Aides warned Trump he'd be removed from office if he didn't condemn mob attack and concede

[groundloop]

Source: CNN

President Trump's top aides delivered a blunt warning to him Thursday as he sat sullenly in the West Wing and watched as his Republican allies, Cabinet secretaries and former senior staffers criticized or denounced him one by one.

The President's daughter and adviser, Ivanka Trump, White House counsel Pat Cipollone, White House chief of staff Mark Meadows and others told Trump that there was a real chance he would be removed from office — whether by his own Cabinet or lawmakers — if he did not more forcefully denounce the actions of his supporters the day before.

Trump did not initially want to issue a video decrying the loyalists, whose actions he largely supported, but he told aides to prepare a speech and then he would decide.

Once he read over the brief speech they had prepared, Trump agreed to record it Thursday evening, a relief to the senior staff, though there are still concerns he could backtrack during his final days in office given his actual position — that he lost the election unfairly —has not changed.




Read more: Scroll Down https://www.cnn.com/politics/live-news/washington-dc-riots-trump-news-friday/h_b1d1b557d6a55bd3391e60e39ffffd69

[still_one]

1. I think there is a 50% chance that he will issue pardons for his criminal family including himself,

then resign, and live in another country before the Supreme Court will hear the case if it is legal for a president to pardon himself

I don't think Pence wants anything more to do with him and won't pardon him if trump resigned and he became a temporary president to serve out the remaining term

[muriel_volestrangler]

2. That all sounds sadly likely

I think Trump will also pardon people who stormed the Capitol - since I presume that's a federal offense.

[still_one]

3. Some of his pardons may not hold up if they involve a quid pro quo

[onetexan]

17. agree, i think those should be challenged by the DOJ

[ToxMarz]

6. If Trump resigned that would make Pence #46

And my new coffee mug would be worthless!

[PJMcK]

9. An contraire

Your mug might increase in value especially over time.

ETA: Besides, if Pence finishes Trump’s term, he’d be 45.2.

[GulfCoast66]

10. Au contraire! Like my 46 hat it will be a collector items.

I would wear it with pride!

[ToxMarz]

11. That a good point

[COL Mustard]

13. And I'd Have To Donate $47 To DU And The Lincoln Project

To be numerically correct!

[Glorfindel]

15. Not necessarily. I have a teacup commemorating the

coronation of King Edward VIII, which, of course, never took place. I have been offered $100.00 for it, but I wouldn't part with it for anything, since it was a gift from a dear cousin.

[Marcuse]

18. This is the year that Buffalo Bills championship merch won't be donated to the overseas needy.

[mwooldri]

21. Doubt it. Pence would be Acting President.

What should happen is DJT should himself pull an Article 25, go on down to Fla and leave Pence in charge for the next few days. Pence could then pardon DJT I suppose...

[twodogsbarking]

4. Prison for Don and his thugs

They can paint the terlet gold so he feels at home.

[marble falls]

5. What a great idea to put reforming Presidential pardon on the table. As well as criminal ...

... culpability of a sitting President.

[dalton99a]

7. +1. Trump is a perfect example

[callous taoboy]

8. More concerned about the messaging instead of the deed itself.

Par for the course.

[Lock him up.]

12. They were dancing while 5 people DIED because of their conspiracy show!

And now they can pardon themselves???

THIS IS NOT EQUAL JUSTICE FOR ALL!

[scarletwoman]

14. No one was "dancing while 5 people died" - the dancing scene was from before trump went onstage

to speak to the rally.

Please don't spread lies here.

[Ligyron]

19. So junior's video wasn't from when their mob that they summoned was storming the Capitol?

How disappointing if true, but I'm sure if there was video it wouldn't be much different.

[scarletwoman]

20. No, it was not. The video was taken backstage of the rally, before trump

went out to speak to the crowd.

What they're watching on the video monitors is the crowd gathering in front of the stage where Don Jr, Kelly Guilfoile (sp?), and trump, etc. would be addressing the rally goers.

