07.09.2018, Washington.
An anonymous source, who introduced himself as a senior White House official, told in his open letter published in The New York Times on September 5 that staff from US President Donald Trump’s administration are working to counter his policies.
According to the anonymous source, a large group of Republican officials exists in the White House, which is trying to cancel out the part of Trump’s policy, which they believe undermines the long-term interests of the US and conflicts with years of US policy, especially with regards to foreign policy. That being said, this group fully supports the part of Trump’s policies which “have already made America safer and more prosperous.” Among such positive examples, the letter mentions economic deregulation and further strengthening of the military.
Among Trump’s initiatives which are being countered, first and foremost, is his desire to normalize relations with Russia. For example, the recent mass expulsions of Russian diplomats from the USA and the escalation of anti-Russian sanctions took place against Trump’s will, whom his staff had “boxed in”.
The New York Times has a long history of using anonymous sources in political wars against Republican administrations. For example, the publishing of the so-called “Pentagon Papers” (a Department of Defense confidential report, United States – Vietnam Relations, 1945–1967: A Study about previously concealed circumstances of the US’ entering the war in Vietnam ― Rossa Primavera News Agency) in 1971 was a hard blow against the Nixon administration one year before the Watergate scandal, which The New York Times also actively fueled, and which ultimately led President Nixon to resign.
The US is approaching midterm elections in November, which will renew the entire House of Representatives and one third of the Senate. The Democratic Party has been openly discussing the possibility of impeaching Trump since before the 45th President of the United States was inaugurated.
Editorial comment
In order to carry out a successful impeachment, i.e. to indict the President of the United States of high treason or another crime of similar severity, this step must be supported by a simple majority in the House of Representatives; then the case proceeds in the Senate where, with the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court presiding, a qualified majority of 60 senators out of 100 must vote in favor of a guilty verdict. Through all US history, two presidents were successfully impeached, Andrew Johnson in 1868 and Bill Clinton in 1999; however, both times the Senate failed to convict. Impeachment proceedings were also initiated against Nixon, but he resigned before the House could vote.
Having won the coming midterm elections to Congress, the Democrats could potentially initiate impeachment proceedings; however, they would need Republican allies in Senate to complete the process. The publishing of this letter, assuming that it was actually written by a senior official in the Trump administration, suggests that a capable Fronde has grown inside the Republican Party, which is potentially ready for to reach certain agreements with the Democrats regarding the fate of the 45th President of the United States.
Source: Rossa Primavera News Agency
