20 Feb 2017

Republican judge: ‘Trump must be impeached’

From Nine To Noon, 9:31 am on 20 February 2017
Republican judge Mark P Painter wants US President Donald Trump to be impeached.

Republican judge Mark P Painter Photo: Supplied

"America is at stake", says lifelong Republican and retired judge Mark P Painter, who has offered his services to start of impeaching US President Donald Trump.

In a column for Cincinati.com last week that has been widely shared on the internet he said:

“Each new day is a new nightmare.

"We are still trying to digest one breathtaking assault on America when another is signed, issued, or Tweeted. All this amid constant lies. Constant. Lies.

“It’s tough, but we must end this dangerous presidency. Trump must be impeached and removed with all haste.”

Painter has offered his services to his local Ohio congressman, Steve Chabot, to help to draft the articles of impeachment (as Chabot did for President Clinton in the 90s) but so far he has not been taken up on the offer.

Only congress can initiate proceedings to impeach. The President can then be tried by the senate and removed from office if convicted.

Painter told Nine to Noon that the day Trump was sworn into office he began violating the constitution - one of the many reasons he should be impeached.

“We have what is called an emoluments clause that says the President, or any other officer, cannot take any money, gifts or advantages from foreign governments.

“Every time a diplomat or even an official of a company owned by a foreign government checks into a Trump hotel anywhere in the world he is automatically violating that.

The fact that he is the only President that has not divested himself of (what he boasts are vast) business interests, and has instead passed the running of these companies to his sons is a direct violation of the constitution, Painter says.

The travel ban, which was been blocked by the courts, is another violation, he says, because it discriminates against people because of their religion.

And Painter says if it is proved true that members of Trump’s campaign team were found to have been conspiring with Russia during the election then that would also be an immediately impeachable offence.

Donald Trump

Donald Trump Photo: AFP

“There’s a number of other things, he says.

“Appointing a totally incompetent cabinet, which certainly has happened, lying to the American people all of the time, it just goes on and on. If you saw that press conference, I don’t see how anybody can see that and see that the man is competent to discharge the duties of any office.”

And while impeachment my not happen immediately, Painter says it is too dangerous to let Trump continue on in the top job.

“I heard someone say the other day that Trump’s support in the House of Representatives among Republicans is a mile wide but an inch deep.

“And if they start realising that his machinations are going to cost them election in the next round then they will start to move. I think then we will see Mike Pence as President.”