Former US president, who faces four conspiracy and obstruction counts, is due to have bail conditions set
Politicial observers are not just watching the criminal proceedings against former president Donald Trump, but also the reaction of the Republican party to them.
This morning AP congressional correspondent Lisa Mascaro has looked at the contrast between Mitch McConnell’s words at the time of the 6 January uprising and subsequent impeachment, and what he is – or rather isn’t – saying now.
At a rally last weekend, Trump argued he was exercising his right to free speech as he challenged the 2020 election results. In the indictment, the prosecution acknowledges Trump had a right to challenge the results. But, crucially, it said Trump repeated his knowingly false claims to give them legitimacy and “create an intense national atmosphere of mistrust and anger, and erode public faith in the administration of the election.”
At the time, Mascaro notes, McConnell put it similarly.
“The issue is not only the President’s intemperate language on 6 January” McConnell said ahead of the Senate vote to acquit Trump of the impeachment charge of insurrection.
“It was also the entire manufactured atmosphere of looming catastrophe; the increasingly wild myths – myths – about a reverse landslide election that was somehow being stolen in some secret coup.”
McConnell said, “The leader of the free world cannot spend weeks thundering that shadowy forces are stealing our country and then feign surprise when people believe him and do reckless things.”
And when Senate leader McConnell rose to announce his vote to acquit Donald Trump of impeachment charges, the Republican assured the public the former president would have his day in court.
“He didn’t get away with anything yet – yet,” McConnell vowed. “We have a criminal justice system in this country. We have civil litigation. And former presidents are not immune from being accountable by either one.”
This week, as Trump prepares to face potential consequences from the criminal justice system, McConnell has remained silent.
Our First Thing newsletter has just been published, and here is how my colleague Nicola Slawson teed up the day, writing:
Trump is expected to make his first appearance in the case in person, according to people briefed on the matter, and to travel for the arraignment from his Bedminster club in New Jersey to Washington with his lawyers and several top campaign staffers.
