“Effect Trump Had Over GOP is Beginning to Dissipate” - UVA’s Lawless LIVE

“Effect Trump Had Over GOP is Beginning to Dissipate” - UVA’s Lawless LIVE

University of Virginia Professor of Political Science Jennifer Lawless said that President Donald Trump's "hold" on the Republican party is dissipating -- after being impeached by the House of Representatives this week on a bipartisan vote -- for the second time in his presidency. 

"The impact is still yet to be seen because that really rests with the Senate and whether they convict them," said Lawless. "If they convict him, even though the trial will be after he is no longer president, the long term effects could be pretty dramatic, because they could vote to bar him from holding federal office ever again, which would mean that he can’t run for President."

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Bipartisan Impeachment Support

"In terms of the symbolism though, I think it’s really important, regardless of what the Senate does, for two reasons," said Lawless of this week's vote. "The first is that there was bipartisan support, which means that this is the beginning of Republicans being told both by leaders like Liz Cheney, and their own conscious that maybe enough is enough."

"The second reason this is important I think is that it signals the effects that Trump had over the Republicans are beginning to dissipate, regardless of whether he’s able to run for President again."