Every time you think that the incoming administration cannot possibly get any worse, something happens to remind you that we haven’t hit rock bottom yet.
The latest outrageous and terrifying remarks come from Newt Gingrich (R-Ga), the former Speaker of the House. If you remember, Newt was the guy who lost his job partly because of his ethics violations.
Well, now that Newt has joined the ranks of those who want to suck up to the incoming President, he has some advice for Mr. Trump.
The Hill reports that Gingrich appeared on the Diane Rehm Show. The question came up of whether or not Trump should be allowing his children to serve as his advisors. Gingrich said this:
“In the case of the president, he has a broad ability to organize the White House the way he wants to. He also has, frankly, the power of the pardon.”
“It is a totally open power, and he could simply say, ‘Look, I want them to be my advisers. I pardon them if anyone finds them to have behaved against the rules. Period.’ Technically, under the Constitution, he has that level of authority.”
Gingrich proposes advance presidential pardons for all present and future lawbreaking by Trump family https://t.co/gbfDYWgsx1
— David Frum (@davidfrum) December 19, 2016
Gingrich’s position is, literally, that the rules should not apply to Trump because he’s rich. pic.twitter.com/D3mA6lsv0u
— Jamison Foser (@jamisonfoser) December 20, 2016
It’s hard to believe that a man who once held the highest office in the entire House of Representatives is seriously suggesting that there are no laws to constrain the President’s inner circle.
He is saying that Donald Trump can do whatever he wants, through his advisors and his inner circle. Through his children, he can use the power of the Presidency to make himself as much money as he wants. He can use his wealth and his power to influence international relations, international treaties, whatever.
If anyone decides, after the fact, that Trump’s kids, or his super rich pals in the cabinet, have broken any laws, the Pres can just shrug it off.
Gingrich is saying that Trump and company can act like they own this country. He’s saying that they have complete immunity.
And there’s nothing the rest of us can do about it.
Chilling, to say the very least.
Featured image by Gage Skidmore via Flickr. Available through CC BY-SA 2.0
