General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: Washington Post: Treason in a nutshell by Seth Abramson [View all]getagrip_already
(14,708 posts)The key word there is VOLUNTARY. He can easily manipulate pence and the cabinet to do it, and with a few key calls the house and senate will go along.
Why?
First, it leaves him with the title "President". He will both be President and not president at the same time. Pence would only be the "Acting" President. So he keeps the title and a lot of the trappings like free ss protection and presumably travel and living expenses.
Second, he can play the "victim". It's the role he loves. He can sit in bed and tweet all day and nobody can touch him.
Lastly, he will be protected from impeachment. The congress won't vote to impeach if he is out on the 25th. They just won't. He is also somewhat protected from state and federal prosecution until his term ends. At which point he will have a pretty good legal defense of unfit to stand trial. Heck, if 2/3 of the house and senate said he was too unfit for office, he has a fair case, especially with all the expert witnesses he can hire.
It would be on his terms, and he can continue to beat up the country, the prosecution, and democracy while he is in neutral. He might even campaign for re-election.