Ohio Democrat, attended the speech but left halfway through.
“I just walked out of the #StateOfTheUnion,” he wrote. “I’ve had enough. It’s like watching professional wrestling. It’s all fake.”


theguardian--2020-02-05--Senate acquits Trump on two articles of impeachment – video

The Senate acquitted President Donald Trump of both articles of impeachment .
Supreme Court chief justice John Roberts read the @ @ @ @ @ of impeachment .
He said : “ The Senate having tried Donald John Trump , @ @ @ @ @ , upon two Articles of Impeachment exhibited against him by the House of Representatives , @ @ @ @ @ present not having found him guilty of the charges contained therein : it is , @ @ @ @ @ that the said Donald John Trump be , and he is hereby , acquitted of @ @ @ @ @ ” Before adjourning , Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell thanked Roberts for his service and @ @ @ @ @ gavel ” for his work .
McConnell also thanked the Senate pages who helped to @ @ @ @ @ the proceedings .

The Senate acquitted President Donald Trump of both articles of impeachment.
Supreme Court chief justice John Roberts read the final votes on both articles of impeachment.
He said: “The Senate having tried Donald John Trump, President of the United States, upon two Articles of Impeachment exhibited against him by the House of Representatives, and two-thirds of the Senators present not having found him guilty of the charges contained therein: it is, therefore, ordered and adjudged that the said Donald John Trump be, and he is hereby, acquitted of the charges in said articles.”
Before adjourning, Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell thanked Roberts for his service and awarded him “the golden gavel” for his work. McConnell also thanked the Senate pages who helped to keep the floor running during the proceedings.


theguardian--2020-02-05--'The president is guilty': Romney votes to convict Trump – video

Republican senator Mitt Romney voted to convict President Trump in the impeachment trial , the only member of his party @ @ @ @ @ , who has been an occasional critic of the president , said : “ Corrupting @ @ @ @ @ in office is perhaps the most abusive and destructive violation of one ’ s oath @ @ @ @ @ ”

Republican senator Mitt Romney voted to convict President Trump in the impeachment trial, the only member of his party to do so.
Romney, who has been an occasional critic of the president, said: "Corrupting an election to keep oneself in office is perhaps the most abusive and destructive violation of one's oath of office I can imagine"


theguardian--2020-02-06--Trump set to deliver speech in response to impeachment acquittal – live coverage

Marie Yovanovitch , the former US ambassador to Ukraine who was one of the key figures in the impeachment inquiry into Donald Trump , his written for the Washington Post to accuse the Trump administration of having “ undermined our democratic institutions ” .
Yovanovitch was abruptly recalled from her post in May last year after coming under attack from Trump ’ s personal lawyer Rudy Giuliani , as he attempted to persuade Ukrainian officials to carry out an investigation into Joe Biden .
The memo summarising Trump ’ s now-infamous 25 July 2019 conversation with Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskiy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is “ going to go through some bad things ” – something she told the impeachment inquiry she thought “ sounded like a threat ” .
A recording from before she was removed , and released last month , reveals Trump ordering associates to “ Get rid of her !
” and “ Take her out.
” She writes in the Post : We must not allow the United States to become a country where standing up to our government is a dangerous act .
It has been shocking to experience the storm @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that have preceded and followed my public testimony , but I have no regrets .
I did — we did — what our conscience called us to do … This administration , through acts of omission and commission , has undermined our democratic institutions , making the public question the truth and leaving public servants without the support and example of ethical behavior that they need to do their jobs and advance U.S. interests .

