The American political scene has never been so hectic. As Democrats push for the removal of Donald Trump and he refuses to cooperate in the investigation of Congress, it is the turn of Joe Biden, so far silent, to embark on the battle.
A "threat" for the United States, a president who "betrayed" his country: Joe Biden in the lead, the leading democrats were on Wednesday against Donald Trump who, under the threat of impeachment, chose the maximum confrontation.
Donald Trump "tramples the Constitution," threw the former vice president of Barack Obama and possible opponent of the billionaire Republican in 2020.
"To protect our Constitution, our democracy, our fundamental principles, it must be targeted by impeachment," said Joe Biden from New Hampshire, stating in a scathing speech that the billionaire had "betrayed" his country and represented "a threat" .
"Pathetic," said the White House tenant in a tweet.
By refusing to co-operate in the investigation into an impeachment proceeding against Donald Trump, the White House has plunged the United States into an unprecedented situation: a "historic clash" between Congress and the executive, which Beyond the legal battle, provokes an explosive political duel in the run-up to the 2020 elections.
An unprecedented situation?
"This is a historic clash , " Judge Chris Edelson, a professor of political science at the American University in Washington.
Before Donald Trump, only three US presidents have been the subject of impeachment proceedings. And this time, the constitutional clash is spectacular.
In denouncing a "partisan and unconstitutional investigation" , White House lawyer Pat Cipollone announced Tuesday that Donald Trump would not cooperate with the investigations of the Democrats.
"The Constitution makes it clear that the House can conduct its impeachment proceedings against Trump in the way she sees fit," said Laurence Tribe, professor of Constitutional Law at Harvard, in USA Today's Wednesday.
In impeachment proceedings in the United States, the House of Representatives investigates and then votes for an impeachment before the Senate conducts the "trial" .
Republicans regret that the Democrats in the House have not held a vote to formally mark the opening of the investigation.
But "nothing in the rules of the House requires" such a resolution, wrote recently Frank Bowman, professor of law at the University of Missouri.
By "refusing to cooperate," Donald Trump adopts a strategy that "recalls some of the tactics of (Richard) Nixon," said Chris Edelson. Targeted in 1974 by a procedure of impeachment, the Republican president had notably fought several injunctions of the Congress.
"Trump's approach, however, goes further," says Edelson, "because it seems to denote a more coordinated attempt to globally refuse to cooperate with the congressional inquiry . "
How to get out of the trench war?
The battle promises to quickly turn into a fierce legal battle. And will end "probably" before the Supreme Court, said Donald Trump Wednesday.
Few specialists in constitutional law on Wednesday supported the White House letter, pointing out that the House had the constitutional "sole power" to carry out such a procedure.
"No court sensitive to the most basic principles of separation of powers could seriously consider allowing the White House to interfere in the affairs of Congress," said Laurence Tribe.
Faced with a judicial fight that promises to get bogged down, Democrats could decide to act quickly in Congress, building on the elements they already have in the Ukrainian case.
With firstly the transcription of the appeal between Donald Trump and his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky, where it was discovered that the American billionaire had asked him to seek compromising information on his rival Democrat Joe Biden.
Already House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has warned that the White House's refusal to cooperate would be "seen as new evidence of hindrance" to justice. This was one of the reasons for dismissal against Mr. Nixon prior to his resignation.
But the powerful Democrat warned against a too hasty procedure that would feed the impression of a biased approach.
More political issues?
For "impeachment" is above all a political struggle, in which we must win the public opinion ... and ensure the support of his people.
In the run-up to the presidential and legislative elections of November 2020, when Donald Trump will play a second term, the fight promises to be merciless.
The real estate mogul conceded last week that the Democratic-controlled House would certainly vote in favor of its "impeachment . "
The final battle will probably be played in the Senate, with a majority Republican.
While Republican support for the president still appears strong, some very critical voices have been heard.
And these small flaws could become gaping breaches if the elected officials noted, in the middle of the campaign for their re-election, that in the disputed constituencies the opinion began to turn against Donald Trump.
For Chris Edelson, "the key question will be whether Republicans in Congress are turning their backs on the president . "
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Destitution: between Trump and the Democrats, a "historic confrontation" Ouest-France.frENLARGE