
President Donald Trump in the Oval Office at the White House on Monday, November 25, 2019 in Washington, D.C. (Photo: Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post via Getty Images)
Trump Reportedly Compiling Nixonian 'Enemies List' as He Seeks Revenge for Impeachment
"McConnell hasn't even held the final vote to launch the post-checks and balances era, and already the would-be authoritarian is escalating his abuses of power."
President Donald Trump is reportedly compiling a Nixonian "enemies list" that includes former national security adviser John Bolton and top House Democrats as he seeks to retaliate for the congressional impeachment process, which is expected to come to a close as early as Wednesday with a Senate vote to acquit.
Vanity Fair's Gabriel Sherman reported Monday that "Republicans briefed on Trump's thinking believe that the president is out for revenge against his adversaries."
"This is what Senate Republicans are voting to permit. They know this is terrifying and destructive of the country, but they're more afraid of what Trump might do to them."
--Susan Hennessey
"It's payback time," an anonymous Republican lawmaker told Vanity Fair. "He has an enemies list that is growing by the day."
According to Sherman, names mentioned in his conversations with Republicans familiar with the president's plans included House Intelligence Committee Chair Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), House Judiciary Committee Chair Rep. Jerry Nadler (D-N.Y.), Sen. Mitt Romney (R-Utah), and Bolton, who Sherman noted is "at the top of the list."
"Trump wants Bolton to be criminally investigated," Sherman reported. "A person familiar with Trump's thinking said Trump believes Bolton might have mishandled classified information. According to a former official, the White House is planning to leak White House emails from Bolton that purportedly allege Bolton abused his position at the National Security Council."
Walter Shaub, former director of the Office of Government Ethics, tweeted Monday that Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) "hasn't even held the final vote to launch the post-checks and balances era, and already the would-be authoritarian is escalating his abuses of power."
"This is what Senate Republicans are voting to permit," said CNN legal analyst Susan Hennessey. "They know this is terrifying and destructive of the country, but they're more afraid of what Trump might do to them."
The expected Senate vote to acquit Trump on charges of abuse of power and obstructing Congress will come after Republican senators last week largely unified to block witnesses, including Bolton, from testifying in the impeachment trial.
As Common Dreams reported Monday, protests are set to take place across the country Wednesday condemning the Senate GOP's "cover-up" and making clear that a trial without witnesses is no trial at all.
"We the people do not accept this disgraceful attempt to cover up Donald Trump's abuse of the powers of the presidency and we will make our voices heard in protests Wednesday and on Election Day," said Karen Hobert Flynn, president of Common Cause, one of the progressive groups that organized the nationwide demonstrations.
We are at a crossroads
This country and this world are at a monumental crossroads. In a few short weeks, US voters will have an opportunity to beat back the forces of fascism and confront the billionaires who are rigging the economy, our media system, and our democracy, making it increasingly impossible for ordinary people to get by. We’re not just talking about the election. We’re talking about what must be done once these fascist elements are vanquished from power. We need a bolder set of solutions than what either major party has so far been willing to offer and a working-class movement ready to fight like hell for it. Trump didn't emerge from nowhere. The conditions that fueled MAGA authoritarianism were created by decades of radical neoliberal economic policies and a corrupt political system dominated by corporate interests. They slashed taxes on the super-rich, promising that the benefits would trickle down. They said giveaways to the corporate titans would make life more affordable for the rest of us. It was all bullshit. And when a bitter, betrayed populace searches for someone to blame, right-wing demagogues have little trouble finding scapegoats. People know when they're being lied to, but you won't hear any of this from the corporate media. Only independent journalism—powered and funded by people who believe in building a better world—can deliver truly trustworthy daily news. Our Fall Campaign is underway, and we need your help. To power our newsroom through the rest of the year, we need to raise $125,000 by midnight on October 31. So if you share our vision, please contribute whatever you can to sustain our work. |
President Donald Trump is reportedly compiling a Nixonian "enemies list" that includes former national security adviser John Bolton and top House Democrats as he seeks to retaliate for the congressional impeachment process, which is expected to come to a close as early as Wednesday with a Senate vote to acquit.
