Some moments are defining. For example, one may be a selfish, careless driver – speeding, failing to signal turns, cutting people off during lane changes – and you may get away with it for a while. But what if one hits a parked car with no witnesses around? Do you leave a note with your contact information?
This situation puts one’s honesty and character to the test. There are only two choices: yes or no. But the choice you make defines you for the rest of your life. You are proven to be either an honest person who accepts responsibility or a dishonest person who hides from the truth.
Active participants in corruption
Most Republican Senators jumped aboard the Trump train out of cowardice. (“His rabid fans will defeat me in a primary”). They then quickly transformed themselves into opportunists. (“Let’s see what we can get away with while the Democrats are preoccupied with him”).
Having been successful in providing outrageous tax cuts for the rich, massively stacking the Federal court system, and eliminating or marginalizing any moderates in their midst, Senate Republicans have moved beyond being merely “enablers” of Trump’s corruption. It is now more accurate to describe them as criminal accomplices.
Facts vs lies
At the approaching Senate Trial of Donald J. Trump, the Republicans will try to prolong his term of office by any means they can.
They will do this because Sean Hannity, Tucker Carlson, and the rest of the Fox News attack dogs, are relentless in threatening Republican lawmakers who dare tell the truth. They can do this because of the large number of under-educated and deliberately misinformed Fox News viewers who have been trained to believe any lie they are told.
The problem for Republican Senators is that the facts are in. Donald J. Trump has clearly violated his oath of office and broken the law. The public knows it. The Republican Senators themselves know it. The question now is whether they will live up to their own oaths of office “to support and defend the Constitution,” or whether they will continue to deny reality and make excuses for this criminal.
I do solemnly swear that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; …
US Senate Oath of Office
A lawful constitutional process
Despite all the stonewalling, name-calling, baiting, gaslighting, withholding of evidence, witness assaulting, and jury tampering done by the Republicans, the Trump administration, and Fox News, the US House of Representatives has proceeded lawfully under the Constitution, has obtained sufficient evidence, and has impeached (indicted) the President of the United States.
Convicting and removing the President from office will require 67 votes in the Senate. If all 45 Democrats and both Independents vote to convict, it would require at least 20 Republican Senator’s votes to remove Trump from office.
Oath of impartiality
At the beginning of an Impeachment trial, Senators take an oath (beyond their initial oath of office). It is a juror’s oath rather than a legislator’s oath.
I solemnly swear (or affirm) that in all things appertaining to the trial of ____, now pending, I will do impartial justice according to the Constitution and laws, so help me God.
Form of oath to be administered to the Members of the Senate and the Presiding Officer sitting in the trial of impeachments (Rules, 125.2)
The Senate is obliged to make their decision impartially — based on the evidence before them. Sadly, this will likely not happen. Republican Senators are more likely to put party and personal career concerns ahead of the truth as revealed in the testimony of witnesses. (If Mitch McConnell even allows any witnesses at the trial!).
Are you totally honest?
In the LDS Church we have a question that we are sometimes asked: “Are you totally honest in all your dealings?” This question cuts right to the heart of one’s character and integrity. A true “Saint” is not only able to answer “Yes” to this question, but lives a life of consistent integrity at all times and in all circumstances.
At the end of the Senate Trial, each Senator will have an opportunity to vote “guilty” or “not guilty.” At the very same time, each Senator will be telling us, yes or no, whether he or she has any integrity.
We will need to remember the choice they make the next time each of them comes up for re-election.
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Note: There are currently four US Senators who are listed as members of the Church of Jesus Christ. Three are Republican, one is a Democrat. It will be very interesting to see how they vote. Which metric do you suppose will be more predictive of their vote? Their religion or their political party?
Sources: “RULES OF PROCEDURE AND PRACTICE IN THE SENATE WHEN SITTING ON IMPEACHMENT TRIALS,” www.govinfo.gov. (as last amended in 1986).
David Corn, “Here’s How Mitch McConnell Could Sabotage an Impeachment Trial,” Mother Jones, October 18, 2019.
Jonathan Chait, “Why Congress Might Impeach Trump and Actually Remove Him From Office,” New York Magazine, October 21,2019.
John F. Harris, “What Impeachment Will Cost the GOP,” Politico, November 13, 2019.
John Nichols, “Impeachment Hearing Republicans Confirm There Is No Defense for Donald Trump,” The Nation, November 13, 2019.
Lili Loofbourow, “The Impeachment Hearings Have Shown the Policy Costs of Trump’s Narcisssism,” Slate, November 21, 2019.
Michael Gerson, “Republicans’ motivations are all out in the open,” The Washington Post, November 21, 2019.
Greg Sargent, “Trump’s GOP defenders cannot be shamed. It’s time to try this instead,” The Washington Post, November 22, 2019.
Cass R. Sunstein, “Trump Impeachment Is Based on on Law, Not Politics,” Bloomberg.com, December 3, 2019.
Jennifer Rubin, “Nothing could be more conclusive proof of Trump’s guilt,” The Washington Post, December 12, 2019.
Martin Longman, “How Will Republican Senators Honor Their Impeachment Oaths?” Washington Monthly, December 16, 2019.