Hacker attack or technical glitch ?: Ministry accidentally reports Trump’s departure

Tuesday, January 12, 2021

Hacker attack or technique breakdown?
Ministry accidentally reported Trump’s departure

The mood in the United States can hardly be overheated. Following the storm in the Capitol, Democrats are pushing for the impeachment of the US president. Suddenly, the State Department spontaneously ended Trump’s term. It is unclear how the hoax came about.

The US State Department on Monday unknowingly announced President Donald Trump to step down. “Donald J. Trump’s term of office expired on January 11, 2021 (..),” biographical information about the elected president is given on the ministry’s website. The misunderstanding was only for a short time. Trump’s biography page was then taken down and users received a technical error message.

It was unclear whether the misunderstanding only resulted in a technical glitch or a hacker attack. Trump’s term officially ends on January 20. On this day, his chosen successor, Joe Biden, is sworn in. However, after the storm of the Capitol in Washington by angry supporters last Wednesday, there are efforts in the US Congress to remove Trump prematurely. Democrats on Monday introduced a relevant draft resolution for the House of Representatives.

Democrats control the House of Representatives and by their majority can confirm the charges against the president. According to the news, a vote is planned for this week. Then the Senate has to deal with it. A decision there before January 20 is almost impossible.

Trump will be the first US president in history to have two impeachment proceedings. He leaves office on January 20 with the swearing in of his Democratic successor Joe Biden. In addition to impeachment, the draft proposal also provides that Trump should be banned from future government offices. This would deny him a possible candidature in 2024. Hence the process of impeachment will be more than a symbolic step for history books.

A two-thirds majority in the Senate is not necessary to convict Trump, even though resentment about Trump among Republicans is increasing. In the first impeachment trial, Trump was acquitted by Republicans in the Senate in February 2020.