US President Donald Trump stunned Wednesday April 15 by threatening to suspend the US Congress to force confirmation of judges and other appointments, drawing on an article of the US Constitution never before applied.
The Senate, with a Republican majority, has the power to confirm or reject the President's appointments to certain positions: federal judges, Supreme Court magistrates, ambassadors, etc.
"Fake sessions"
The upper house suspended its plenary sessions until May 4 due to the coronavirus pandemic but meets regularly in session "Pro forma", bringing together only a few senators who can, however, approve texts unanimously. "What is being done to leave the city while conducting bogus pro forma sessions is a breach of duty towards the Americans who cannot afford it during this crisis", launched the Republican President.
At his daily press conference on the coronavirus crisis, he urged the Republican leader of the Senate to suspend all meetings so that he could confirm his candidates himself.
Never used power
If the Democrat-majority House of Representatives "Do not agree with this suspension, I will exercise my constitutional right to suspend the two chambers of Congress", he threatened. "I would prefer not to use this power", however, said Donald Trump. "The Constitution provides a mechanism for the President to fill positions in such circumstances", he insisted. "The Senate should either fulfill its duty and vote on the candidates or it should formally suspend" all sessions, "So that I can do" these appointments, he insisted.
"No president in history has ever used the constitutional power to suspend Congress", an American presidential historian Michael Beschloss reacted on Twitter.
