Former Republican member of congress: 'Trump is unhinged. We are waiting to get tax bill through before impeachment'

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Republicans are waiting to pass their tax-reform bill before they move to impeach Donald Trump, a former Republican member of Congress reportedly told a former US labour secretary.

In a Facebook post, Robert Reich said the former senator, an old friend of his, told him Republicans are "just praying Trump doesn't do something really, really stupid before the tax bill."

Speaking over the phone, Mr Reich said he asked his friend whether other Republican senators were preparing to follow Senator Bob Corker and "call it quits with Trump".

His source told him: "Others are thinking about doing what Bob did. Sounding the alarm. They think Trump’s nuts. Unfit. Dangerous."

He said the US President's personal attacks on his own staff "got them to notice all the other things," such as his threats about North Korea.

"Tillerson would leave tomorrow if he wasn't so worried Trump would go nuclear, literally," he added.

"Who knows what’s in his head? But I can tell you this. He’s not listening to anyone. Not a soul.

"He’s got the nuclear codes and, well, it scares the hell out of me. It’s starting to scare all of them. That’s really why Bob spoke up."

When asked what would happen if Republican leadership said Mr Trump was unfit to serve, the former senator said: "Bingo! The emperor has no clothes. It’s a signal to everyone they can bail. Have to bail to save their skins.

"I mean, Trump could be the end of the whole goddamn Republican party."

He said once Republicans "start bailing on him, the stage is set" for impeachment."

Asked if Republicans would go that far, the senator replied: "Not yet. Here’s the thing. They really want to get this tax bill through. That’s all they have going for them.

"They don’t want to face voters in ’18 or ’20 without something to show for it. They’re just praying Trump doesn’t do something really, really stupid before the tax bill."

"Like a nuclear war?" Mr Reich asked.

"Look, all I can tell you is many of the people I talk with are getting freaked out," the former senator said.

"It’s not as if there’s any careful strategising going on. Not like, well, do we balance the tax bill against nuclear war?

"No, no. They’re worried as hell. They’re also worried about Trump crazies, all the ignoramuses he’s stirred up."

When asked what was going to happen, he said: "You got me. I’m just glad I’m not there anymore. Trump’s not just a moron. He’s a despicable human being. And he’s getting crazier. Paranoid. Unhinged.

"Everyone knows it. I mean, we’re in shit up to our eyeballs with this guy."