While President Donald Trump remained idle with violent protesters who ransacked the US Capitol on Wednesday, at least two of its top officers and closest allies conferred with the team on whether to invoke the 25th Amendment.
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin held informal talks within their own agencies about the contours of the 25th Amendment, the invocation of which would initiate a process to remove Trump from office, according to three sources familiar with the matter.
The arguments against pursuing the action, according to the three sources, were multiple. First, the legal process itself was estimated to take more than a week, denying any immediate effect it could have.
Second, it was unclear whether the three secretaries serving “interim” functions without confirmation from the Senate would be able to vote. Third, they feared that taking Trump out of office could further heighten tensions between his base and make him a far-right hero, doing more harm in the long run than well in the short run.
“The general plan now is to let the time run out,” said a former senior government official who was aware of the discussions. “There will be a reckoning for this president, but it doesn’t have to happen in the next 13 days.”
Mnuchin, traveling abroad, declined to comment. A State Department official denied that the talks took place.
A current senior government official said Pompeo may have collected information in preparation for a cabinet discussion, even though he himself was not willing to personally lead the effort.
“The first oath the secretary took was at West Point, and that oath was to the constitution,” the official told CNBC.
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin speak during a meeting on terrorist financing at the White House on Tuesday, September 10, 2019 in Washington.
Alex Brandon | AP
In addition to exploratory conversations between the secretaries and their teams, there was no formal progress in the effort. Other cabinet secretaries noted that they were not contacted about possible meetings to discuss the matter.
“I have had no contact with other cabinet members in this area, nor do I expect to have any,” Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue told reporters in a band in Georgia, where he was once governor and where he spent the last few days campaigning for his cousin. , Senator David Perdue. “I know that some people have resigned, which, as I mentioned, is their prerogative.”
The number of government officials resigning from the government grew on Thursday. They include Deputy National Security Advisor Matt Pottinger and White House Chief Economist Tyler Goodspeed. Mick Mulvaney, a former acting chief of staff now serving as a special envoy to Northern Ireland, told CNBC that he didn’t have the stomach to continue serving, even in a part-time diplomatic post.
“I can’t stay here. Not the day after yesterday,” Mulvaney told CNBC’s “Squawk Box” program. “You can’t look at it yesterday and think that I want to be part of it in any way, shape or form.”
Other officials are choosing to stay – at least temporarily – to try to ensure a smooth transition to the next government. Chris Liddell, the deputy chief of staff for policy coordination, decided to remain in his role of leading the transition to the new administration, according to another senior administration official.
Transport Secretary Elaine Chao, who in her resignation letter said she was “deeply concerned” about the actions of the president’s supporters, will not leave the agency until Monday. A source familiar with her plans said she had a previously scheduled meeting with the staff of designated secretary Pete Buttigieg and did not want to leave that in the hands of other employees.
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