“High Crimes and Misdemeanors”

 

                          David Parmer/Tokyo

The President, Vice President and all civil Officers of the United States, shall be removed from Office on Impeachment for, and Conviction of, Treason, Bribery, or other high Crimes and Misdemeanors.

(Constitution of the United States, Article Two, Section Four. )

Donald Trump has been president for just over 120 days, and already the “I” word is being bandied about. Impeachment–the removal of elected and appointed officials for a variety of infringements including the very poetic “high crimes and misdemeanors.”

The process of impeachment is straightforward: the House of Representatives issues an indictment called Articles of Impeachment. An investigation is held, and upon the completion a vote is taken as to whether the matter is to be forwarded to the Senate. Senators must vote by a 2/3 majority to impeach and remove the official from office. Only two sitting presidents (Andrew Johnson 1868, Bill Clinton 1998) have been impeached, but neither was removed from office.

Could Donald Trump be impeached at this time? It seems unlikely. Not “very” unlikely, but unlikely. However, the case is building against him. Now there are three major issues that would be considered as grounds to start impeachment proceedings. These include:

• Trump’s conflict of interest by not divesting or disclosing his overseas business connections
• The sharing of classified information with Russia’s ambassador and foreign minister
• The request to former FBI director James Comey to halt the investigation into the Trump campaign’s connection to Russia
• The firing of Director Comey to terminate his investigation into the Trump campaign

While the above items may not be enough to get Mr. Trump impeached now, they are serious allegations that may eventually induce Republicans in the House and Senate to vote for Trump’s impeachment. The tipping point has not been reached. No, not yet. But Mr. Trump has proved time and time again that he is his own worst enemy, so we might yet see the US congress voting on Trump’s removal.

 

 

Photo: Ian Koski via flickr