I have a question

[CelticWinter]

If Mueller proves that the Russians rigged the election so that dumpty would win, would that make his presidency null and void? And also would everything he signed and changed be null and void? Im trying to find some light at the end of this nitemare tunnel.
Celtic

[jberryhill]

1. No

[syringis]

7. Hi Jberryhill

In theory, anything that results from a nullity is null and void.

By nullity, I mean if Trump's victory proved illegitimate.

Therefore, in principle, all the actions he has taken in the course of his duties are null and void.

But this is the theory... In practice, it is more complicated.

[jberryhill]

9. The president is elected by the Electoral College

There are no circumstances by which a president becomes an "unpresident" during the time that the person occupied the office.

This was a frequent fantasy engaged in by birthers, who believed that if they showed that Obama was illegitimate, then all of the acts performed by the Office of the President would somehow cease to be.

No, federal government workers are not returning their paychecks for the last year and a half.

[leftstreet]

2. Unfortunately, no n/t

[CelticWinter]

3. well crap

it was hopeful thinking anyway

[alwaysinasnit]

4. In theory, yes.....

In all likelihood, no.

[PoliticAverse]

5. No, no more than when a winning Presidential campaign is found to have violated campaign laws...

invalidates that election and any Presidential acts resulting.

The remedy is impeachment.

[Pobeka]

6. Not legally, but it does give a clear *mandate* for a DEM congress ...

... to reverse as much of his actions and policies as possible. And, of course to impeach him ASAP.

[haele]

8. No one knows the answer to that. Lots of theories, but no answers.

He can be impeached, his executive orders can be undone - depending on who controls the House and the Senate.
If the GOP still holds on to power, Blue States might send the question(s) up to the Supreme Court.
Remember, both Pence and the GOP leadership are allegedly (for now) eyeball deep in Russian Money and it's not just the election and Trump, it's undue influence from a foreign nation that benefits from damage to the U.S.
So the GOP loses everything if they lose any bit of control.
If the Dems sweep, the Administration will probably send the question(s) up to the Supreme Court in an attempt to save ass until 2020.
At the SCOTUS, Roberts has to decide if Trump nominees have to recuse themselves or not, or whether or not he, Alito, and Thomas are willing to actually think about the situation legally instead of along party/political lines.

So - Everything depends on a massive Democratic push to GOTV in November.

Haele

[onenote]

11. The administration doesn't get to "send questions up to the Supreme Court."

The Court decides cases and controversies between actual parties; it does not issue advisory opinions.

[haele]

13. I did not use the legal terminology, mea culpa.

My use of "send the question" reflected that there was a question as to undoing Trump's actions if he was found to have been elected due to fraud.
I should have said "send the case up to the Supreme Court.

Haele

[onenote]

14. There really isn't much of a question.

The Constitution provides a mechanism for removing a president for Bribery, Treason and Other High Crimes and Misdemeanors. There is no suggestion anywhere in the Constitution or in any of the Federalist papers (which are often referenced in interpreting the Constitution) that removal of a President has any impact on the validity of any actions he has taken. It is an unimaginable concept -- if any actions were somehow invalid, all actions would be. And that would create chaos. The means for addressing any actions he's taken is for Congress to override them or the new president, to the extent it is within their power, to supplant those actions with different actions.

[FSogol]

10. No. Recommended reading: The US Constitution.

[CelticWinter]

12. thanks everyone

for clearing this up, *sigh still wish I could just take his thorny crown away