It has been rumored that Vice President Mike Pence has dreamed of being the president of the United States since he was 17 years old. In reality his devout Christian beliefs have taken a priority in his life. His own words confirmed that at the presidential nominating convention in 2016 where he said in his acceptance speech where he introduced himself as ‘a Christian, a Conservative and a Republican.’ That order should have been a message. Just not all of the time.
The truth is Pence is a smart politician who holds Christian beliefs but willingly will defer them to reach the presidency. And so he sat silently when in the Oval Office while Trump had his explosive confrontation with Democratic Senate leader Chuck Schumer and Democratic House leader Nancy Pelosi. That’s not the first time he has kept his mouth shut. Pence has been a longtime, aggressive advocate of trade deals between the U.S. and foreign countries and been a supporter of NAFTA and during his time in the House, he voted for every free-trade agreement that came before him.
The Constitution sets specific grounds for impeachment. They are “treason, bribery, and other high crimes and misdemeanors.” To be impeached and removed from office, the House and Senate must find that the official committed one of these acts.
We don’t know what charges will be brought against Donald Trump by special counsel Robert Mueller but it is easy to list the possibilities.
1. Collusion with members of the Russian government may not be illegal but being a traitor is the grounds for impeachment. The Constitution defines treason as specific acts, namely “levying War against [the United States], or in adhering to their Enemies, giving them Aid and Comfort.”
2. The Emoluments Clause in Article I of the Constitution prohibits Trump from taking any money at all from a foreign state. His ownership of a hotel where dignitaries and heads of state regularly stay and use the ballroom for events when visiting Washington D.C. is an obvious benefit to his family business.
So is Mike Pence smiling to just be friendly or is he awaiting his moment of being sworn in as the 46th president? It’s scary but very likely.
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