WASHINGTON – The end of the indictment of former President Donald Trump opens a new chapter for his successor in the White House.
But while President Joe Biden and his team are eager to move beyond the accusation, the bitterly biased tone of the proceedings underscores the deepest challenges ahead as the president and his party try to bring their agenda to the fore and address historical crises. .
Biden, who was in Camp David during the presidential retreat when the Senate voted in favor of Trump’s acquittal on Saturday, acknowledged that Democrats should hold the former president accountable for the siege of the U.S. Capitol, but he does not welcome the way it is. from his agenda.
The trial ended with every Democrat and seven Republicans voting to convict Trump, but the 57-43 vote was far from the two-thirds threshold required for conviction. Whether the seven GOP votes against Trump Biden offer new hope for dual cooperation within Congress remains an open question.
In a statement, Biden referred to the GOP’s votes in favor of the conviction of the former president – and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell’s own accusation of Trump’s actions – as proof that “the content of the accusation “that Trump was responsible for inciting violence at the Capitol is” not in dispute. “
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But he quickly moved on to the work ahead, sounding a tone of unity, declaring that ‘this sad chapter in our history has reminded us that democracy is fragile’ and that ‘each of us has a duty and responsibility as Americans. , and especially as leaders, to defend the truth and defeat the lies. ‘
“This is a task we must undertake together. As the United States of America,” Biden said.
Biden pointed out that he should not have watched the trial live, preferring to comment only briefly on the moving images of the riot that gripped the country. Although his White House has publicly argued that the trial does not hamper their plans, aides have been privately concerned that a lengthy process could hamper the Senate and delay its massive COVID-19 relief bill. The $ 1.9 billion proposal is just the first part of a comprehensive legislative agenda that Biden wants to succeed in fighting the coronavirus pandemic, which killed more than 480,000 Americans and shattered the country’s economy.
“The biggest priority for Democrats and the Biden government is going to be to live up to the promises made on the pandemic, both on the vaccine and the economic front,” said Democratic strategist Josh Schwerin.
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The end of the indictment frees the party to focus on less divisive and broader popular issues and policies, such as the coronavirus relief package, which polls say has significant support among Americans.
During his campaign, Biden worked not to be defined by Trump and his controversies, and he tried to draw a contrast about policy and competence, a guiding principle he and his assistants conveyed in the White House.
His team kept a steady stream of events during the trial, including an update on vaccine development and Biden’s first visit to the Pentagon as commander-in-chief. With the proceedings on the other side of Pennsylvania Avenue, the White House plans to step up its efforts to ease the fight against the pandemic and push past Trump’s chaos.
Former Democratic senator Heidi Heitkamp of North Dakota predicted that in a state like hers, where Trump won 65% of the vote, and with a focus on the pressing issues would now make more progress with average voters.
“What we need to talk about is the economy – getting the economy back on track and turning the page” about the last government, she said. “Good policy is good politics. We must return to it.”
Democrats have a decision to make on how to deal with Trump going forward. While the end of the indictment provides a clear opportunity for the party to focus squarely on its own agenda, Trump could also be a powerful political weapon for Democrats, not to mention a major driver of campaign cash.
Following Saturday’s vote, American Bridge 21st Century, the Democratic Party’s opposition research arm, issued a statement calling on senators from Ohio and Florida, two states the Democrats are targeting in the 2022 election, to vote against the conviction. of Trump.
“Ron Johnson, Marco Rubio and almost every other Republican in the Senate present their loyalty to Donald Trump to the rule of law, the Capitol police officers who protect them every day and the oath they swore to uphold the Constitution,” said Bradley Beychock. , the group’s president, who the senators call ‘spineless sycophants’.
Yet Schwerin warned that Trump could not be the Democrats’ ‘primary focus’.
“We should not ignore the fact that many of the problems the country is facing are due to Trump’s failures, but he should not be the focus of every email and press release for fundraising. We should look forward to it,” he said. he said. said.
Biden plans to hold a busy program focused on the coronavirus pandemic next week.
The president will make his first official domestic trip this week: a TV town hall in Wisconsin on Tuesday to talk to Americans affected by the coronavirus and a visit to a Pfizer vaccine in Michigan on Thursday.
Legislative staff members in the White House were ready to work with House committees to draft details of the COVID-19 relief bill, which Democrats hope to vote on next month.
Some within the party are not done with Trump yet. The Progressive Change Campaign Committee, a leading group for progressive advocates, issued a petition on Saturday night urging supporters to call on Attorney General Merrick Garland to investigate and prosecute Trump and his entire criminal network for violation of the law. ‘
Biden is likely to continue to have questions about how his Justice Department will handle a number of ongoing federal and criminal investigations into Trump’s affairs and his behavior as president.
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And his aides will watch Trump’s next moves, especially if he claims to be acquitted and heats up his political activity, even pointing to a 2024 campaign. The plan for the time being is to try to ignore the former president.
Former Democratic National Committee chairwoman Donna Brazile warned that Trump would not make it easy, but that Democrats should avoid being sucked back into his lane.
“I do not think Donald Trump is going to disappear from anyone’s lips any time soon, and that’s because Donald Trump will always try to find ways to inject himself and serve himself,” she said.
“While Donald Trump is figuring out who he’s going to follow next, the Democrats will find out how they are going to uplift people and how they are going to protect and help the American people.”