By word and deed the president has not demonstrated the moral, intellectual and temperamental fitness to serve. His actions and words appear driven by impulse and personal vengeance.

We must build in statutory protections so that other members of the executive branch (the vice president, national security adviser and defense secretary) can legally delay or prevent catastrophic decisions (e.g. use of nuclear force). They should not face the horrible choice either to carry out irrational, deadly orders or in effect carry out a coup (by thwarting the president’s power as commander in chief).

The GOP will need a different nominee since the president, if he is still in office, will not be a viable candidate. Congress should be prepared to pass legislation to, for example, require presidential candidates to release tax returns and require full divestiture of business holdings, so as to encourage Trump to return to the private sector. The House upon receipt of the special counsel’s report should swiftly move to hold Judiciary Committee hearings, and if sufficient grounds are presented, proceed to impeachment on a bipartisan basis.