- Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin of West Virginia has said in no uncertain terms that President Donald Trump’s recent actions were grounds for accusation.
- But Manchin warned Congress to be “practical” before being tried.
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Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin of West Virginia said in no uncertain terms that President Donald Trump’s recent actions were grounds for accusation; however, Congress warned ‘to be practical’ before he was tried.
“There is no doubt that he should be charged,” Manchin said during a CNN interview on Sunday. “But if we can not, you have to be practical about what we do now.”
Manchin, who has criticized Trump’s rhetoric over the outcome of the US presidential election, stressed that the timing of an indictment “made no sense” at all, as the Senate intends to return from the recess and resume regularly. matters on January 19, one day before the election date of President Joe Biden.
“We are ready to install a new government,” Manchin said. “If I were Joe Biden, I would want to form my government.”
Democrats in the House had already threatened Monday to bring charges against Trump, the second during his presidency.
In a memorandum first reported by The Washington Post, Senate Leader Mitch McConnell set out his plan in case the Democrats were to begin the proceedings before Biden’s inauguration date. McConnell wrote that the Senate would take up the matter early on January 19, as any decision taken before returning from the recession would require a unanimous decision by a Republican Senate – an unlikely scenario.
“I hope people would look at two paths: you have a political path and you have a judicial path,” Manchin said. “I think the legal path may be the best to give us the best results to stop this stupidity within politics, this dangerous, treacherous kind of speech you have.”
Manchin, a moderate vote in the Senate, is an important vote for Democrats during a stalemate. The Manchin vote is still important in the coming year, despite the Democrats having the majority of members in both chambers of Congress. Elected Vice President Kamala Harris will be the equalizer in the event of a 50-50 split.
An increasing number of Republican and Democratic lawmakers have called for Trump to be indicted after the January 6 riots on Capitol Hill. Before the rioters stormed Congress, Trump offered an opportunity near the White House to galvanize supporters to “never concede” to contesting the outcome of the presidential election.
The ensuing riot claimed the lives of at least five people, including one Capitol Hill police officer.