7 Feb 2020 01.05 GMT Both Pete Buttigieg and Bernie Sanders have claimed victory in Iowa, even as technical delays and reporting issues have prolonged the delay in tallying the Democratic caucus votes. Sanders has touted his raw vote tally; Buttigieg holds a narrow lead in the number of state delegate equivalents he’s amassed.
Both candidates will be speaking tonight in a CNN town hall ahead of the New Hampshire primary contest next week. Deval Patrick and Amy Klobuchar will be participating as well, answering questions from supporters and network hosts. Yesterday, Joe Biden, Elizabeth Warren, Andrew Yang, and Tom Steyer had a turn to make their case, during the first half of the town hall. And tomorrow, all the candidates (except for Patrick, who didn’t qualify) will face off directly during the New Hampshire Democratic debate. Sanders and Buttigieg nearly tied in Iowa amid new claims of counting errors Read more
7 Feb 2020 00.43 GMT Several women of color have reportedly left Elizabeth Warren’s Nevada campaign, complaining of a work environment that tokenizes minorities, Politico reports. The six staffers have left the roughly 70-person Nevada team since November, during a critical stretch of the race. Three of them said they felt marginalized by the campaign, a situation they said didn’t change or worsened after they took their concerns to their superiors or to human resources staff. “During the time I was employed with Nevada for Warren, there was definitely something wrong with the culture,” said Megan Lewis, a field organizer who joined the campaign in May and departed in December. “I filed a complaint with HR, but the follow-up I received left me feeling as though I needed to make myself smaller or change who I was to fit into the office culture.” Another recently departed staffer, also a field organizer, granted anonymity because she feared reprisal, echoed that sentiment. “I felt like a problem — like I was there to literally bring color into the space but not the knowledge and voice that comes with it,” she said in an interview. The staff departures come at a crucial time for Warren’s campaign, ahead of the Nevada caucuses this month. Responding to the report, Warren apologized. “For me this is about taking personal responsibility which I do and being determined that we will have accountability in this organization and keep doing better every day,” she said in an interview with WBTS. WARREN responds to @AlxThomp reporting on WOC staffers in NV leaving her campaign
"So I just heard about this and I believe the women who have spoken up and believe them unequivocally and I apologize to them personally. It's important to me to try to build an organization...
1/ — Deepa Shivaram (@deepa_shivaram) February 7, 2020
Updated at 00.44 GMT
6 Feb 2020 23.57 GMT Associated Press is unable to declare a winner in Iowa's Democratic caucuses With 97% of precincts reporting, Pete Buttigieg is in the lead, with Bernie Sanders trailing by three state delegate equivalents — a margin of .14 percentage points. State officials have yet to count results from some satellite caucus sites, which could push reorder the leading candidates.
Earlier today, the Democratic National Committee’s chairman Tom Perez called for an “immediate recanvass” of the tally, following a days-long delay due in part to problems with a mobile app that the state’s Democratic party used to could votes. “The Associated Press calls a race when there is a clear indication of a winner. Because of a tight margin between former Mayor Pete Buttigieg and Sen. Bernie Sanders and the irregularities in this year’s caucus process, it is not possible to determine a winner at this point,” said Sally Buzbee, the AP’s executive editor.
Sanders and Buttigieg nearly tied in Iowa amid new claims of counting errors Read more
Updated at 00.02 GMT
6 Feb 2020 23.19 GMT Report: Mike Bloomberg’s campaign plagiarized policy plans Michael Bloomberg speaks at a campaign event Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2020, in Providence, R.I. Photograph: David Goldman/AP The former New York mayor and billionaire businessman’s presidential campaign appears to have lifted exact passages and fact sheets from media outlets and non-profit groups, The Intercept reports: Mike Bloomberg’s presidential campaign plagiarized portions of its plans for maternal health, LGBTQ equality, the economy, tax policy, infrastructure, and mental health from research publications, media outlets, and a number of nonprofit, educational, and policy groups. The Intercept found that exact passages from at least eight Bloomberg plans or accompanying fact sheets were direct copies of material from media outlets including CNN, Time, and CBS, a research center at the John Jay College of Criminal Justice, the American Medical Association, Everytown for Gun Safety, Building America’s Future Educational Fund, and other organizations. Bloomberg co-founded Everytown for Gun Safety, a political organization focused on gun control, and Building America’s Future Educational Fund, a nonprofit working on infrastructure investment and reform, and has chaired them in the past, and he was listed as a co-author on the educational fund’s reports. He is not clearly affiliated with the other sources. The plagiarized sections ranged in length from entire paragraphs to individual sentences and fragments in documents that were between five and 14 pages long.
