Political Science Fiction
A Presidential Handoff
Author’s Note: It’s January 1st, 2025. Goodbye to 2024. Into the dustbin of history it goes. This is a new year, and there’s a new sheriff in town.
Readers may not know, with all the New Year’s parties, football games and all, but we have a new leader at the helm of government. This is the first speech delivered to the nation by the 47th President of the United States of America.
Good evening. The 46th President of the United States of America, Joseph R. Biden, Jr., presented the country with a gift on the last day of the year. Joe Biden resigned on December 31st to spend more time with his family. For the remainder of his term Joe will be returning to his home Delaware, with our nation’s thanks.
During President Biden’s truly momentous time in office, the United States Supreme Court ruled that presidents are immune from legal prosecution of any kind for a president’s official acts.
What could be a more official act than protecting the United States from enemies, foreign and domestic? It’s in the oath, after all. As the 47th president, I, Kamala D. Harris, will defend our country like no other president before me.
As my first official act, I have ordered the arrest and detention of a foreign agent who rose to the highest levels of government, revealed our most closely held secrets, and attempted to overthrow our government from within. And so I announce to you today that former president Donald John Trump is being held in an undisclosed location, pending further action.
The facts, as I have stated them, are not in dispute.
The detainee has admitted to engaging in at least seven conversations with Russian President Vladimir Putin after leaving office. What was discussed? Our intelligence agencies know, of course, but we intend to ask Trump for his version of the calls.
We want to know if he is willing to be truthful in this matter of utmost importance to the security of our nation.
Trump has also admitted to numerous conversations with Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, even hosting this foreign leader at his private residence on at least one occasion while out of office.
If any policies related to the position of the United States in regard to military actions in the Mideast were discussed, that is a violation of US law: the Logan Act, specifically.
The Logan Act of 1799 is a federal statute that recognizes the criminal nature of negotiating a dispute between the United States and a foreign government by an unauthorized American citizen.
Donald Trump has not been authorized to speak on our nation’s behalf since January, 2021.
Conversations with Putin, previously mentioned, may also be violations of that law if they touched on US policy regarding the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
The punishment for violating the Logan Act is a fine, imprisonment for up to three years, or both.
In addition, the former president has admitted taking thousands of documents from the White House on or before Inauguration Day, 2021. Many of these documents were classified, and some revealed the identities of American intelligence agents.
A number of those agents have been killed or have disappeared without explanation. Our nation needs a full accounting of the documents taken, and each person who was given access to them.
The potential damage to our intelligence community is incalculable, and we insist on fully adjudicating the stolen documents and the effects of removing them from our government’s control.
Trump’s direction of actions related to the willful concealment of these stolen documents - which belong to the American people, after all - may be violations of the Espionage Act.
Charges will be filed in Washington, D.C. - where the documents should have remained - rather than in Florida, where the documents were stored without proper protection. Our investigations will take place during Trump’s detention, and will not be subject to delay or obstruction, as has been the case in the past.
Finally, it is indisputable that a mob descended on Congress on January 6, 2021, with the aim of disrupting the peaceful transfer of power for the first time in our nation’s history. We all saw the violent insurrection with our own eyes. The Department of Justice has an immense amount of evidence that the disruption occurred as a result of the active involvement and encouragement of then-president Donald Trump.
It is my duty as the 47th president to pursue these accusations to their conclusion.
Under our system of laws, the accused has the right to defend himself against all charges, no matter how long it takes. Given the scope of these alleged transgressions, that defense may take years.
Today I have asked for, and accepted, the resignation of Attorney General Merrick Garland. I have also requested that the Senate confirm my nomination of former Special Prosecutor Jack Smith as US Attorney General prior to the seating of the next Congress on January 3rd, 2025. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer confirms to me that this will be accomplished with all due haste.
My vice president, Tim Walz, will cast the tie-breaking vote, if necessary - as I had to do a record number of times.
My fellow Americans, I would like to assure you that justice will be served in these matters.
It may not explicitly be stated in our Constitution that a foreign agent is ineligible to be sworn in as president, but I am confident that you - and the Supreme Court, if it comes to that - will agree that such an abomination should not be allowed.
As the accused has not taken the oath of office as president yet, his running mate has no standing to challenge this decision.
Therefore, I will remain as president until the next election. If anyone disagrees with my decision to protect the nation from enemies foreign and domestic, you will have an opportunity to express your opinion at the ballot box in November, 2028.
Until then, I will do everything in my power to ensure that our democracy survives this attempted assault on our freedom.
Any violence that occurs as a result of my decision will be dealt with by law enforcement as a criminal matter. Perpetrators of violence against our fellow citizens will not be tolerated.
Thank you for your attention, understanding and support - I hope and trust.
Again, good evening … and happy new year!