Re: What Could Be Done if Donald Trump, as the 47th President, Were a Russian Asset?

What Could Be Done if Donald Trump, as the 47th President, Were a Russian Asset?
>
If Donald Trump (a sitting US President) or any president of the United States were hypothetically a Russian asset - an agent acting in the interests of Russia over their own country - it'd be a national security crisis of the highest order. The steps to protect the country would depend on what's provable, who's in on it, and how far the influence runs. Here's a breakdown of what could be done, assuming evidence exists and institutions aren't fully compromised:
>
1. Investigation and Evidence Gathering: The FBI and intelligence agencies (CIA, NSA) would need to dig deep - wiretaps, financial records, intercepted communications, witness testimony. If the president's a Russian asset, there'd likely be a trail: meetings with handlers, offshore accounts, or policy decisions that inexplicably favor Moscow. Congressional committees, like the House or Senate Intelligence Committees, could launch parallel probes.
>
2. Impeachment: If hard proof surfaces - say, classified docs showing the president taking orders from the Kremlin - Congress could impeach. The House would need a majority to charge (218 votes), and the Senate would need two-thirds (67 votes) to convict and remove. Political will's the bottleneck; partisanship could stall it unless the evidence is airtight and public outrage is deafening.
>
3. 25th Amendment: If impeachment's too slow or politicized, the vice president and cabinet could invoke the 25th Amendment, declaring the president "unable to discharge the duties of the office." This'd require the VP and a majority of the cabinet (8 of 15) to agree, then fend off any presidential objection with a two-thirds vote in both House and Senate. It's a long shot - loyalists would resist, and it'd spark a constitutional brawl.
>
4. Military and Intelligence Safeguards: If the president's still in power during this mess, the Pentagon and intel agencies could quietly limit damage. Think: slow-walking orders, tightening classified briefings, or even "losing" critical memos. Risky as hell - borderline mutiny - but it's happened in history when trust collapses (e.g., Nixon's final days).
>
5. Public Exposure: Leak it all. Whistleblowers, journalists, or X posts could dump raw evidence - audio, docs, whatever - into the public square. If the country sees undeniable proof (not just rumors), it'd force action. Russia's playbook thrives in shadows; sunlight's the best disinfectant.
>
6. Legal Fallout: Post-removal, the Justice Department could prosecute under laws like the Espionage Act (18 U.S.C.  794) or treason (Article III, Section 3 of the Constitution). Treason's a high bar - it needs two witnesses to an overt act or a confession - but espionage could stick with solid intel. Penalties range from decades in prison to, in extreme cases, death (though that's rare).
>
Realistically, the system's built to assume loyalty at the top, so every step's a fight. If Russia's that deep in, they've likely got leverage elsewhere - blackmailing senators, hacking infrastructure, or sowing chaos online. Speed and coordination would be critical; delay risks everything from economic sabotage to military exposure (e.g., NATO secrets leaked).
>
>
View the attachments for this post at:
http://www.jlaforums.com/viewtopic.php?p=685069115#685069115
>