6 Feb 2020 22.48 GMT Representative Jim Jordan was temporarily added to the House Intelligence Committee during the impeachment inquiry. Photograph: REX/Shutterstock Representative Jim Jordan of Ohio – a close ally of Donald Trump – has been named the new ranking member of the House judiciary committee, replaying Doug Collins of Georgia. Collins has stepped down so he can challenge Senator Kelly Loeffler for her seat, according to reports. Jordan is the founder of the conservative House Freedom Caucus. During the impeachment inquiry, he was temporarily added to the House intelligence committee. He was noted for his auctioneer intonation and aggressive questioning-style and became the president’s chief defender throughout the impeachment. When William Taylor, the top US diplomat in Ukraine, testified before lawmakers, Jordan asked, in his characteristic style, “You’re their first witness? You’re the guy? I’ve seen church prayer chains that are easier to understand than this.” A former wrestler, Jordan faced allegations last year that he ignored sexual misconduct during his time as a wrestling coach at Ohio State University. Republican Mark Meadows – another staunch Trump supporter – will take over Jordan’s post as ranking member of the House oversight committee.
Updated at 23.15 GMT
6 Feb 2020 22.38 GMT The treasury department is complying with Republicans’ request for information as part of an investigation into Hunter Biden and his business in Ukraine. The Republican senators Chuck Grassley and Ron Johnson requested information from the department in November as part of their investigation into “potentially improper actions” during the Obama administration. The department’s compliance, in this case, stands in sharp contrasts to the Trump administration’s stonewalling of Democrats’ requests for information during the impeachment investigation. Grassley and Johnson are looking into Hunter Biden’s business affairs and Ukrainian officials’ alleged interventions in the 2016 election, which is exactly what Donald Trump’s personal lawyer Rudy Giuliani tried to push Ukrainian officials to investigate. Per Yahoo News, which first reported the story: The “rapid” production of sensitive financial information from the Treasury Department in response to congressional requests is apparently uncommon. A source familiar with the matter said the Treasury began turning over materials less than two months after Grassley and Johnson wrote to FinCEN on Nov. 15, 2019, requesting any SARs and related documents filed by financial institutions regarding Hunter Biden, his associates, their businesses and clients.
Updated at 23.24 GMT
6 Feb 2020 21.58 GMT Evening summary That’s it from me today. My west coast colleague, Maanvi Singh, will take over the blog for the next few hours. Here’s where the day stands so far: Donald Trump delivered a divisive, profane and unapologetic response to his acquittal in the Senate impeachment trial, as Republicans continue to insist the president has learned a lesson from the process.
delivered a divisive, profane and unapologetic response to his acquittal in the Senate impeachment trial, as continue to insist the president has learned a lesson from the process. Speaking earlier today at the National Prayer Breakfast, Trump attacked the faith of the House speaker, Nancy Pelosi , and Mitt Romney , the only Republican senator to support an article of impeachment.
, and , the only Republican senator to support an article of impeachment. The Democratic National Committee chair, Tom Perez, called for a recanvass of the Iowa caucuses to ensure the accuracy of the results.
called for a recanvass of the Iowa caucuses to ensure the accuracy of the results. Bernie Sanders declared victory in the Iowa caucuses, even though results currently show him slightly trailing Pete Buttigieg.
declared victory in the Iowa caucuses, even though results currently show him slightly trailing House Democrats killed a Republican resolution to condemn Pelosi for tearing up Trump’s State of the Union address on Tuesday night.
killed a Republican resolution to condemn Pelosi for tearing up Trump’s State of the Union address on Tuesday night. During her weekly press conference, Pelosi said she did not regret tearing up Trump’s speech. “I tore up a manifesto of mistruths,” Pelosi said. “It was necessary to get the attention of the American people to say, ‘This is not true.’” Maanvi will have more coming up, so stay tuned.
Updated at 22.56 GMT
6 Feb 2020 21.36 GMT After declaring victory in the Iowa caucuses despite trailing Pete Buttigieg, Bernie Sanders said the raw vote total, or the “popular vote,” justified his announcement.
But as the blog has previously stated, the Associated Press and other outlets made clear before the caucuses that the winner would be determined using a different metric, the state delegate equivalents. On that front, Sanders is very slightly behind Buttigieg. Sen. @BernieSanders is declaring victory in Iowa.. but he still trails in the State Delegate Equivalents (which determines the winner).. I pressed him on how he can claim he won without leading the SDE- this was his response. pic.twitter.com/fz8b16Xb9t — Ryan Nobles (@ryanobles) February 6, 2020 “The rules were changed,” Sanders told CNN. “This is the first time in the Iowa caucus that the popular vote has been made public. That was not the case before.” Sanders blamed some “confusion on the part of the media” for the focus on SDEs, even though that is the officially recognized metric for determining a winner, and noted he and Buttigieg would likely come out of Iowa with the same number of delegates for the party’s nominating convention, which is true.
