Precedent. We are reaping the consequences of the pardoning of Nixon, not holding GHW Bush accountable for Iran Contra and more. The far right will not give up. They are willing to die in battle for their cause.
Thom Hartmann has been talking about this in the Constitution:
ARTICLE 2 SECTION 2
"and he shall have Power to grant Reprieves and Pardons for Offences against the United States, except in Cases of Impeachment."
Hartmann's interpretation is that if a president is being impeached, he loses his power to pardon. So sTrump may be in the position this coming week of not being able to pardon himself, pardon his family or friends. He has SO PISSED of VP Mike Pence, he may not get his hoped for pardon from him!
IMO, I think sTrump should be charged with sedition, treason, accessary to murder for the riots.
Mike Pence, VP, refuses to invoke the 25th amendment. It gets used by the President voluntarily, if he is say undergoing surgery and will be unconscious for a period of time. It can be invoked involuntarily if the VP and a majority of the Cabinet agree that President is incapable of fulfilling his duties. It is then needed a vote from Congress.
I have heard speculation that VP Pence won't invoke the 25th because he is afraid of being killed by a mob (Russian?) hit. Who knows about that?
I have felt for years that the murder of JFK was in part a mob hit that this country has never recovered from. Once that octopus grips a nation, I don't see how a country recovers. Justice matters. Impeachment matters.
Karen
