Never Again

   Donald Trump is banned from ever again holding any public office in the United States.
   Not because Congress may impeach and convict him, nor because the vice president and the Cabinet may remove him from office, but because the 14th Amendment of the Constitution, approved in 1868, already prohibits it.
   Specifically, the Constitution says, "No person shall ... hold any office, civil or military, under the United States ... or as an officer of the United States (who) shall have engaged in engaged in insurrection ... or given aid or comfort" to those who do.
   There is little doubt that he encouraged the mob gathered for his speech to march to the Capitol to prevent the formal approval of a new president. Nor is there any doubt that he comforted those who did raid a session of Congress for failing to succeed in their insurrection.
   Therefore, whether Trump is removed from his position before his term expires next week, or whether the House of Representatives impeaches him, or whether the Senate convicts him even after his term expires, he will never again be able to hold any government office.
   He has talked of running again for the presidency, but even if he does, he is Constitutionally prohibited from moving back into the White House.