Donald Trump threatens to create his own Patriot Party 

Washington, January 25 (RHC)-- Former U.S. President Donald Trump has reportedly been entertaining the idea of creating his own political party to compete against the Republican Party -- an effort that appears to be designed as a defense strategy against his impeachment, according to a report.

Trump has apparently instructed his aides to prepare election challenges to Republicans in Congress who broke with him in his final weeks in office, believing that the threat of a third party -- the Patriot Party -- will give him leverage to prevent Republican senators from voting to convict him during the impeachment trial, The Washington Post reported over the weekend.

The Wall Street Journal first reported that Trump had discussed launching of the “Patriot Party” with his inner circle during the last days of his presidency.  The name would manifest the extreme nationalism that Trump espoused throughout his tumultuous tenure as president.

Trump advisers also told the Post on the condition of anonymity that they would soon begin recruiting opposing primary candidates and commission polling in districts of targeted Republican lawmakers, including Rep. Liz Cheney of Wyoming, Rep. Tom Rice of South Carolina and Senator Lisa Murkowski of Arkansas.

The former president, who left office last week but never conceded defeat in the November 3rd election, has more than $70 million in campaign cash to fund his political efforts, people close to him said.

The U.S. House will deliver its article of impeachment against former President Trump to the Senate on Monday.  Trump faces a Senate trial after he was impeached by the House for an unprecedented second time for inciting an attack on the Capitol on January 6, which left five people dead.  The trial is scheduled to begin the week of February 8th and the full Senate is required to meet six days a week until the proceedings are complete.

Several Republican leaders criticized the former president and signaled they would move ahead with the impeachment trial.  A Senate conviction would effectively bar Trump from ever holding public office again.

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, Republican of Kentucky, has blamed Trump and other Republicans for provoking the Capitol riot and House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, Republican from California, has said the former president “bears responsibility” for the assault.