SAG-AFTRA, the leading union that represents media workers in the United States, expressed that its National Board voted "overwhelmingly" in favor of Donald Trump facing expulsion in a disciplinary hearing for allegedly violating the organization's constitution.

On January 19, SAG-AFTRA put out a statement ordering a disciplinary hearing for Trump, acting on charges initiated by National Executive Director David White at the request of Union President Gabrielle Carteris. Expulsion is the most severe penalty possible for a member. "This individual’s words and actions over the past four years have presented actual harm to our broadcast journalist members,” says White. The union, which represents thousands of journalists around the country, claims that Trump's constant war against the media, as well as his alleged contribution to inciting the January 6 attack of the US Capitol, are what motivated the National Board's decision. This is a rare occurrence; the organization has not expelled a member in almost a decade, and only two members since 2002.

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The first step in executing Trump's expulsion would be to hold a hearing in front of the disciplinary committee, for which they would have to give Trump 14 days' notice before proceeding. They must then find him guilty, but the penalty is not automatically expulsion. He may also face lesser penalties, such as a fine or censure. If the committee does recommend expulsion, the issue goes back to the National Board who must vote two-thirds in favor. Nonetheless, this sends a message that the industry that SAG-AFTRA represents does not condone violent behavior.

Trump's expulsion from SAG-AFTRA would add to the long list of companies and organizations cutting ties with the former U.S. president. Since January 6, most popular social media platforms have banned Trump and many celebrities have vocalized their support for removing him from other media. Although the January 6 riots may have been the tipping point for Trump's universal loss of support in several industries, his controversial time as president foreshadowed this demise.

Despite strong support from the National Board, it is not guaranteed that Trump will face any penalties. Hollywood lawyer Schuyler Moore claims that no one has been expelled from SAG-AFTRA during the #MeToo movement. "I'm not aware of them having ever expelled anyone for bad behavior," he says, so the coming weeks will tell whether Trump will be the first.

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Source: The Hollywood Reporter