Legal Takes

There’s nothing “unconstitutional” about completing impeachment after the officer leaves office; there’s still the question of whether he should be disqualified from holding *future* office.

On Hugh’s atextual reading, an officer could avoid disqualification simply by resigning. https://t.co/cwJ1kNEs6V

— Steve Vladeck (@steve_vladeck) January 12, 2021

The professor at UT-Austin tells the former Harvard professor (Dershowitz, who says Trump can’t be impeached after 1/20) to read the Constitution again.

pic.twitter.com/fryAbu19rz

— Conservative Self-Owns (@ConSelfOwns) January 12, 2021

I think the President might have been on to something.

And this problem: 

A 1969 Supreme Court ruling that tossed the conviction of a Ku Klux Klan leader may also shield President Donald Trump from prosecution for inciting last week’s Capitol riot, @yaffebellany & @BobVanVoris report https://t.co/Y27V8DniLA

— Jordan Fabian (@Jordanfabian) January 12, 2021

That Trump didn’t “intend” to incite violence. I think we can overcome that:

New details from @maggieNYT on what Trump was doing during the riot: "He was pleased... He knew what was happening... He just didn't want to do anything."

Says only thing that snapped him out of it was being told he would face legal exposure based on what he said at the rally. pic.twitter.com/dBv0p9IAE5

— Alli Hedges Maser (@AllisonLHedges) January 12, 2021

And no, it's not just 'anonymous sources':

President Trump admitted Monday that he is at least partially to blame for what transpired at the U.S. Capitol last Wednesday, according to House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, who spoke with the president on Monday and later conveyed Mr. Trump's feelings to fellow House Republicans.

Multiple Republicans familiar with the exchanges confirmed the details to CBS News. McCarthy recounted details of his call with the president to fellow Republicans during a conference call later Monday, the people familiar with the exchange said.

The call between the president and top House Republican came on the same day Mr. Trump met face-to-face in the Oval Office with Vice President Pence for the first time since the deadly siege, during which protesters were heard chanting, "Hang Mike Pence!"“He was pleased.” 

Trump really is his own worst enemy.