Newsweek doesn't seem to be letting go of the possibility that Hillary Clinton can still be president. Relying on a theory first floated in October by Lawrence Lessig, the Roy L. Furman Professor of Law and Leadership at Harvard Law School, the editors strike a painfully hopeful tone that the investigation into Russian collusion will bring President Trump down once and for all.
Hillary Clinton could still become president if Russia probe finds conspiracy evidence https://t.co/7fH8dnVS0m pic.twitter.com/F3Wqea3bYC
— Newsweek (@Newsweek) January 18, 2018
There has been no evidence to prove Trump colluded with Russia to win the election, as even top Democrats have admitted. Still, Lessig told Newsweek on Wednesday that if proof ever does surface, the following could still technically happen.
If Trump did conspire with Russia, the president “should resign, or, if he doesn’t, he should be impeached,” Lessig wrote in his essay. Vice President Mike Pence would also have to either resign or get impeached, which would make Speaker Paul Ryan the president of the United States, Lessig wrote at the time.
"But that’s very different from saying I think it will happen, or should happen, or [that] the evidence is there for it to happen,” Lessig noted.
But still, it could happen.
A majority of Americans believe the investigation should continue and that special counsel Robert Mueller should not be fired, according to new polling. Trump has pledged to let him keep his job.
Trump lawyer Ty Cobb said the president is "very eager" to speak with Mueller and put this whole mess behind him.