Chapter 193:
In the presidential residence in Morton District, a bit away from Lynch and other bond acquirers, the President sat at the conference table looking rather disheveled.
He had removed his tie, ripped open his collar, leaving it undone to reveal a patch of chest hair. His left arm was pressed against the table, the sleeve rolled up high, and his head was resting on his hairy forearm, tilted and furrowed in distress. In his other hand, a cigarette, almost burned down to the filter, dangled precariously, its long ash nearly falling.
He had been in this position for quite some time, feeling his mind had turned to mush, losing all ability to think clearly.
Around the conference table sat several people—his aides and some cabinet members.
Suddenly, the President, who seemed on the verge of dozing off, jolted awake. He glanced at his right hand and at the cigarette butt that had rolled off the table, scattering sparks as it hit the ground. It had burned his hand, snapping him out of his stupor.
The pain brought clarity. He wiped his face and looked at the others. "Gentlemen, we are in a very dangerous situation. Congress has accepted the impeachment process. What do we do next?"
When rumors began circulating that someone intended to impeach the President, the process had actually already started; otherwise, there wouldn't be such news in the public. This was essentially a warning to the President that someone was planning to take action against him.
Such secret information would only spread when things were set in motion and there was a need to build momentum.
Information from Congress revealed that the Progressive Party and the Socialist Party had allied, rallying many House representatives to their cause. Vote-gathering in both the House and Senate was commonplace, making outcomes uncertain. Even Conservative Party members might side with the Progressives if it meant preserving the party's public image. Abandoning the current President could be seen as a necessary move to maintain favor with the electorate.