6 Feb 2020 21.22 GMT The White House is now reportedly sending out talking points aimed at criticizing Mitt Romney after the Republican senator supported one of the articles of impeachment. The WH is now sending around anti-Romney talking points, including:
•Romney’s decision was unsurprising as this display of self-serving political expedience has come to define his career.
•Romney has a long history of flip-flopping, with no sign of principles to be found. — Ashley Parker (@AshleyRParker) February 6, 2020 The idea of attacking Romney for not hacing principles seems particularly noteworthy, considering the Utah Republican cast his decision on impeachment as a matter of duty. Explaining his decision yesterday, Romney said, “My vote will likely be in the minority in the Senate, but irrespective of these things, with my vote, I will tell my children and their children that I did my duty to the best of my ability believing that my country expected it of me.”
6 Feb 2020 21.04 GMT In a new statement, Democratic senator Patrick Leahy criticized Trump’s rambling, divisive response to his acquittal in the Senate impeachment trial. Comment Of Senator Patrick Leahy On The President’s Remarks At The White House https://t.co/VnA9Z7yoxo pic.twitter.com/8sxwQEZPjN — Sen. Patrick Leahy (@SenatorLeahy) February 6, 2020 Leahy contrasted Trump’s remarks with those of Bill Clinton, who told the nation after his acquittal that he was “profoundly sorry” for his actions. “In stark contrast, today President Trump held a White House campaign rally and was entirely unrepentant,” Leahy said. “Sadly, the only lesson he’s learned is how almost the entire Senate Republican Caucus let him get away with misconduct.”
6 Feb 2020 20.44 GMT Even though every House Democrat voted to kill a Republican resolution to condemn Nancy Pelosi for tearing up Trump’s State of the Union, two more moderate members of the caucus chastized the House speaker for her actions. The Washington Post reports: Reps. Joe Cunningham (S.C.) and Ben McAdams (Utah) together spoke to Pelosi for several minutes on the House floor before they cast votes to block the attempted reprimand. McAdams said he told Pelosi that he thought the gesture ‘was inappropriate and that we deserve better than that.’ ‘I thought it was disrespectful,’ he said. ‘I found things that I agreed with and things that I didn’t agree with in the president’s speech, but I thought that that was beneath us.’ Other House Democrats have blamed Trump for the tension between him and Pelosi, citing the president’s apparent refusal to shake the speaker’s hand when he arrived to deliver his State of the Union address.
6 Feb 2020 20.26 GMT Pete Buttigieg’s campaign said in an email to supporters that it has raised $2.7 million since the Iowa caucuses. It’s an impressive haul for the former Indiana mayor, who is currently leading in the Iowa caucuses, although Bernie Sanders is close on his heels with 97% of precincts reporting. Buttigieg will need those funds to get him through New Hampshire and on to the later voting states, especially because he is currently polling at 7% nationally, according to the RealClearPolitics average.
6 Feb 2020 20.06 GMT Pete Buttigieg is clearly enjoying a surge in voter interest after his strong showing in the Iowa caucuses. The former Indiana mayor is hosting an event in Merrimack, New Hampshire, today that is so crowded even some reporters haven’t been able to get inside. Buttigieg’s only event of the day here in New Hampshire is packed to the gills. Lots of press can’t get in. It’s a small room but the amount of media here alone is indicative of Buttigieg’s post- Iowa standing. pic.twitter.com/Sj11VUxVZt — Abby D. Phillip (@abbydphillip) February 6, 2020 New Hampshire polls released in recent days have also shown Buttigieg jumping into second place, trailing only Bernie Sanders, in the second voting state, which will hold its primary on Tuesday.
6 Feb 2020 19.53 GMT Speaking to British Prime Minister Boris Johnson last week, Trump was reportedly “apoplectic” about the UK’s decision to allow the Chinese telecommunications giant Huawei to participate in building up the country’s 5G network. The Financial Times reports: The UK prime minister spoke to the US president last week soon after he announced his decision to allow the Chinese manufacturer to participate in the UK’s next-generation cellular network. This was in spite of vocal opposition from senior figures in the Trump administration, which is opposed to Huawei on national security grounds. Following the decision, the UK and US tried to gloss over their differences with muted public statements. But one individual briefed on the contents of the call said Mr Trump was ‘apoplectic’ with Mr Johnson for his Huawei decision and expressed his views in livid terms. A second official confirmed that the Trump-Johnson call was ‘very difficult’. British officials with knowledge of the exchange said they were taken aback by the force of the president’s language towards Mr Johnson. The White House said in a statement shortly after the announcement of the UK’s decision that it was “disappointed” by the move, and attorney general WIlliam Barr suggested today that the US and its allies should invest in Huawei’s rivals like Nokia and Ericsson to counter the company’s strength.


