“Investigate all the people who instigated violence” … Then Trump pulls out self-pardon

Protesters supporting US President Donald Trump broke into the Washington Capitol on the 6th (local time) and occupied the conference hall. The photo shows protesters who occupied Rotunda Hall of the Capitol. [EPA=연합뉴스]

The storm is intensifying after the unprecedented occupation of the US Congress on the 6th (local time). As voices raised the accountability argument against President Donald Trump, who instigated the protesters, federal prosecutors also suggested the possibility of investigation and prosecution.

According to the Washington Post (WP), acting DC Federal Attorney Michael Sherwin announced on the 7th (local time) that “President Trump has not been excluded from the investigation of violence the day before.”

President Trump earlier insisted on “reclaiming the country” at a White House rally before protesters attacked Congress. There are criticisms over this, including the Republican presidential candidate, Senator Mitt Romney, stipulating that it is a “revolt initiated by the current president.”

According to the WP and others, Acting Sherwin said at a press conference, “We are looking into all the people involved in this situation. The charges are included.”

Sherwin said, “We will apply the strongest charges possible,” referring to trespassing, theft, civil conspiracy, rebellion, and riots.

When reporters asked, “Is President Trump included in the investigation,” Acting Sherwin replied, “We are looking at all the parties, and anyone will be prosecuted as long as the evidence fits the criminal charges.” The answer is to see if the crime charges can be applied to President Trump.

In this regard, the New York Times (NYT) cited two sources, saying, “President Trump is reviewing a’self-pardon’ for him.” “I asked his aides about the legal and political impact of exercising the pardon.” Reported.

US President Donald Trump visits Arlington National Cemetery for the first time in four days after the presidential election defeat in November last year, visits the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and makes a wreath. [EPA=연합뉴스]

According to the media, President Trump has continued to review the exercise of the pardon since the presidential election, and it was an interest that went beyond just an idea. At the same time, he said that in preparation for the Justice Minister-elect Joe Biden-appointed to conduct an investigation into the Trump family, a preemptive pardon for himself, his daughter Ivanka, and his son-in-law Jared Kushner, senior advisor to the White House, is being considered.

It is unclear whether the court will accept it, since no previous US president has exercised pardon on himself. NYT pointed out that “the president may set a dangerous precedent for circumventing responsibility while acknowledging the violation.

However, under current law, the president’s right to amnesty applies only to federal law. The Trump Foundation’s investigation into illegal campaign funding, which is currently being investigated by the New York Manhattan prosecution, is said to have no effect on the’self-pardon’.

Concerns that President Trump will abuse the presidential immunity are not the first to come. However, it is pointed out that the previous day’s raid on the parliament was far beyond the line even for President Trump. As if conscious of this, President Trump remarked in a 2 minute 40 second video posted on Twitter on the 7th (local time), “The United States is a country of law and order, and it should always be.” Still, he left behind to his supporters, saying, “Our great journey is only the beginning.”

US President-elect Joe Biden at a press conference on the 6th (local time). [로이터=연합뉴스]

In time, the Biden Transition Committee nominated a Washington DC Appeal Court Judge Merrick Galland as Minister of Justice on the 7th (local time). The moderate-minded Judge Gallund was a candidate for the Federal Supreme Court by the Obama administration.

Biden’s election on this day is interpreted with the intention of emphasizing’law and order’ against President Trump, who caused confusion in the state affairs.

The Democratic Party has defined the situation as “bullying against Congress.” Hard-liners in the party announced that they would pursue the impeachment of President Trump, who had a short term in office. This is unlikely, but impeachment would prevent President Trump from running for the 2024 presidential election.

CNN reported that “a preliminary meeting has been convened by the US administration to review’Article 25 of the Amendment’.” According to Article 25 of the Amendment (entered into force in 1967), if the Vice President and a majority of the Cabinet decide that “the President cannot perform his duties”, the Vice President will act as the President. As long as Congress approves this, President Trump will not be able to tackle state affairs as a’plant president’ until the end of his term.

Article 25 of the Amendment has been invoked six times in the past, including the case of former President Richard Nixon who resigned in the Watergate case in 1974.

Reporter Lee Yoo-jung [email protected]