I agree, the optics for post sworn-in arrest are bad. has to be done pre.
have to be ready with normie-playschool level evidence which is clear or none of those who are salvageable will buy it. they'll cry "Coup!! Coup!! Coup!!."
probably will anyways… SMDH
I could see some sort of 5D Chess with the line of succession… this person resigns, this person is arrested, this person is 14th'd… etc…
Fair point. High profile turncoat would be compelling to the other side for sure…. would be on brand for them as well.
Spitballing here:
with FAUXTUS-Elect et al suddenly ineligible, but also POTUS term expiring… POTUS names Interim PRES while re-vote/declas fraud evidence? perhaps Literal Martial Law, w/ Potus stepping aside so as not to be accused of MIL Takeover? POTUS needs to be insulated so he is squeaky clean when actual vote totals reach daylight.
You sure right… they either pick one or define how one will be picked…
though with arrests, the current status-quo might be skewed a bit… might be hard to establish a quorum…. rules on that, anyone?
So if Congress is diminished significantly in number… I'm talking everyone who didn't object to electoral votes on the 6th being complicit in the crime not being able to fill their own seats… based on my limited digging, the house always assumes a quorum exists unless it is proven otherwise. So if they can open for business, they can voice vote and without a roll call, can pick whoever.
not sure how the rules handle how to open the session with the speaker absent as well as anyone from that party… Minority Leader as ranking officer?
Will dig a little more.
Holy Balz, My dudes… chek starting at page 15/21, In The Absence of a Quorum, and Quorum in the case of Catastrophic Circumstances.
We might have a bit of traction here.
https://crsreports.congress.gov/product/pdf/RL/98-988
Bear with me Boyos…
so… if the Speaker is unable to discharge their duties, their responsibilities pass to the Speaker Pro-Tempore. There exists a list, compiled by the Speaker, of House Members eligible to be Speaker Pro-Tempore. (So far unable to find this list)
The Speaker Pro-Tempore is the person who can call the House to order and open business. By House rules, a quorum exists until it is proven not to. Any member can call for a quorum count. A quorum is a majority of the total body of the house.
if most get arrested, they won't be able to make 218 for a majority.
House rules provide for quorum in case of catastrophic circumstances (such as most of them getting arrested for treason and being disqualified from house membership).
Rules are as follows:
1, the house must dispose of a motion to compel attendance of absent members. a member must make a motion to compel attendance. this passes by a majority including at least 15 members voting yea. if less than 15 are present, or even if it fails, it still is considered 'Disposed of'.
2, the house must then conduct a 72 hour call of the house. either a quorum is established within that time, or the call fails.
3, the speaker must recieve a catastrophic qurorum failure report which lists number of new vacancies, old vacancies, members incapacitated, members not incapacitated but otherwise unable to attend, members unaccounted for.
4, the house must then conduct another 24 hour call of the house. either a quorum is established or the call fails.
after that the standing quorum of the house is then adjusted to the number of members who reported to the 24 hour call.
https://crsreports.congress.gov/product/pdf/RL/98-988