Trump Orders Probe Into Pentagon Munitions Stockpile Leaks After Iran Conflict 
Andy Burnham’s Social Media Strategy Boosts Labour Against Reform UK 
U.S. Unseals Charges Against Five Alleged CJNG Leaders, Raises Reward for New Cartel Chief 
Russian Strikes on Ukraine Kill Six, Wound Dozens in Balakliia and Sumy 
Trump Faces Tough Choices as Iran War Drags On 
New Zealand MMP Electoral System Faces Fresh Referendum Debate 
Trump Urges Exxon, Chevron to Cut Gas Prices After Record Oil Profits 
Mark Carney Jokes About Teleprompter, Takes Swipe at Trump 
US-Backed Venezuela Government, Opposition Talks Begin 
U.S., Iran, Oman Near Interim Deal to Reopen Strait of Hormuz Amid Ceasefire Efforts 
Rubio, UK’s Miliband Stress Stronger European Security Role in Washington Talks 
US Continues Ukraine Patriot Missile Production Talks Despite Trump’s Concerns 
Trump Says U.S.-Iran Talks Progressing as Hopes Rise for Strait of Hormuz Reopening 
Taiwan Launches Major Han Kuang Military Drills to Strengthen Wartime Readiness 
Zelensky Urges Faster NATO Action on Air Defense Missiles 
Brown University President Christina Paxson to Step Down After Clashes With Trump Administration 
North Korea May Deploy Missile Unit to Russia as Ukraine Faces Growing Ballistic Threat 
The United States President Donald Trump is currently facing an impeachment trial in the Senate for several charges including abuse of power. With these charges being brought to light once again, a former White House Ethics lawyer comments on the President’s possible mental state.
Joke or not, many have questioned Donald Trump’s mental state since moving into the White House as the new president. It is not hard to see why due to his manner of speaking to people on social media among many other examples. However, Professor Richard Painter of the Minnesota Law School, who also used to be a White House Ethics lawyer, says Trump’s mental competency is a determining factor to whether or not he can stand trial. Painter explained via Twitter that the statute regarding the defendant’s mental competency can result in the indefinite postponement of an impeachment trial.
Applying this statute, the Republicans may use this to their advantage to indefinitely delay Trump’s impeachment. The statute stipulates that the prosecution can file a motion to determine the defendant’s mental competency. But Painter also indicates a way to determine Trump’s mental fitness is through looking at his three years’ worth of tweets on Twitter as President.
Psychiatrists have also previously aired concerns regarding Trump’s mental health as well. All the way back in December 2019, Independent reported that a group of psychiatrists or mental health experts have urged the House Judiciary Committee to factor in Trump’s “dangerous mental state” that comes as a result of a “brittle sense of self-worth” in the articles of impeachment against him, a move which seemed to help as the charges are now passed onto the Senate after the House voted on impeachment
The group, which includes Dr. Bandy Lee of Yale Medical School, Dr. John Zinner of George Washington University, and Dr. Jerrold Post who is a former CIA profiler, stated that they are “convinced that, as the time of possible impeachment approaches, Donald Trump has the real potential to become ever more dangerous.” The three experts were also willing to testify as part of the impeachment trial.
They also warned the Committee at the time that if there is a failure to keep track of or understand the psychological aspects of Trump’s impeachment, there could be catastrophic consequences.
