I think we're realizing that the accountability was never there, prior presidents simply had a sense of dignity.
Ultimately only congress and scotus can intervene. But America decided to vote in the January 6 guy and a congress that wouldn't serve as a check on his power.
Yeah, most of the vaunted "checks and balances" in the US constitution either come down to a gentlemen's agreement, or depend on either the nonexistence of political parties, or parties being crosscut by sectional loyalties that haven't really been a factor in US politics for over 100 years.
Ultimately only congress and scotus can intervene. But America decided to vote in the January 6 guy and a congress that wouldn't serve as a check on his power.