GOP lawmaker says Trump won’t resign, but is resigning to avoid impeachment
At least one House Republican said Monday that President Donald Trump won and should resign, though it’s not clear if that would lead to impeachment proceedings.
“I’m not going to be resigning, but I am resigning,” Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., told ABC News’ David Muir.
“He is the president of the United States.
It is his job to serve, and it is his right as president to take any action that he deems necessary.”
The Florida Republican’s comments come after Trump’s attorney, John Dowd, said Monday he expected Trump to resign and called on Trump to do so within 60 days.
“If he decides to do that, he’s entitled to do it,” Dowd said.
“The president has the right to do whatever he feels is necessary.
It’s his prerogative, and the president has a duty to protect the nation.”
Trump’s lawyer, Dowd added, would be available to answer questions from the House Intelligence Committee and other lawmakers as soon as he was finished speaking.
Trump has said he will resign.
But the president and his lawyers have not indicated when that will be.
Gaetz said he’s worried about a Trump impeachment scenario, but noted that the impeachment process doesn’t come into play until a person is impeached.
“There’s nothing you can do except resign,” Gaetz told ABC.
“And there’s nothing that we can do about that except impeach the president.”
In January, Trump issued a directive to appoint a special counsel to look into allegations of collusion between his campaign and Russia.
The move was seen by some as an attempt to put an end to any criminal investigation into the Trump campaign, which could have potentially led to charges.
Dowd did not immediately respond to a request for comment Monday.
In the past, the president’s attorneys have repeatedly said he is not under investigation and would not be prosecuted.
Gaetz, the chairman of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, said he expects Trump to comply with the new directive, but added that Trump has made clear that he is acting as president, not a lawyer.
“What I would suggest is that we look into this, and if there is some way to resolve this with the president, then I will support it,” Gaetts said.
The House Intelligence panel has jurisdiction over Trump and his business holdings.
Gaets comments came amid speculation that Democrats could try to impeach Trump, a move that would be a far more serious charge than a simple declaration of no guilt.
If Democrats get to impeaching Trump, they would need to prove a “high level” of obstruction, which would be difficult to prove.
That would make impeachment more difficult.