Now that impeachment is starting to become a distinct possibility it is time to start thinking about what is next. The order of presidential succession is obviously the vice president – Mike Pence. Where things get interesting is who is after Pence.
According to the order of succession, the next person that can assume the presidency, if Pence is not available, is the Speaker of the House of Representatives. For the next 21 days, it would be Paul Ryan. But, on January 3, 2019, Nancy Pelosi is expected to become the Speaker of the House. This is more likely now that Pelosi has come to an agreement with the faction, among the Democrats, that opposed her.
The obvious Trump successor is Mike Pence. It is also likely that Pence would pardon Donald Trump, his children and possibly some Trump insiders for crimes uncovered and yet to be uncovered should Trump resign or be impeached.
For the most part, the Russian scandal has not included Pence directly. Most of the controversy centers on Donald Trump and his business dealings, to include his adult children. But there is one obvious nexus to Mike Pence and the Russia probe.
Mike Pence was involved in the campaign during the runup to the election. Pence had contact with many of the individuals that have already been criminally implicated and, likely, with the new ones expected to made public soon.
Much of the Russia probe centers on whether the Trump campaign colluded with Russia to win the 2016 election. In other words, Mike Pence could be implicated in the Russia scandal when criminal indictments are handed down.
Should that happen, Pence would be unable to serve as president, leaving the door wide open for the next in line, Pelosi or Ryan.
It is unlikely that the Trump presidency would unravel before January 3rd, leaving the door wide open for Nancy Pelosi.
The irony of the whole thing is that America could get its first woman president thanks to the man who routinely disparages women. As if that wasn’t ironic enough, Trump won by keeping Hillary Clinton from becoming the first woman president.
It would be fitting and ironic if the chaotic presidency were to end by giving America its first woman president.
