They resigned in protest on Jan. 6 – then Trump was never chased again

[ad_1]

Former attorney general William Barr called Trump’s behavior “a betrayal of his office and supporters.” Republicans in Congress have encouraged articles of impeachment against the president. Twitter and Facebook suspended Trump.

Some TV speakers thought Trump could be lost in a retired life of buffet and golf at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach, Fla. It appears, even momentarily, that Trump may be persona non grata in national politics.

But over the past year, Trump’s grip on the party hasn’t diminished. Instead, in critical ways, it remains stable.

Trump is holding court in Palm Beach where a steady flow of Republican candidates and operatives travel to get his approval and, they hope, endorsement. Lawmakers are still answering phone calls from the former president and some, like McCarthy and Graham, have flocked to his compound for a meeting and to take a photo as well. Trump held a MAGA rally, interviewed conservative media, and toured with former Fox News host Bill O’Reilly. His 2021 Christmas picture book has sold thousands of copies. It was considered a fait accompli in some corners that Trump would not only run again for office but he could easily become a Republican Party nominee.

“You have two camps now of people who should speak and who should not. The first camp knew Trump was a dangerous and vindictive man but he didn’t want to ruin their lives by arousing his anger. The second camp is a more naked transaction, “said Miles Taylor, the former chief of staff at the Department of Homeland Security in the Trump administration who was declared the author of” Anonymous, “an anti-Trump tell-all.” They see that the GOP is still drunk on MAGA Kool Aid, and they don’t want to be left behind. “

A spokesman for Trump did not respond to a request for comment.

As Trump sought to regain his throne, those who resigned in protest ran away from public view – rarely, if ever, to talk about that day. David Shulkin, who was fired from Trump’s tweet as secretary of Veterans Affairs, said he was not surprised. “We’ve seen countless times people have spoken out‘ against the former president who “paid the price of personal attacks against them,” he said. He said his philosophy is to speak out against Trump only on pertinent matters.

But even important criticisms have been muted. Instead, their Jan. 6 defectors came to dispute the idea that they had ever resigned in protest, while others seemed content to simply admit that their former boss remains the de facto ringleader of their party. Most, above all, turned to silence.

Here are their stories.

ELAINE CHAO

[ad_2]