moldyoldy

Former President Donald Trump's actions preceding the riot at the U.S. Capitol were a "disgraceful dereliction of duty" and there is "no question, none," that he "is practically and morally responsible for provoking the events of the day," and Trump could still face criminal or civil punishment, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., said in a strongly worded address after the Senate's vote for acquittal.

However, McConnell, who voted Trump was not guilty, said Trump could not constitutionally be found guilty as a former president, adding he does not believe the Senate should "grab power the Constitution doesn't give us."

Trump, though, "didn't get away with anything yet," McConnell said.

"Unless the statute of limitations has run, he is still liable for everything he did while he was in office," McConnell said. "He didn't get away with anything yet. Yet. We have a criminal justice system in this country. We have civil litigation. And former presidents are not immune from being accountable by either one."


If Trump was still in office, however, "I would have carefully considered whether the House managers proved their specific charge . . . the question is moot because former President Trump is constitutionally not eligible for conviction."

However, McConnell left no doubt he believes Trump incited the rioters who attacked the Capitol as it was confirming the Electoral College's vote for President Joe Biden.

"[Trump] was angry he lost an election," McConnell said. "The people who stormed this building believed they were acting on the wishes and instructions of their president."

That belief, he added, was "a foreseeable consequence of the growing crescendo of false statements, conspiracy theories, and reckless hyperbole which the defeated president kept shouting into the largest megaphone on planet Earth."


The issue, he added, was not because of Trump's "intemperate language" Jan. 6, but "also the entire manufactured atmosphere of looming catastrophe, the increasingly wild myths, myths about a reverse landslide election that was somehow being stolen, some secret coup by our now-president."

McConnell also stressed the legal system and Electoral College spoke, but that just "opened a new chapter of even wilder and more unfounded claims."

"The leader of the free world cannot spend weeks thundering that shadowy forces are stealing our country and then feign surprise when people believe him and do reckless things," McConnell said. "This was an intensifying crescendo of conspiracy theories orchestrated by an outgoing president who seemed determined to either overturn the voters' decision or else torch our institutions on the way out."

Trump's "unconscionable behavior" did not end when the riot started, he added.

"We know he was watching the same live television as the rest of us," McConnell continued. "A mob was assaulting the Capitol in his name. These criminals carried his banners, hanging his flags and screaming their loyalty to him."

And, McConnell said Trump was the only person who could end the violence, but even though former aides, loyal allies, and more called on him to end the violence, Trump "did not act swiftly; he did not do his job; he didn't take steps so federal law could be faithfully executed and order restored."

Instead, according to public reports, "he watched television happily, happily," McConnell said, and even when it was apparent Vice President Mike Pence was in serious danger, "the president sent a further tweet attacking his own vice president."

Further, even with "police officers bleeding and broken glass covering Capitol floors, he kept repeating election lies and praising the criminals," McConnell said.

Trump's associates, he added, have tried to use the 74 million Americans who voted to reelect him as a "human shield" against criticism.

"Anyone who decries his awful behavior is accused of insulting millions of voter: That's an absurd deflection; . 74 million Americans did not invade the Capitol," McConnell said. "Hundreds of rioters did."

Read Newsmax: McConnell: Trump 'Didn't Get Away With Anything Yet'
Urgent: Do you approve of Pres. Trump’s job performance? Vote Here Now!

Gatsby

Whine on-a-thon in progress

Weewillynobeerspilly Loc: North central Texas

I must have missed that..... i was focused on the 2 year long coup and insurrection going on there on the West coast.

Trump is history......... up above is ongoing, have you missed it?

moldyoldy

So, you know he is guilty but you let him off again. His entire history is one of never having to pay for his crimes.

Weewillynobeerspilly Loc: North central Texas

No, never said, and neither do i believe he is guilty, and another poor performance by your impeachment team isn't me letting anyone off, try looking within for a change and quit blaming your woes on everyone but the guilty party...... but we for sure have some guilty going on, why is what i said not a concern to you? But Trump is...... hes gone, you got your guy in and your focus is....... ? The same as the last 4+ years.... i thought progressives moved forward.... you've been in the same gear for 4+ years spinning your wheels, shift up one already and move forward..... the West coast needs your effort more than stupid crap thats more motive than proof.

And..... have a good day, about 9 degrees and a few inches of snow here and more coming...... looking like at least 9 days below freezing..... that never happens here, cars already wrecked everywhere. ... a few in my residential hood

Behave yourself.... i am.

moldyoldy

A hundred cars running into each other is incredible. I have not driven on icy roads since the 70s.

Smedley_buzkill

You have him confused with the Biden Crime Family.

lindajoy Loc: right here with you....

Can we believe anything this guy says? Backtracked when he saw he wasn’t going to get the votes to sustain an impeachment... Its nothing more than showing his lyen butt in his flip flopping all for politics...He finished himself off before the country and I say good!

I hope his millions made with China bury him in the end.

moldyoldy

I think even Kentucky has had enough.

lindajoy Loc: right here with you....

Im sure hoping so!! I’ve got a girlfriend Who lives there, who blew up my phone over him a number of times the last couple years....loll she hates him and may have influenced me too...🤦🏻‍♀️😁

Gatsby

130 car pile-up near Fort Worth, at least 5 deaths.
https://www.foxnews.com/us/fort-worth-deadly-accident-victims-identified-130-car-pileup-icy-conditions

Icy roads don't scare me a bit, it's the people who forgot how to drive on them, that make me nervous!

On one especially slick morning I passed over 30 ditch-bound auto's, and 12 18 wheelers, in 10 miles!

I was driving @ 15 MPH on I-29, and no one passed me.

Gatsby

GOP/RINO's are now an "Endangered Species", all should be "de-horned", and placed in Museums.

The New Republican Party is that of the Republican VOTERS!

lpnmajor Loc: Arkansas

GOP cowards, acquitting on a technicality. Mitch's is hoping a grand jury will indict trump and get him out of the way. Of course, he'll blame it on biden and dems so the MAGA idiots don't burn his house down.

Weewillynobeerspilly Loc: North central Texas

From that 100... 106 actually that you speak of.......... ..... maybe 2 have the half the experience you do, from the 70s

They passed 100 flashing warning signs about it, every news station in the morning covers it, every radio station too.... boggles my mind that so many still went all cliff and lemming..... our bridges are elevated pretty good, and the only place we ever get any ice.

Feel free to jump on Texas drivers..... i have no defense after that display we own that, Texas version of the show..Chips, without Ponch.

lindajoy Loc: right here with you....

Hey, I do believe you're right... ✨✨

They have outed themselves and it won’t be difficult to remember 2022..
endangered species yes, with a new party in the making... An unaffiliated, by name, party.....

Good times coming~~~Looking forward to it!