We have reported today on mysterious plane sightings over Prestwick Airport (only done when Trump comes) and a high-level report that there is a booking at the airport for a military 757 usually used by Vice President Pence or the First Lady the day before the inauguration.
That makes sense only if Trump wants to be out of the country the day before Biden is sworn in.
But there are other considerations out there. Over the weekend, White House Economic Advisor Peter Navarro said that the President has “options” and that there was a way to put off the inauguration.
The inauguration date is fixed in the constitution. It is January 20th, period. If Biden is not sworn in that day, for any reason at all, Nancy Pelosi becomes president. Donald Trump is gone. And yet now the people around Trump seem to think that the use of “Emergency Powers” can put off the inauguration. In reality, he may be referring to the Insurrection Act, which can only be used for military domestic law-enforcement, not putting off an inauguration.
It does not say that an Emergency Power declaration can put off the presidential inauguration. Lyndon Johnson was sworn in on an airplane during a clear emergency, though not a declared one.
Yet, a White House Advisor and now a Trump attorney, one that has been in the White House huddling with Trump and plotting strategy is now also joining Navarro in asserting that Trump does have emergency powers to put the inauguration off.
Fleeing on a plane sounds better than this:
Leave it to Right-Wing watch to report on this because, of course, that’s exactly who Powell was speaking to. It seems almost like a secret for now. It is like Powell is telling them something they need to know. It might be, it might be that they still want money, we don’t know.
We do know that it’s terrifying that anyone near the president believes he can put off the inauguration.
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Peace, y’all
Jason
[email protected] and on Twitter @JasonMiciak