Now that we know failed, one-term former President Donald Trump actively worked with the Justice Department to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election, it seems that Republicans are even willing to forgive the fact that the so-called leader of their party attempted to pull off a coup even though voters had overwhelmingly chosen Joe Biden to be president.
Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA) said Monday on the floor of the U.S. Senate that Trump had every right to scheme with the DOJ for a way to steal an election, declaring:
“The President has every right to discuss ideas and strategies with his closest advisers, whether that president is Democrat(ic) or Republican should feel unrestrained to bring ideas to his closest staff for robust discussion. Eventually, the facts will come out, and Trump will have to address them, good or bad depending on the facts at hand. However, the essential question that should be asked is, what was the final decision? And that is my major concern about the recent public comments coming out of these interviews I’ve discussed.”
The “interviews” Grassley referenced are ones given by former acting Attorney General Jeffrey Rosen and other Justice Department officials in the Trump administration who have testified before the Jan. 6 House Select Committee, Mediaite explains:
“Last week, the committee heard testimony from former Acting Attorney General Jeffrey Rosen and former Deputy Attorney General Richard Donoghue. Among the revelations was a letter that had been drafted by DOJ official Jeffrey Clark, who sought the two men’s signatures on the piece of correspondence to top officials in Georgia. The letter, which called on them to convene a special legislative session to investigate claims of nonexistent widespread voter fraud, was ultimately not sent.”
The letter in question from Clark reads in part:
“The Department of Justice is investigating various irregularities in the 2020 election for President of the United States… at this time we have identified significant concerns that may have impacted the outcome of the election in multiple States, including the State of Georgia. While the Department of Justice believes the Governor of Georgia should immediately call special session to consider this important and urgent matter… if he declines to do so, we share with you our view that the Georgia General Assembly has implied authority under the Constitution of the United States to call itself into session for the limited of purpose of considering issues pertaining to the appointment of Presidential Electors.”
Trump and his cronies had “every right” to discuss that, according to Sen. Grassley, which tells you all you need to know about today’s Republican Party. They’re willing to genuflect before Lord Emperor Trump no matter what he says or does. Is Donald accused of rape? No big deal, his loyal congressional protectors assure us. Did he collude with the Kremlin and blackmail Ukraine? That’s not a problem, the GOP says. Certainly no reason to impeach him.
Donald Trump is a criminal. The list of his crimes is endless. And yet Chuck Grassley and his fellow Republicans want you to excuse all of them. Because it’s not a party; it’s a damn cult.
