Pence shouldn’t be waved in

By Cesar F. Lumba, Las Vegas

Wednesday, Oct. 4, 2017 | 2 a.m.

Robert Mueller, the special counsel investigating possible (probable?) collusion between Russia and the Trump campaign as well as President Donald Trump himself, is finally closing in on his ultimate target.

If Trump and his campaign are found guilty of a traitorous collusion with Russia in undermining our democratic process, Trump will surely be removed by impeachment or he may resign before he is impeached.

That creates a conundrum. By law, he will be succeeded by Vice President Mike Pence. Pence, elected as the other side of the Trump-Pence coin, would also have been found to be elected through the traitorous collusion between Russia and the Trump campaign.

By allowing Mike Pence to ascend to the presidency, the country would in effect allow someone elected through treachery with the Russians become president.

This would scream havoc to high heavens! Can anyone imagine a majority of the country accepting Pence as the new president?

The proper solution — something that’s unprecedented in our country but has been done in other countries — is for the Supreme Court to declare the 2016 presidential election null and void and mandate a special election for president in 2018. The special presidential election will be added to the usual election of members of Congress and some Senate seats, along with governorships and other state level and local offices.

The president elected in 2018 would then serve the remainder of the Trump-Pence administration.

It is imperative that post-Trump/Pence, the country is rid of all remnants of successful Russian interference in our elections. And even if Pence runs and wins in 2018, he will at least be elected without interference from the Russians. He would be a true American president, one elected by us Americans and not through Russian meddling.