The Republican defense of Trump is simple -- Pelosi is guilty, but we can’t say of what: op-ed

Writing in the Washington Post this Sunday, columnist James Downie says that Donald Trump's second impeachment trial is kicking off with an "air of anti-climax" since it's clear that Democrats won't have the necessary 67 votes to convict him in the Senate. Also made clear is that many Republicans believe Trump cannot be held accountable.

On the political shows this weekend, Republicans such as former White House chief of staff Mark Meadows created a "smokescreen" for Trump, part of which is intended to shift attention to Nancy Pelosi, who he says is responsible for the failures of Capitol security.

"The Sunday performances are probably a fairly good preview of the upcoming defense of the president's case: Pelosi is guilty, but we can't say of what," writes Downie, adding that what all this boils down to "is that Trump must be shielded from any accountability."

According to Downie, this attempt to shield Trump from accountability was also apparent in the words of Lindsey Graham on Face the Nation this Sunday. The day after the riot, Graham said that Trump "needs to understand that his actions were the problem, not the solution." But when asked on Sunday about whether any of Trump's actions deserved reprimand, Graham replied, "I think I'm ready to move on."

Downie writes that while Graham claims he wants to get on with the business dealing with the problems facing the nation, he forgets that Trump is one of those problems.

Read the full op-ed over at The Washington Post.