Republican senators were warned “vote against the president and your head will be on a pike” regarding the impeachment trial, reports CBS News.
The revelation and threat reportedly came from one of President Donald Trump’s confidantes.
In opening statements, House managers examined the debunked conspiracy theories invoked by Pres. Trump.
— CBS Evening News (@CBSEveningNews) January 23, 2020
A @POTUS confidant tells CBS News that GOP senators were warned: “vote against the president & your head will be on a pike.”
Here’s @nancycordes https://t.co/LV1Y6QveIh pic.twitter.com/tLB9EpoWr8
Clearly the threat wasn’t meant to be taken literally. It is a fitting warning, nevertheless, given how enthralled Republican congresspeople are with Trump’s endorsement on the campaign trail.
The practice of publicly displaying severed heads on pikes dates back to the Renaissance, when prisoners’ heads were placed on the so-called “Traitor’s Gate” of London Bridge. Prisoners—many accused of treason, like future Queen Elizabeth I—passed under this bridge on their way to confinement in the Tower of London.
The heads were meant to serve as a chilling reminder of their likely fate, and a deterrent to others tempted to go against the crown.
President Donald Trump has repeatedly accused a long list of people—including the Ukraine whistleblower, FBI agents, prominent Democrats such as Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), and so many others—of treason for seeking his impeachment and removal from office.
The fact that the senators weren’t actually being threatened with execution and public display of their decapitated head did little to quell the outrage. People apparently would rather have senators make up their own minds on impeachment than vote blindly based on threats from a president who seems to see no limit to his power.
#HeadonaPike started trending alongside comments like, “What the fuck? The president is not a fucking king or a mob boss. You GOP senators need to fucking stand up for yourselves and your country and do what’s right. Grow a spine.”
“Jury tampering much,” tweeted Dr. John Biggan, a Democratic congressional candidate in Texas.
Many agreed with Biggan’s assessment that the threat potentially interferes with the proceedings and gives the impression that the Republican senators have been rendered incapable of impartiality.
Senate Republicans are compromised
— Trump owes $$$$$$$$$ (@jonathanjewel) January 24, 2020
This trial needs to be held over for the next senate term #HeadOnAPike pic.twitter.com/831zZvB9g4
Blatant witness intimidation. There’s no doubt we have a mobster in the White House 👇#HeadOnAPike https://t.co/Krsj4N1RqI
— DenizenoftheRabbitHole 🇺🇸 (@NinaInsardi) January 24, 2020
https://twitter.com/Kris_Sacrebleu/status/1220710810634211329?s=20
https://twitter.com/DebraFBloom/status/1220699121872527367?s=20
Trump’s and his defenders’ timelines were peppered with comments from disgruntled people referencing the allegation.
No. It looks like obstruction in plain sight … and ongoing. #HeadOnAPike pic.twitter.com/VB8aENkyLY
— Treva Wilson (@twilson557) January 24, 2020
What’s Trump got on you? #HeadOnAPike pic.twitter.com/fy5RHqLxAd
— Ann Heitland (@AnnHeitland) January 24, 2020
Hey Lil’ Marco, will your #HeadOnAPike (be on a pike) when you vote to acquit? Pathetic! Biggest coverup in US history. Might as well stop tweeting about Venezuela and other corrupt countries. US now tops the list.
— Teresa Lane (@EditorLane) January 24, 2020
As it picked up steam this morning, #HeadonaPike became a meme.
#HeadOnAPike say that again sir.
— Just a Name That Doesnt Mention Anything But Name (@XtremeLazyBum) January 24, 2020
Didnt hear it the first time. pic.twitter.com/AVEAbemVeZ
“Nothing is wrong with threatening Senators’ lives. The threat was perfect. Anyone listening would say it was the most perfect threat they had ever heard.” – Trump in about 2 hours#HeadOnAPike
— Liddle’ Savage (@littledeekay) January 24, 2020
Actually, #HeadOnAPike is locker room talk. pic.twitter.com/8XAAsU9Ofs
— Lara Schwartz 📚 free speech =/= just for jerks (@Lara_Schwartz) January 24, 2020
I’d say that #HeadOnAPike lowers Trump to King Joffrey levels, but even Joffrey at least gets more credit for showing and not telling his threat.
— Brendan Hay (@B_Hay) January 24, 2020
Electorally and – I cannot stress this enough – metaphorically, it is our job to put the @GOP’s #HeadOnAPike in the #2020Elections.
— (((Evan Shapiro))) (@eshap) January 24, 2020
(someone will have to explain what a metaphor is to #MAGA) pic.twitter.com/wEc7moopXB
Although the story generated plenty of anger among the electorate on social media, there doesn’t seem to be much chance that it will sway Republicans.
As the CBS News noted, “So far, their heads appear to be safe.”
READ MORE:
