Article of Impeachment
Impeachment
The U.S. House of Representatives impeachment managers transmitted the Article of Impeachment of former President Donald J. Trump to the U.S. Senate on January 25, 2021. This act formally begins the trail phase of the process. The Article of Impeachment - Incitement of Insurrection - states that “In his conduct while President of the United States—and in violation of his constitutional oath faithfully to execute the office of President of the United States and, to the best of his ability, preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States, and in violation of his constitutional duty to take care that the laws be faithfully executed—Donald John Trump engaged in high Crimes and Misdemeanors by inciting violence against the Government of the United States.” Donald Trump is the first former president to face an impeachment trial after the end of his term in office.
The Constitution of the United States provides that the “sole Power of Impeachment” rests with the House of Representatives, and the sole power to try impeachments rests with the Senate. Conviction requires the concurrence of two thirds of the senators present. The impeachment trial timeline is as follows:
January 25, 2021: Article of Impeachment transmitted to the Senate
January 26, 2021: Senators sworn in and summons issued to Donald Trump
February 2-8, 2021: Pre-trial motions
February 9, 2021: Trial begins
If all 50 Democratic senators vote to convict Trump for incitement of insurrection, they would need 17 Republican senators to join them for a conviction. Currently, this seems very unlikely. Republican senators are under pressure from Senator Lindsay Graham, R-S.C., who is “whipping” votes, and other supporters of former President Trump, to vote for acquittal. Some Republican senators are saying that it is time to move on. Others are focusing on the process, arguing that there is no constitutional authority to hold an impeachment trial after a president is out of office. Senator Mitt Romney, R-Utah, addressed this on CNN’s “State of the Union” when he said that there is a “preponderance of opinion” that the impeachment trial is constitutional. He added that he believes “that what is being alleged and what we saw, which is incitement to insurrection, is an impeachable offense. If not, what is?” Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., has stated that the vote on conviction is a vote of “conscience,” while Senator Marco Rubio, R-Fla., called the trial “stupid” on “Fox News Sunday.”
Senator Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., the president pro tempore of the U.S. Senate, is presiding over the impeachment trial. The president pro tempore, a constitutionally recognized officer, is the member of the majority party who has the longest record of continuous service. The Constitution specifies that the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court shall preside when the President of the United States is tried. However, since Trump is no longer in office, the chief justice is not required to preside.
Biden-Harris Administration
Themes for the Week of January 25, 2021
Monday: Buy American
Tuesday: Equity
Wednesday: Climate Crisis
Thursday: Health Care
Friday: Immigration (postponed)
Executive Actions
President Biden has signed over 30 executive orders, proclamations, directives, and memoranda since taking office six days ago. The actions are focused on several areas, including COVID-19, the economy, equity, the environment, immigration, and regulation. Below are the most recent executive actions.
Ensuring the Future is Made in All of America by All of America's Workers (“Buy American”)
Proclamation on the Suspension of Entry as Immigrants and Non-Immigrants of Certain Additional Persons Who Pose a Risk of Transmitting Coronavirus Disease (travel restrictions into the United States)
Enabling All Qualified Americans to Serve Their Country in Uniform (revocation of ban on military service by transgender individuals)
Protecting the Federal Workforce (ensuring the right to collective bargaining, promoting a $15/hour minimum wage for federal employees)
Economic Relief Related to the COVID-19 Pandemic (identify actions to address the current economic crisis resulting from the pandemic)
American Rescue Plan
The first legislative test for the new Biden-Harris administration is whether they can get their American Rescue Plan, with a price tag of $1.9 trillion, passed in Congress. The goals of the stimulus plan are to help struggling Americans, reinvigorate the economy, and address COVID-19. The proposal includes, among other provisions, direct relief to American families in the form of an additional $1,400 to qualified persons, mounting a national COVID-19 vaccination program, supporting small businesses, safely reopening schools, scaling up COVID-19 testing, purchasing critical supplies, expanding unemployment insurance, addressing the growing hunger crisis, providing 100% reimbursement to states and others for emergency response, and raising the minimum wage to $15 per hour.
President Biden has engaged in direct conversations with members of Congress on both sides of the political aisle to discuss this initiative. In remarks yesterday, he stated that “consultation” is the key to getting agreement on legislation, and he prefers to pass the bill on a bipartisan basis. With the death toll from COVID-19 possibly going as high as 660,000 in the United States “before we begin to turn the corner in a major way,” Biden said that the crisis is deepening and “time is of the essence” to get a bill negotiated. According to the president, “there is an overwhelming consensus among the major economists at home and in the world that the way to avoid a deeper, deeper, deeper recession, moving in the direction of losing our competitive capacity, is to spend money now.” He commented that “The decision to use reconciliation will depend upon how these negotiations go.” The president also stressed the need for “unity” and eliminating the “vitriol.”
POTUS Calls with Foreign Leaders
President Biden has had several calls with foreign leaders since his inauguration. His first call was to Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. They spoke about the importance of the relationship between the two countries, the need to combat COVID-19, and the challenge of addressing climate change.
The president spoke with President Andrés Manuel López Obrador of Mexico. The presidents discussed migration, COVID-19, and immigration.
Biden talked with Prime Minister Boris Johnson of the United Kingdom. They discussed the special relationship between the two countries, the critical role of NATO, climate change, COVID-19, and foreign policy priorities.
The president had a call with President Emmanuel Macron of France. Challenges such as addressing climate change and COVID-19 were discussed as was shared foreign policy priorities.
U.S. Congress
Confirmations
The Senate has confirmed three of President Biden’s Cabinet nominees. Avril Haines was confirmed as director of national intelligence. She is the first woman to serve in this position. Retired Gen. Lloyd Austin has been confirmed as secretary of defense. He is the first Black person to lead the Pentagon. Janet Yellen has been confirmed as secretary of the treasury, the first woman ever to head the department.
The Senate Foreign Relations Committee favorably reported to the Senate the nomination of the Honorable Antony John Blinken to be secretary of state. The Committee on Commerce, Science, & Transportation will consider the nomination of Rhode Island Governor Gina Raimondo to be secretary of commerce on January 26. The Committee has scheduled an executive session on January 27 to vote on the nomination of Pete Buttigieg to be secretary of transportation. There are several confirmation hearings scheduled for January 27: Former Governor Jennifer Granholm will appear before the Senate Committee on Energy & Natural Resources for her nomination hearing to be secretary of energy, the Senate Foreign Relations Committee will consider the nomination of Linda Thomas-Greenfield to be the representative of the United States to the United Nations, and the Committee on Veterans' Affairs will consider the nomination of Denis R. McDonough to be secretary of veterans affairs.
Quick Facts
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell announced that he looks forward to moving forward with a power-sharing agreement with Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., now that two Democratic senators stated they were against eliminating the legislative filibuster.
President Biden remains opposed to eliminating the filibuster according to Jen Psaki, White House press secretary.
Senator Rob Portman, R-Ohio, announced that he will retire when his term in office ends in 2022.
Starting on January 27, 2021, the White House will start holding public heath briefings three times per week.
Starting today, travelers must show proof of a negative COVID-19 test prior to boarding a flight to the United States. This applies to all over the age of two, including U.S. citizens.
Global Cases: 99,808,397
Global Deaths: 2,142,826
United States Cases: 25,298,554
United States Deaths: 421,239