Senator Mitch McConnell, the Republican leader, told associates that he believes President Trump has committed impeachable crimes and is satisfied that Democrats are moving towards impeachment, believing it will make it easier to expunge him from the party. , according to people known for his thinking. The House is voting on Wednesday to formally accuse Trump of inciting violence against the country.
At the same time, California Rep. Kevin McCarthy, the minority leader and one of Trump’s staunchest allies in Congress, asked other Republicans whether he should ask Trump to resign after the riot in the last Capitol week, according to three officials Republicans informed about the talks.
Although McCarthy said he personally opposed impeachment, he and other party leaders decided not to formally lobby for Republicans to vote “no”, and a McCarthy aide said he was open to a measure that would censor Trump for his conduct. In particular, McCarthy sought out a leading House Democrat to see if the House would be willing to seek a censorship vote, although House Speaker Nancy Pelosi dismissed that.
Taken together, the positions of the two main Congressional Republicans – none of whom publicly said Trump should resign or have his impeachment – reflected the politically charged and swift nature of the crisis the party faces following last week’s attack by a crowd pro-Trump during a session to formalize electoral victory for President-elect Joseph R. Biden Jr.
As more violent images emerged on Tuesday from the chaos caused by the rioters, including the brutal attack that ended up killing a Capitol policeman, and while lawmakers were informed of threats to further attacks on the Capitol, ordinary Republican lawmakers grew more angry at the role of the president in violence.
However, while trying to balance the affection their central voters have for Trump with the now undeniable political and constitutional threat that he posed, the Republican congressional leaders who loyally supported the president for four years were still acting politely. Their refusal to demand the president’s resignation and silently conspire on how to deal with his conduct highlighted the corrosive uncertainty that they and many other Republicans have about whether they would pay more than a political price for abandoning him or for continuing to empower him after he incited a crowd to invade the government headquarters.
To make his task more difficult, Trump showed no trace of regret, telling reporters on Tuesday that his comments to supporters were “entirely appropriate” and that it was the specter of his impeachment that was “causing tremendous anger”.
Kentucky Republican McConnell has indicated that he wants to see the specific impeachment article that the House is expected to pass on Wednesday, which is expected to attract support from up to a dozen Republicans, potentially including Congresswoman Liz Cheney of Wyoming, the party is number 3 of the Chamber. But he made it clear in private discussions that he believes that now is the time to leave the weakened lame duck, whom he blames for causing Republicans to lose the Senate.
On Monday, Biden called McConnell to ask if it was possible to establish a double route that would allow the Senate to confirm Biden’s nominees for the cabinet and hold a Senate trial at the same time, according to officials informed of the conversation that the disclosed on condition of anonymity. Far from avoiding the topic of Trump’s impeachment, McConnell said it was a question for the Senate MP and promised Biden a quick answer.
David Popp, a spokesman for McConnell, declined to comment, pointing a reporter to a speech the senator made in plenary after the attack on the Capitol.
“This failed attempt to obstruct Congress, this failed insurrection, just underscores how crucial the task that lies ahead for our Republic,” said McConnell as the Senate met again on Wednesday to close the electoral count interrupted by siege. “Our nation was founded precisely so that the free choice of the American people is what shapes our self-government and determines the fate of our nation.”
In the days following the attack, McCarthy avoided asking Republican colleagues whether to ask Trump to renounce floating impeachment in his current stance, opposed to impeachment but open to censorship. He even approached Congressman Steny H. Hoyer of Maryland, the majority leader, about a censure vote, saying he could hand over a large number of Republican votes for a formal rebuke if Democrats backed down from impeachment.