Impeachment is closing in on Trump, so Republicans are throwing a tantrum
They can't stop the House from impeaching Trump — but they can make it frustrating and tiresome to do so.
![Republicans at a press conference](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/XJhBVTPqGMK6JDYBQrwQuC-415-80.jpg)
When the going gets tough, Republicans throw tantrums.
Please, America, don't believe for a second that Republicans — led by Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) — were committing some kind of principled civil disobedience on Wednesday when they stormed a closed-door hearing of the House Intelligence Committee. Gaetz and his colleagues talked about demanding transparency, but they didn't need to break into the meeting to get it: They could have just asked the GOP members of the committee for an update.
The point of this charade wasn't transparency or due process. It was disruption.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
![https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/flexiimages/jacafc5zvs1692883516.jpg](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/flexiimages/jacafc5zvs1692883516-320-80.jpg)
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
President Trump and his allies have never had much use for America's laws and institutions. As impeachment draws near, though, it is increasingly clear that for Trumpist members of the Republican Party, we have now entered the "that's a nice Congress you have there — be a shame if anything happened to it" phase of the proceedings.
Republicans say they are just trying to protect the sanctity of the 2016 election result, positioning themselves as democratic heroes for their actions. But in emphasizing that election, they implicitly discount the idea that Congress has a Constitutional role to play in holding presidents accountable — and that Democrats won elections of their own in order to carry out that responsibility.
"Their attempt to act like Freedom Riders is really an attack on the committee system in Congress." Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.) pointed out afterwards.
There are three other takeaways from the showdown at Wednesday's impeachment hearing.
First, it should be evident that rioting is now an official part of the GOP playbook. Wednesday's intrusion by Gaetz and his colleagues was reminiscent of the "Brooks Brothers Riot" of 2000, an incident that took place as votes were recounted in Florida following the disastrous Bush-Gore presidential election that year. Republican operatives descended in force on the recount sites, disrupting the proceedings — eventually helping clinch the election for George W. Bush.
The precedent is clear: When the GOP is at risk of losing power, they will pull out all the stops to keep legal processes from continuing to their logical conclusion. Republicans can't stop the House from impeaching Trump — but they can make it frustrating and tiresome to do so.
Second, the disruptions don't do much for Republicans except — maybe — buy them a little time before impeachment goes down. The rioters on Wednesday managed to delay the impeachment hearing for five hours, but ultimately the House Intelligence Committee heard three hours of testimony from Laura K. Cooper, the deputy assistant secretary of defense for Russia, Ukraine, and Eurasia. And while her testimony was reportedly not as damaging to Trump as the evidence from other witnesses, it still functioned as another chink in the president's armor. Even Republicans close to the testimony had to admit it didn't look good for Trump.
"The picture coming out of it, based on the reporting that we've seen, I would say is not a good one," Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) told CNN.
Finally, while it is increasingly possible that the impeachment process will end with Trump's removal from office — though that is still, admittedly, a long shot — it appears that Gaetz, at least, has bet his future ambitions on embracing Trump. His role in disrupting Wednesday's hearing will not be forgotten soon, and he surely understands that. Which means that even if Trump himself is booted from office, Gaetz is betting on Trumpism continuing to appeal to Republican voters — and that his attractiveness to Trumpist voters is his best route to advancement.
So if you're hoping to see Trumpism banished from America's politics soon, you are bound to be disappointed — even if the impeachment process is successful. Trump cannot be president forever. He might not even be president by this time next year. But the seeds this president has planted in our political landscape will be flowering for years and decades to come.
Want more essential commentary and analysis like this delivered straight to your inbox? Sign up for The Week's "Today's best articles" newsletter here.
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Joel Mathis is a writer with 30 years of newspaper and online journalism experience. His work also regularly appears in National Geographic and The Kansas City Star. His awards include best online commentary at the Online News Association and (twice) at the City and Regional Magazine Association.
-
Today's political cartoons - September 7, 2024
Cartoons Saturday's cartoons - football widows, meddling kids, and more
By The Week US Published
-
Smoking ban: the return of the nanny state?
Talking Point Starmer's plan to revive Sunak-era war on tobacco has struck an unsettling chord even with some non-smokers
By The Week UK Published
-
Crossword: September 7, 2024
The Week's daily crossword puzzle
By The Week Staff Published
-
A brief history of third parties in the US
In Depth Though none of America's third parties have won a presidential election, they have nonetheless had a large impact on the country's politics
By Joel Mathis, The Week US Published
-
How could J.D. Vance impact the special relationship?
Today's Big Question Trump's hawkish pick for VP said UK is the first 'truly Islamist country' with a nuclear weapon
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Biden, Trump urge calm after assassination attempt
Speed Reads A 20-year-old gunman grazed Trump's ear and fatally shot a rally attendee on Saturday
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Supreme Court rejects challenge to CFPB
Speed Read The court rejected a conservative-backed challenge to the way the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau is funded
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Arizona court reinstates 1864 abortion ban
Speed Read The law makes all abortions illegal in the state except to save the mother's life
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Trump, billions richer, is selling Bibles
Speed Read The former president is hawking a $60 "God Bless the USA Bible"
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
The debate about Biden's age and mental fitness
In Depth Some critics argue Biden is too old to run again. Does the argument have merit?
By Grayson Quay Published
-
How would a second Trump presidency affect Britain?
Today's Big Question Re-election of Republican frontrunner could threaten UK security, warns former head of secret service
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published