Prominent lawyer Norman Eisen wrote in an op-ed for the New York Times that the ex-staff’s testimony “changes everything.” He sees several points of lawsuit once morest Trump significantly strengthened and even brings into play a lawsuit under the 14th Amendment to the United States Constitution, which states that officials might be removed from office if they take part in “an insurrection or rebellion” once morest the United States ” participated or supported or favored their enemies”.
Hutchinson’s and other testimonies have shown that Trump was the key figure in “every phase” of the attempt to overturn the election, lawyer and former Deputy Attorney General Donald Ayer told CNN. The main thing now was the question of intent – and Trump knew what he was doing.
The decision rests with the Ministry of Justice
“There is still a great deal of uncertainty surrounding the question of a president’s criminal intent,” legal expert and former Justice Department official Alan Rozenshtein told the New York Times. But Hutchinson’s testimony changed his assessment. He now thinks it is much more likely that Trump will be charged.
According to Nicholas Creel, law professor at Georgia College and State University, there is no way around prosecuting the ex-president. Going unpunished would make a mockery of the central tenet of the US judiciary that “no man is above the law,” Creel argued.
In any case, the decision lies with the Ministry of Justice, which has so far been rather reluctant. Neama Rahmani, a former US attorney in San Diego, California, doubts Attorney General Merrick Garland has “the guts” for such a fight.
“Let my people in”
Trump responded to Hutchinson’s statement with a series of posts on his social network Truth Social. He called Hutchinson a “swindler”. This stated that Trump knew before his inflammatory speech on January 6 that the demonstrators were armed. “Take away those damn metal detectors. You are not here to hurt me. let her in Let my people in, they can march to the Capitol following the rally,” she quoted the ex-president as saying. He also wanted to drive to the Capitol himself – which the Secret Service is said to have prevented for security reasons.
Witness: Trump wanted to come to the Capitol
According to an ex-employee, the then US President Donald Trump wanted to drive to the Capitol himself on January 6 last year, despite major security concerns, where Congress was to certify the election of his successor Joe Biden. At a public hearing by the investigative committee on the Capitol attack, Cassidy Hutchinson, then assistant to Trump’s chief of staff Mark Meadows, said Trump was not dissuaded by concerns regarding possible legal consequences.
Trump’s lawyers will now try to undermine the credibility of the 26-year-old witness. On the one hand, that might be difficult because the woman who came to the White House as an intern is actually a self-confessed Republican. That Trump himself wanted to drive to the Capitol has now been confirmed by further statements. The fact that Trump grabbed the driver’s steering wheel has been denied – so far only unofficially. Inconsistencies also arise with a further statement by the woman.
“Either Trump or Constitution”
But apart from the question of an indictment, the new allegations might also endanger Trump politically. In any case, the rifts within the Republican party seem to be getting deeper. Liz Cheney, daughter of ex-Vice President Dick Cheney, is increasingly acting as the face of the anti-Trump faction within the party. The congressman said Wednesday that Republicans are faced with the reality of having to make a choice: “Because Republicans cannot be loyal to Donald Trump and to the Constitution at the same time.” ‘ don’t ignore it, ‘nor do other Republicans’.
Cheney is also vice chair of the committee on the January 6 events. Much of the information regarding the potential for violence was known before the violence erupted, she said. “In time for President Trump to take steps to prevent the violence,” the Republican interviewing Hutchinson said.
Divisions are evident in primary elections
It is now expected that with Hutchinson’s statements and possible further allegations in the committee, the momentum in the party will increase once more significantly. It is speculated that more Republicans will then move away from the former president. The new allegations before the committee, but also the Supreme Court’s decision to ban abortion, are two events within a few days that would have an enormous impact, according to a comment on the Politico news portal. And both events would put more pressure on Trump—and by extension, Republicans.
The split among the Republicans is also clearly noticeable in the current primary elections for the midterm elections in the fall. Trump is more involved in the midterm elections than any previous president. The balance so far has been mixed. In a much-publicized Republican primary for the governorship in Georgia, his protégé David Perdue failed, but overall the candidates supported by Trump won two-thirds in May.
The political portal Politica has analyzed that those Republican candidates who spoke out in favor of the investigations once morest Trump had to accept some serious losses.
Half of population polled for prosecution
However, some experts question whether it makes sense to use the victory or defeat of Trump’s preferred candidates as a yardstick for his influence. Republican strategists point out that his political ideology, summarized as “Trumpism,” has become somewhat independent. Even without his support, there are enough candidates who campaign with his content.
In a new poll by The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research, nearly 50 percent of respondents say Trump should be impeached for his role in the capital rush. Almost 60 percent consider it proven that he is at least partially responsible for the incidents. According to this survey, however, only ten percent of Republicans are in favor of legal prosecution. In an Ipsos poll in early June, around a quarter of self-confessed Republicans saw Trump as guilty – and the trend was even rising.
