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'Politically toxic Trump' entering impeachment trial with few aides willing to step up for him: GOP consultant
January 26, 2021
On Tuesday, every U.S. senator is expected to be sworn in as jurors in the second impeachment trial of Donald Trump and, according to USA Today, the former president will face a slew of accusations and possibly witnesses against him but won't have much help on his own side.
With former Trump impeachment lawyers Ken Starr, Alan Dershowitz and former White House counsel Pat Cipollone out of the picture this go around, the former president will be relying on attorney Butch Bowers of South Carolina who once represented former GOP lawmaker Mark Sanford during an impeachment trial (which he won) but later turned into an ethics probe.
Outside of Bowers, Trump will find his support slim with many GOP senators taking a hands-off approach while at the same time indicating that they will likely not impeach the former president.
As one GOP consultant explained, Trump is thin on support because he is considered damaged goods and doesn't have the weight of still being president to use as reason to join his team.
According to Alex Conant, a GOP strategist who worked for Sen. Marco Rubio's 2016 presidential campaign, "It's much easier for a sitting president to find aides than a former president."
"I think everything about this case, especially how politically toxic Trump is with a lot of people, means there's not a lot to be gained by representing Trump right now," he added.
Conant also suggested that the defense Trump is going to present is leaving GOP lawmakers cold.
"Anything is possible with Trump. I just don't think that Republican senators are going to be sympathetic to the fraud claims," he explained. "That isn't going to help his standing in the Senate. I'm honestly curious what Trump does here."
You can read more here.
A US bankruptcy judge has approved a $17 million payout to dozens of women who accused jailed movie producer Harvey Weinstein of sexual abuse.
Weinstein, 68, was sentenced to 23 years in prison last year after being convicted of rape and sexual assault.
<p>Delaware Judge Mary Walrath on Monday agreed to the Weinstein Company's liquidation plan, which sets aside the payment.</p><p>She overruled the objections of several of Weinstein's victims who complained that the settlement prevented them from pursuing other legal claims.<br/></p><p>The money will be split between 37 women, meaning they are each likely to receive six-figure sums. </p><p>Lawyers representing some victims had earlier denounced the proposed settlement as insufficient.</p><p>Eight accusers who rejected the settlement will be able to sue the ex-Hollywood mogul later.</p><p>Weinstein was found guilty in February 2020 of a criminal sexual act in the first degree and rape in the third degree in a landmark verdict for the #MeToo movement.</p><p>His sentence capped a remarkable downfall for the "Pulp Fiction" producer who was accused of years of vile predatory behavior by almost 90 women, including Angelina Jolie and Salma Hayek.</p><p>The Weinstein Company declared bankruptcy in March 2018 after the avalanche of claims. Lantern Capital, later renamed Spyglass Media Group, bought its assets for $289 million.</p><p>Weinstein is also awaiting trial in Los Angeles on rape and sexual assault charges involving five women. </p>
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McConnell takes victory lap after two Dems help him to destroy 'progressive dream' of filibuster reform
January 26, 2021
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) on Tuesday praised Democratic Sens. Joe Manchin (WV) and Kyrsten Sinema (AZ), who have reportedly promised him that they will vote against reforming the filibuster rule.
"Yesterday, two Democratic senators confirmed that they will not provide the votes to eliminate the filibuster," McConnell said during a speech on the Senate floor.
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According to McConnell, Manchin had given him a "guarantee" that the filibuster will remain in place. And Sinema, who personally spoke to McConnell, said that she is "not open to changing her mind."
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McConnell criticized Schumer for allowing the Democratic caucus to entertain the idea of reforming the filibuster rule.
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"Rather than rely on the Democratic leader, I took the discussion directly to his members," the Kentucky Republican bragged. "Basic arithmetic now ensures that there are not enough votes to break the rule."
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McConnell went on to defend his own decision to eliminate the filibuster rule on judicial nominations, calling it a "longstanding norm."
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"Legislation is very different," he insisted.
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McConnell argued that he had "endured many tweets" from President Donald Trump pressing him to end the filibuster rule.
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"Taking that plunge would not be a progressive's dream. It would be a nightmare. I guarantee it," he concluded.
</p><p>
Watch the video below from C-SPAN.
</p><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/AHexHcKsjzs" width="560"></iframe>
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