Donald Trump Tried to Retain Presidency Illegally, Should Be Charged With Crimes- Half of U.S Adults in New Poll

Former U.S. President Donald Trump was believed to have planned to remain in the presidency through illegal and unconstitutional activities, according to a new poll.

The Hill reported that half of U.S. adults believed Trump planned to cling to the presidency illegally.

Among Republicans, the poll found that just 13 percent believed Trump planned to stay through illegal means, while Half of Republicans said he was using legal processes to remain in the White House. More than a third, or 37%, said he did not plan to stay.

The new poll was conducted by CBS News-YouGov and was done in the wake of public hearings held by the House select committee investigating the January 6 Capitol riot.

New Poll on Donald Trump's Capitol Riot Involvement

CBS News noted that half of the U.S. adults also think that Trump should be charged with the crimes and the attack on the Capitol was an "insurrection." On the other hand, the hearings have not changed how people describe the day's events compared to the way they did immediately afterward or a year later.

Democrats and independents still call the day's events an "insurrection" and an attempted overthrow of the government. However, there is a divide among Republicans regarding the matter. Half of them called it "defending freedom" or "patriotism." The Republicans who claimed that Biden did not win are especially likely to use those terms.

Meanwhile, eight in 10 Democrats with 44% of independents want to see Trump charged, saying that would strengthen democracy. Three in four Republicans believed clearing Trump of wrongdoing would actually strengthen democracy.

In addition, the poll also revealed that most Americans think at least somewhat likely in the future, elections officials will refuse to certify as a result of political reasons.

January 6 Hearings and Donald Trump

Rep. Liz Cheney, the vice-chair of the House select committee leading the probe on the events of January 6, said in a BBC News that it was "absolutely clear" that what Trump was doing was unlawful, adding that a number of people around him engaged in those means too.

Democrat Rep. Bennie Thompson said in his opening statement that Trump was at the center of a "sprawling, multi-step conspiracy" focused on overturning the presidential election. Thompson added that Trump "spurred a mob of domestic enemies of the Constitution" to breach the Capitol and "subvert American democracy."

Republican officeholders who refused to go along with Trump's plans had outlined threats to themselves and their families.

Rusty Bowers, the Arizona Senate Majority Leader, noted that protesters gathered outside his house and used loudspeakers to call him a "pedophile and a pervert."

Ronna McDaniel, chair of the Republican National Committee, also testified that Trump called her to discuss plans to organize "alternate" presidential electors who would claim that Trump actually won over their states.

In addition, Trump administration-era Justice Department had admitted that the former president had personally pressured them to release findings of possible election fraud.

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Mary Webber

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