theguardian--2020-02-06--'A hollow pretence of justice': the global press on Trump's acquittal

The international media were scathing in their verdict on Donald Trump ’ s acquittal in his Senate trial , portraying it as a bitter charade that would allow the president to continue his onslaught on American democracy – with potentially global consequences .
Germany ’ s Die Zeit said the outcome of the impeachment process was “ a triumph for Trump – not just over the Democrats , but over democracy ” .
The end of this “ historic yet absurd process ” had made abundantly clear “ how seriously damaged the US political system now is ” , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ president who knows no borders ” , did not begin this attack on democracy , it said , “ but he recognised it and accelerated it .
He took advantage of the smouldering distrust of institutions and norms , proffering lies and slander to all who oppose him .
Trump , his followers and the majority of the Republicans are , together and wilfully , breaking down the foundations of democracy , ” the paper argued .
“ Parliament as the supervisor of the president ?
No , they argue , the Democrats @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ruler .
The judiciary , an independent pillar of the state ?
No , not if it decides against Trump .
The press , a factual corrective for political propaganda ?
No , whoever criticises the man in the White House is an enemy of the people .
Intelligence agencies , advisers , the whole government apparatus is justified only as long as it supports the truths of power.
” France ’ s Libération said the curtain had fallen “ not before time ” on a process that for the past fortnight had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the world , a desperate spectacle .
A hollow pretence of justice , without testimony or an ounce of impartiality , it ended as expected – in the president ’ s acquittal.
” The US Senate , once known as the world ’ s greatest deliberative body , “ did not deliberate at all .
Not for a moment .
In refusing to allow witnesses to be called , the Republican bloc , more subservient to Trump than ever , ensured the evidence against him would simply not be examined.
” What would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ paper wondered .
“ Will they see a turning point in the way the executive branch accounts for itself to Congress ?
The ultimate splintering of American politics ?
The abandonment by Senate Republicans of their pledge to defend the constitution ?
Or a strategic error by the Democrats ?
The answer will largely depend on the outcome of the presidential election on 3 November.
” In Australia , the Age warned of the wider consequences of the acquittal .
“ Even taking into account Trump ’ s positives , his negatives – @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the numerous sexual assault allegations , his disregard for the spirit and letter of the law – are destructive for constitutional democracy , ” it said .
“ With Republicans unwilling to check his power , Trump functions more like a ruler , a mob boss , or a kingpin than an elected official .
Disregard for the law should be of deep concern to citizens of democracies everywhere .
It creates a world where status matters more than the law .
The impeachment trial of Donald Trump marks a shift .
It @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of democracy across the globe.
” In the Netherlands , De Volkskrant ’ s Washington correspondent agreed , saying the outcome of the impeachment process was never in doubt : “ If it has made one thing very clear , it ’ s that he has the undivided support of his party – and that if he wins in November , he will be accountable only to himself.
” Trump was going from strength to strength , the paper said : “ He exhibits behaviour that has never been seen before in US @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of decorum , the way he puts people under pressure , the demonstrable corruption .
But no one is put off .
The traditional values of honour and respect , an inherent part of the Republican party for so long , have been abandoned in a staggeringly short space of time.
” Spain ’ s El País said this had been the most partisan impeachment process ever , with only a heroic Mitt Romney breaking party lines .
“ The Republican defence rose like an unshakeable wall , ” the paper said : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ against him were true , Trump should not be impeached .
“ The founding fathers were aware the president would accumulate so much power that the constitution had to be given an instrument to remove him under certain circumstances , ” it said .
“ On Wednesday , a divided Senate decided Trump would complete the 349 days he has left in office .
On the street , there was no noise , no great protest .
There have not been in the entire trial .
”

