I will always remember where I was when I heard Donald Trump fired FBI Director James Comey. This is a historic moment.

What we’re living through, as David Rothkopf recognized, is nothing less than “a moment of crisis in the history of American democracy.” A number of observers have rightly compared the Comey firing to Richard Nixon’s infamous “Saturday Night Massacre,” when he fired special prosecutor Archibald Cox in a bid to block efforts to gain access to secret tapes Nixon had made in the Oval Office.

As with Nixon, it is difficult to avoid the conclusion that Trump is seeking to cover up something and to place himself beyond the reach of the law.

“ A first step would be Republicans and Democrats standing together to declare that this is not a partisan dispute but a threat to our constitutional system. ”

It’s well worth noting that Trump’s decision to fire Comey is only the most recent attack on our constitutional democracy. This is a president and administration that have tried to undermine the independence of the federal courts, falsely accused political opponents of criminal acts, threatened the free press and turned the White House into a marketing opportunity for the Trump brand.

National crisis

The essential question right now is whether Republicans in Congress will recognize this is a national crisis that demands bipartisan action to make clear the president is not above the law. Americans should call for an independent investigation into the Trump campaign and administration’s ties to Russia.

So far, only a few congressional Republicans seem to be considering this. But, as Democratic Sen. Ron Wyden of Oregon observed: “In America, the truth always comes out.” I am inclined to agree with Wyden. Nixon’s decision to fire special prosecutor Cox ultimately led to Nixon’s resignation. We must similarly confront the possibility that Trump will not complete his first term in office.

If this happens, there will be no cause for celebration. The problem we’ll all face, and indeed the problem we already face, is how we come through this crisis and emerge with a functional constitutional democracy — meaning an executive branch accountable to the rule of law, free from corruption and scrubbed clean of authoritarian impulses.

There are no guarantees about any of this. Former CIA and NSA Director Michael Hayden openly worries that American institutions may be melting down and “it’s beginning to feel a little bit like Nicaragua around here.” We must recognize that none of this will fix itself. A lot of hard work will be required.

Two big problems

There are two overarching problems. First, how will Americans who are concerned about Trump’s authoritarian actions feel confident that constitutional democracy is intact? Second, how will Trump’s supporters feel that their vote has not been taken away from them, in the event that Trump does leave office?

These are big challenges, to say the least. How can we take them on?

One first step would be having prominent Republicans and Democrats stand together to declare that what we’re dealing with is not a partisan dispute but a direct threat to our constitutional system. George W. Bush, Mitt Romney and other prominent Republicans like Hayden should join with Barack Obama, Jimmy Carter and other nationally known Democrats to call for an independent investigation.

If an investigation does lead to either Trump’s resignation or removal from office, Republicans and Democrats should form a kind of unity government. Assuming that Vice President Mike Pence is not himself tarnished by the many scandals swirling around this administration, he could succeed Trump as president and nominate a Democrat to serve as vice president. Democrats could also be named to cabinet and other important positions.

Even if Trump does not leave office before his first term is up, we cannot avoid our day of reckoning with the harm he has done. At some point, we must assess and seek to repair the damage our constitutional system has sustained.

Donald Trump’s time in office has been more like a professional wrestling match than a legitimate presidency. It won’t be easy to start setting things right, but it’s better to get started sooner rather than later.

Chris Edelson is an assistant professor of government in American University’s School of Public Affairs. His latest book, “Power Without Constraint: The Post 9/11 Presidency and National Security,” was published in 2016 by the University of Wisconsin Press.