Almost immediately after news of the death of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, people across the United States starting wondering what would happen next.
Just as quickly, it became clear the Republican leadership in the Senate would not apply the same standards to President Donald Trump that they did to President Barack Obama and would proceed with an attempt to ram through a replacement nomination in the coming weeks. The GOP hypocrisy left Democrats with limited options to block a Trump SCOTUS pick from being confirmed by a currently GOP controlled Senate.
One potential option that gained traction was a second impeachment of President Donald Trump or impeaching Attorney General Bill Barr.
Any attempt to fill the sudden Supreme Court vacancy just weeks before the election is a perfect reason to send the Senate impeachment resolutions that take precedence over all other business, and are overdue, anyway.
— David Waldman-1, of Yorktown LLC™ (@KagroX) September 18, 2020
If I recall correctly, impeachment trials are privileged over judicial nominations in Senate proceedings — so House leaders may need to get over their reticence about tough oversight and prepare some impeachment resolutions.
Perhaps William Barr can go first.
— Greg Greene (@ggreeneva) September 18, 2020
In an appearance on This Week with George Stephanopoulos, Democratic Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi was asked if she would impeach Trump or Barr in an attempt to hold off the proceedings.
Her answer didn't rule that out:
"We have our options. We have arrows in our quiver that I'm not about to discuss right now but the fact is we have a big challenge in our country."
"This President has threatened to not even accept the results of the election. Our main goal would be to protect the integrity of the election as we protect the people from the pandemic."
You can see a clip from the interview here:
“We have our options. We have arrows in our quiver that I'm not about to discuss right now," Pelosi tells @GStephanopoulos when pressed on what Democrats would do if Republicans move to confirm a Trump SCOTUS pick in a lame duck session if Biden wins. https://t.co/7ArEsfY5yU pic.twitter.com/HbX3Rj7FaV
— ABC News (@ABC) September 21, 2020
When asked by Stephanopoulos if anything was off the table, Pelosi added:
"We have a responsibility. We take an oath to protect and defend the Constitution of the United States."
"We have a responsibility to meet the needs of the American people. That is when we weigh the equities, protecting our democracy requires us to use every arrow in our quiver."
“Let's just win the election. Let's hope that the president will see the light," Speaker Pelosi tells @GStephanopoulos when asked about some Democrats calling for an expansion of the Supreme Court if Republican approve a Trump SCOTUS nominee ahead of 2020. https://t.co/TkkaJ0jj9y pic.twitter.com/nS13nDbWh0
— This Week (@ThisWeekABC) September 20, 2020
However, not everyone agrees it would be an effective method of delaying the appointment of a new SCOTUS justice. Tulane Law School Professor Ross Garber—a political investigations and impeachment lawyer—said Sunday the Senate wouldn't need to devote much time to an impeachment trial making its use as a delay moot.
Garber posted his take on Twitter.
Impeachment wouldn't slow the Senate down. There's no requirement that an impeachment trial precludes all other Senate business or that a trial occupy much Senate time at all. (Remember, Trump impeachment trial had no witnesses.) https://t.co/whR5MVEzPf
— Ross Garber (@rossgarber) September 20, 2020
While it's unclear whether impeachment proceedings against Attorney General Bill Barr or new articles of impeachment for Trump would be effective as a delay tactic, many online are still fans of the idea.
Democrats should impeach bill Barr because he's constantly criming
— Molly Jong-Fast🏡 (@MollyJongFast) September 21, 2020
Bill barr is advocating full-on fascism. Congress should impeach him and barr should be stripped of his law licenses forever.https://t.co/e2SadlncKK
— Bill Pascrell, Jr. (@BillPascrell) September 21, 2020
We
really
really
really
really
really
really
really
really
really
really
really
really
really
really
really
need to impeach Bill Barr.
— Robert Reich (@RBReich) September 21, 2020
Now is the time to impeach AG Bill Barr. Sign the petition here: https://t.co/XPStNGyBlT
— Citizens for Ethics (@CREWcrew) September 21, 2020
Raise your hand if you think Nancy Pelosi should impeach Trump again to prevent Mitch McConnell from filling RBG's seat.
— Travis Allen 🇺🇸 (@TravisAllen02) September 21, 2020
Be prepared for a lot of this crap. Jesus Christ.
IMPEACH BARR.
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DOJ Designates New York City as an “Anarchist Jurisdiction" https://t.co/cnaevanP8T
— Imani Gandy ✊🏾 (@AngryBlackLady) September 21, 2020
You heard him: anything goes. Accordingly, House Dems should pass a continuing budget resolution calculated solely to maximize their electoral interests, impeach Barr, Wolf, and Cuccinelli, then go campaign. If Senate Republicans don't like it, they must offer a deal. https://t.co/uArURbq5zo
— Max Kennerly (@MaxKennerly) September 21, 2020
You can see the full This Week interview with Pelosi here:
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AMC