[Ligyron]

23. Got it and thank you for that!

[scarletwoman]

26. You're welcome. I hope you'll help spread the word about the reality of that video.

[Lock him up.]

32. Thanks for the details (for accuracy), but...

Dancing or not dancing does not excuse them for formenting (as co-conspirators) and inciting (as alleged criminal CIC) an illegal violent insurection against the United States Congress using wide-spread lies about voting fraud (as justification for a dumb reality-TV stunt at the sole benefit of Donald John Trump & family, no matter how many victims-for-nothing their irresponsible conduct would entail), so pardoning themselves for that illegal sh!t show (for two months) should not stand challenges in Court (for Equal Justice For All).

[VA_Jill]

16. He could still be removed.

Condemning and conceding doesn't negate what he did before that.

[bucolic_frolic]

22. Impeach him anyway. Tag him again. Then indict him for incitement. And his son.

Civil society has got to face this whole menace. We have no choice. It will launch us into anarchy if we don't because that's what they want so they can steal more and kill more. This is the challenge ahead. Authorities must be relentless everywhere. They should tally up the damage bill and assess each and every trespasser proportionally. All should do at least 30 days. There are consequences for those who break boundaries and norms.

These are the people who support police, right?

[ramapo]

24. Obviously insincere

That video was akin to a hostage video. It was obvious he didn’t believe a word of it. He was robotic. I figured he had been told to read these words or you’re fired

[TomCADem]

25. I Think Part of the Delay Is That He Wanted to See If His Attempt Was Successful

In other words, if the rioters were able to cause enough death and destruction to significantly delay the vote or perhaps create a pretext for Trump to take extraordinary measures.

[SunSeeker]

34. Exactly. nt

[scarletwoman]

27. There's also this:

https://democraticunderground.com/100214853136

Prosecutors 'looking at all actors,' including Trump, as charges are filed against Capitol rioters

This is the reason for Trump's hostage video ("Trump finally admits defeat" ) released Thursday afternoon. A White House lawyer (a real one) probably pointed out to him that he could face possible criminal charges, so it was time for some bigly CYA:

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/federal-law-enforcement-agencies-push-for-arrests-and-charges-after-wednesdays-capitol-riot/ar-BB1cyBol

By Evan Perez, Jeremy Herb, Katelyn Polantz, Kara Scannell and Christina Carrega, CNN

Federal investigators are looking at everyone involved in the unrest at the US Capitol on Wednesday, including the role President Donald Trump played in inciting the crowd, the acting US attorney in Washington, DC, said Thursday.

Asked directly by a reporter on a press call if investigators were looking at the role Trump played at the rally, acting US Attorney Michael Sherwin said, "We're looking at all actors here and anyone that had a role and, if the evidence fits the elements of the crime, they're going to be charged."

Law enforcement officials in Washington are moving swiftly to bring criminal charges against rioters in Wednesday's storming of the US Capitol, even as the Capitol Police faces serious questions about how the building was allowed to be breached in the first place. (more at link)

[DemocraticPatriot]

28. Essentially, a cowardly retweat! haha

But I thought they were "very special"? I thought he 'loved them'???

How quickly he sells out his supporters to save his own ass.... as usual...

Nothing to see here, move along...

[BobTheSubgenius]

29. A pathology such as his will never be "cured" by a chat about his self-interest.

That he won but was cheated is part of his core. Years of "willing" therapy is needed to change that way of thinking. I doubt whether he has that number of years left to him, and I'm positive he doesn't have the will to change.

[oldsoftie]

30. Well THAT explains the coherent statement from earlier then.

I couldnt believe what I was hearing.
Hows it feel to be on the other side of it, DJT?

[bucolic_frolic]

31. Did he think it a plea deal?

[Gary 50]

33. I'd like to see Trump resign with the understanding that Pence would pardon him.

Then Pence would refuse as payback for Trumps endangering his life.