The international media were scathing in their verdict on Donald Trump’s acquittal in his Senate trial, portraying it as a bitter charade that would allow the president to continue his onslaught on American democracy – with potential global consequences.
Germany’s Die Zeit said the outcome of the impeachment process was “a triumph for Trump – not just over the Democrats, but over democracy”. The end of this “historic yet absurd process” had made abundantly clear “how seriously damaged the US political system now is”, the paper said.
Trump, “a president who knows no borders”, did not begin this attack on democracy, it said, “but he recognised it and accelerated it. He took advantage of the smouldering distrust of institutions and norms, proffering lies and slander to all who oppose him. Trump, his followers and the majority of the Republicans are, together and wilfully, breaking down the foundations of democracy.
“Parliament as the supervisor of the president? No, they argue, the Democrats were just trying to overthrow the rightful ruler. The judiciary, an independent pillar of the state? No, not if it decides against Trump. The press, a factual corrective for political propaganda? No, whoever criticises the man in the White House is an enemy of the people. Intelligence agencies, advisers, the whole government apparatus is justified only as long as it supports the truths of power.”
France’s Libération said the curtain had fallen “not before time” on a process that for the past fortnight had “offered the American public, and the world, a desperate spectacle. A hollow pretence of justice, without testimony or an ounce of impartiality, it ended as expected – in the president’s acquittal.”
The US Senate, once known as the world’s greatest deliberative body, “did not deliberate at all. Not for a moment. In refusing to allow witnesses to be called, the Republican bloc, more subservient to Trump than ever, ensured the evidence against him would simply not be examined.”
What would future historians make of it, the paper wondered. “Will they see a turning point in the way the executive branch accounts for itself to Congress? The ultimate splintering of American politics? The abandonment by Senate Republicans of their pledge to defend the constitution? Or a strategic error by the Democrats? The answer will largely depend on the outcome of the presidential election on 3 November.”
In Australia, the Age warned of the wider consequences of the acquittal. “Even taking into account Trump’s positives, his negatives – corruption, his reliance on lying, the numerous sexual assault allegations, his disregard for the spirit and letter of the law – are destructive for constitutional democracy,” it said.
“With Republicans unwilling to check his power, Trump functions more like a ruler, a mob boss, or a kingpin than an elected official. Disregard for the law should be of deep concern to citizens of democracies everywhere. It creates a world where status matters more than the law. The impeachment trial of Donald Trump marks a shift. It marks a dangerous turn for the fate of democracy across the globe.”
In the Netherlands, De Volkskrant’s Washington correspondent agreed, saying the outcome of the impeachment process was never in doubt: “If it has made one thing very clear, it’s that he has the undivided support of his party – and that if he wins in November, he will be accountable only to himself.”
Trump was going from strength to strength, the paper said: “He exhibits behaviour that has never been seen before in US presidents: the lies, the lack of decorum, the way he puts people under pressure, the demonstrable corruption. But no one is put off. The traditional values of honour and respect, an inherent part of the Republican party for so long, have been abandoned in a staggeringly short space of time.”
Spain’s El País said this had been the most partisan impeachment process ever, with only a heroic Mitt Romney breaking party lines. “The Republican defence rose like an unshakable wall,” the paper said: regardless of whether or not the accusations against him were true, Trump should not be impeached.
“The founding fathers were aware the president would accumulate so much power that the constitution had to be given an instrument to remove him under certain circumstances,” it said. “On Wednesday, a divided Senate decided Trump would complete the 349 days he has left in office. On the street, there was no noise, no great protest. There have not been in the entire trial.”


