02.10.2021

Fmr. Sen. Bob Corker Analyzes Impeachment Possibilities

As the second impeachment trial of former President Trump begins, the charge he faces is “incitement of insurrection” with reference to the January 6 Capitol riots. The defense argues that the trial is unconstitutional and that Trump’s rhetoric was protected by the First Amendment. Bob Corker served as a Republican senator until 2019 and was an early Trump critic. He joins the show to discuss.

Read Transcript EXPAND

WHAT DO YOU THINK HAS TO HAPPEN IN THIS TRIAL TO RESTORE AMERICA'S REPUTATION, ACCOUNTABILITY, NOT JUST AT HOME, BUT FOR THE WORLD THAT YOU SEEK TO INFLUENCE?

YEAH, SO, I DON'T THINK ANYTHING IS GOING TO HAPPEN IN THIS TRIAL THAT WILL DO THAT.

I DON'T.

IT LOOKS LIKE EVERY SENATOR IS SUPPOSED TO BE A JURIST AND VIEW THEMSELVES AS THAT WAY, TO LISTEN TO THE TESTIMONY AS A JURIST, NOT TO MAKE ANY DECISIONS ABOUT WHAT THEY'RE GOING TO DO UNTIL THEY'VE HEARD ALL THE TESTIMONY.

AND YET IT DOES FEEL LIKE, DOESN'T IT, THAT PEOPLE HAVE SORT OF GONE OFF IN CORNERS.

THERE'S A FEW PEOPLE WHO MAY BE UP IN THE AIR, IT SEEMS.

THERE IS A REAL CONSTITUTIONAL ISSUE, I KNOW, FOR MANY OF THE REPUBLICAN SENATORS AND THERE HAS BEENá-- THERE HAVE BEEN DISCUSSIONS AND I KNOW THEY'RE WORRIED ABOUT THAT.

AT THE END OF THE DAY, IT FEELS TO ME LIKE THAT PRESIDENT TRUMP I DON'T KNOW THAT THAT'S GOING TO HAVE A LOT TO DO WITH HOW WE'RE VIEWED AROUND THE WORLD.

HE IS BEING HELD ACCOUNTABLE BY THE MERE FACT THIS IMPEACHMENT PROCESS IS TAKING PLACE.

I DO WISH THE HOUSE HAD TAKEN MORE TIME AND DONE IT MORE THOUGHTFULLY, VERSUS NOT HAVING ANY HEARINGS.

I THINK IT WOULD HAVE LED TO A MORE WEIGHTY DISCUSSION HAD THAT OCCURRED.

BUT, LOOK, AS YOU KNOW AND WE'VE SORT OF LIVED SOME OF OUR LIVES ON WHAT WE'VE BEEN FOCUSED ON.

YOU OBVIOUSLY IN MUCH BETTER DEPTH THAN ME.

WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO DEMONSTRATE THAT AS A COUNTRY BY WHAT WE DO, HOW WE ACT, HOW WE MOVE AHEAD.

AND THE DISCUSSION NEEDS TO MOVE BEYOND OUR FORMER PRESIDENT.

IT NEEDS TO MOVE TO WHAT WE'RE DOING AROUND THE WORLD, WHAT OUR POLICIES ARE, HOW WE REACT WITH EACH OTHER AT THE CAPITOL, AND HOW WE PURSUE LEGISLATION.

WE'VE GOT TO DEMONSTRATE THAT WE ARE A GREAT DEMOCRACY, AND WE'VE GOT TO ENCOURAGE OTHERS TO TRY TO EMULATE WHAT WE'RE DOING, NOT BE EMBARRASSED BY WHAT HAPPENED ON JANUARY 6th.

About This Episode EXPAND

Christiane speaks with former Republican Senator Bob Corker about the impeachment proceedings against former President Trump. She also speaks with Mark Harris about his new biography of Mike Nichols. Walter Isaacson speaks with historian Heather Cox Richardson about modern American politics.

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