Vanity Fair's Gabriel Sherman reported Monday that "Republicans briefed on Trump's thinking believe that the president is out for revenge against his adversaries."
"This is what Senate Republicans are voting to permit. They know this is terrifying and destructive of the country, but they're more afraid of what Trump might do to them."
--Susan Hennessey
"It's payback time," an anonymous Republican lawmaker told Vanity Fair. "He has an enemies list that is growing by the day."
According to Sherman, names mentioned in his conversations with Republicans familiar with the president's plans included House Intelligence Committee Chair Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), House Judiciary Committee Chair Rep. Jerry Nadler (D-N.Y.), Sen. Mitt Romney (R-Utah), and Bolton, who Sherman noted is "at the top of the list."
"Trump wants Bolton to be criminally investigated," Sherman reported. "A person familiar with Trump's thinking said Trump believes Bolton might have mishandled classified information. According to a former official, the White House is planning to leak White House emails from Bolton that purportedly allege Bolton abused his position at the National Security Council."
Walter Shaub, former director of the Office of Government Ethics, tweeted Monday that Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) "hasn't even held the final vote to launch the post-checks and balances era, and already the would-be authoritarian is escalating his abuses of power."
"This is what Senate Republicans are voting to permit," said CNN legal analyst Susan Hennessey. "They know this is terrifying and destructive of the country, but they're more afraid of what Trump might do to them."
The expected Senate vote to acquit Trump on charges of abuse of power and obstructing Congress will come after Republican senators last week largely unified to block witnesses, including Bolton, from testifying in the impeachment trial.
As Common Dreams reported Monday, protests are set to take place across the country Wednesday condemning the Senate GOP's "cover-up" and making clear that a trial without witnesses is no trial at all.
"We the people do not accept this disgraceful attempt to cover up Donald Trump's abuse of the powers of the presidency and we will make our voices heard in protests Wednesday and on Election Day," said Karen Hobert Flynn, president of Common Cause, one of the progressive groups that organized the nationwide demonstrations.
President Donald Trump is reportedly compiling a Nixonian "enemies list" that includes former national security adviser John Bolton and top House Democrats as he seeks to retaliate for the congressional impeachment process, which is expected to come to a close as early as Wednesday with a Senate vote to acquit.
Vanity Fair's Gabriel Sherman reported Monday that "Republicans briefed on Trump's thinking believe that the president is out for revenge against his adversaries."
"This is what Senate Republicans are voting to permit. They know this is terrifying and destructive of the country, but they're more afraid of what Trump might do to them."
--Susan Hennessey
"It's payback time," an anonymous Republican lawmaker told Vanity Fair. "He has an enemies list that is growing by the day."
According to Sherman, names mentioned in his conversations with Republicans familiar with the president's plans included House Intelligence Committee Chair Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), House Judiciary Committee Chair Rep. Jerry Nadler (D-N.Y.), Sen. Mitt Romney (R-Utah), and Bolton, who Sherman noted is "at the top of the list."
"Trump wants Bolton to be criminally investigated," Sherman reported. "A person familiar with Trump's thinking said Trump believes Bolton might have mishandled classified information. According to a former official, the White House is planning to leak White House emails from Bolton that purportedly allege Bolton abused his position at the National Security Council."
Walter Shaub, former director of the Office of Government Ethics, tweeted Monday that Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) "hasn't even held the final vote to launch the post-checks and balances era, and already the would-be authoritarian is escalating his abuses of power."
"This is what Senate Republicans are voting to permit," said CNN legal analyst Susan Hennessey. "They know this is terrifying and destructive of the country, but they're more afraid of what Trump might do to them."
The expected Senate vote to acquit Trump on charges of abuse of power and obstructing Congress will come after Republican senators last week largely unified to block witnesses, including Bolton, from testifying in the impeachment trial.
As Common Dreams reported Monday, protests are set to take place across the country Wednesday condemning the Senate GOP's "cover-up" and making clear that a trial without witnesses is no trial at all.
"We the people do not accept this disgraceful attempt to cover up Donald Trump's abuse of the powers of the presidency and we will make our voices heard in protests Wednesday and on Election Day," said Karen Hobert Flynn, president of Common Cause, one of the progressive groups that organized the nationwide demonstrations.