theguardian--2020-02-06--House to vote on legislation to protect workers' rights to form and join unions

The US House of Representatives will vote on a bill on Thursday to protect US workers ’ right to form and join unions that supporters are calling the “ most ambitious pro-labor legislation ” in decades and one Republican congressman has dismissed as “ the worst bill in congress ” .
The ‘ Protecting the Right to Organize Act , PRO Act has strong support from congressional Democrats and labor leaders .
Republican Kevin Hern of Oklahoma , who owns ten McDonald ’ s franchises and has an estimated net worth of $ 93m , has called the bill an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s labor laws in order to strengthen the coercive power of labor unions at the expense of workers and the economy ” .
Some 215 Democrats in the House currently co-sponsor the PRO Act and three Republicans are currently co-sponsors of the bill .
“ This will protect people ’ s rights to form unions .
Those who join a union are likely to get better wages , better benefits , and work in a safer workplace , ” Democratic congressman Bobby Scott , the author of the bill , told the Guardian @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Labor Relations Act and Labor-Management Reporting and Disclosure Act by allowing the National Labor Relations Board to assess monetary penalties against corporations for labor law violations , impose liability against corporate executives , and grants the board the right to reinstate workers fired for retaliation while their case is pending review .
The bill also makes it illegal for corporations to force workers to attend captive audience meetings to persuade them from forming a union , forces corporations to disclose contracts with union avoidance consultants , and requires mediation and arbitration between newly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ over first contract negotiations .
A 2018 Princeton study found unionized workers have received 10-20 % higher wages than nonunion workers in similar job positions over the past eight decades .
Congressman Scott cited studies that show labor unions have also helped eliminate gender and racial pay disparities as wages are negotiated in labor contracts for all workers .
“ The pay disparity in union is virtually non-existent , ” he said .
“ For those interested in eliminating pay disparities there is virtually no disparity between men and women and minorities and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ gets paid exactly the same.
” Union membership in the US hit a record low in 2018 , with only 10.5 % of American workers belonging to a labor union .
Rising income inequality has been tied to a significant decline in US union membership over the past few decades .
Advocates of the PRO Act are hopeful the legislation is a step forward in working to address the problems facing American workers .
“ There is a crisis in our country regarding income inequality and workers ’ ability to exercise their countervailing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the co-director of Clean Slate for Worker Power , an initiative of Harvard Law School ’ s Labor and Worklife Program .
“ I think the PRO Act is the most ambitious pro labor legislation we ’ ve seen in years , decades maybe .
There is an urgency to start to fix the problem the PRO act addresses , but it can ’ t be the end of the conversation of what we need to do for workers to rebuild or build countervailing power as we see this incredible increase of corporate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the wealthy ’ s influence on our political system .
”

The US House of Representatives will vote on a bill on Thursday to protect US workers’ right to form and join unions that supporters are calling the “most ambitious pro-labor legislation” in decades – and which one Republican lawmaker has dismissed as “the worst bill in Congress”.
The Protecting the Right to Organize (Pro) Act has strong support from congressional Democrats and labor leaders. Republican Kevin Hern of Oklahoma, who owns 10 McDonald’s franchises and has an estimated net worth of $93m, has called the bill an attempt to “rewrite our country’s labor laws in order to strengthen the coercive power of labor unions at the expense of workers and the economy”.
Some 215 Democrats in the House currently co-sponsor the Pro Act. Three Republicans are currently co-sponsors.
“This will protect people’s rights to form unions. Those who join a union are likely to get better wages, better benefits, and work in a safer workplace,” Democratic congressman Bobby Scott, the author of the bill, told the Guardian.
The Pro Act amends the National Labor Relations Act and the Labor-Management Reporting and Disclosure Act by allowing the NLRB to assess monetary penalties against corporations for labor law violations and impose liability against corporate executives. It also grants the board the right to reinstate workers fired for retaliation while their case is pending review.
The bill also makes it illegal for corporations to force workers to attend captive audience meetings to persuade them against forming a union, forces corporations to disclose contracts with union-avoidance consultants, and requires mediation and arbitration between newly formed unions and corporations to settle disputes over first contract negotiations.
A 2018 Princeton study found unionized workers have received 10-20% higher wages than non-union workers in similar job positions over the past eight decades. Congressman Scott said studies show labor unions have also helped eliminate gender and racial pay disparities as wages are negotiated in contracts for all workers.
“The pay disparity in unions is virtually non-existent,” he said. “For those interested in eliminating pay disparities, there is virtually no disparity between men and women, and minorities and whites, in terms of wages. Everyone gets paid exactly the same.”
Union membership in the US hit a record low in 2018, with only 10.5% of American workers belonging to a labor union. Rising income inequality has been tied to a significant decline in US union membership over the past few decades. Advocates of the Pro Act are hopeful the legislation is a step forward in working to address the problems facing American workers.
“There is a crisis in our country regarding income inequality and workers’ ability to exercise their countervailing power,” said Sharon Block, the co-director of Clean Slate for Worker Power, an initiative of Harvard Law School’s Labor and Worklife Program.
“I think the Pro Act is the most ambitious pro-labor legislation we’ve seen in years, decades maybe. There is an urgency to start to fix the problem the Pro Act addresses, but it can’t be the end of the conversation of what we need to do for workers to rebuild or build countervailing power, as we see this incredible increase of corporate power, the influence of corporations, and the wealthy’s influence on our political system.”