He was not convicted and the impeachment proceedings ended less than three months after they began. Independent journalism is increasingly imperiled; ads alone can’t pay our bills. I understand the Goldwater rule, but when the President responds to a question about polls with “You’re reading the wrong polls! Help ensure AlterNet remains independent long into the future. It's still five weeks to the election. No removal from office, no impeachment, no censure, no need for a humiliating public apology? Why is impeachment important? How many other examples are there? It’s through the generosity of our supporters that we’re able to share with you all the underreported news you need to know. Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. The framers sought to avoid a repeat of that experience. Why Impeachment is Necessary. But its future direction is of geopolitical importance. It's no different than today. VideoSonic boom heard across Paris, The struggle of being a mother during the pandemic, .css-orcmk8-HeadlineContainer{display:-webkit-box;display:-webkit-flex;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;-webkit-box-pack:justify;-webkit-justify-content:space-between;-ms-flex-pack:justify;justify-content:space-between;}Covid-19: Growth in cases may be slowing in England.css-1dedj2h-Rank{-webkit-align-self:center;-ms-flex-item-align:center;align-self:center;color:#B80000;margin-left:3.125rem;}1, Presidential debate: Rules to change after Trump-Biden spat2, Plastic straw ban in England comes into force3, Chrissy Teigen reveals 'deep pain' of miscarriage4, 'I worked a five hour shift and got paid nothing'5, Covid-19: Virus spread may be slowing and fears over job cuts6, Newspaper headlines: PM warns rule breakers as dad shops without mask7, Covid in Wales: Lockdown tourism businesses fear closure8, Covid-19 in the UK: How many coronavirus cases are there in your area?9, Covid: Woman 'heartbroken' after terminating baby alone10. One is a moral argument. While the impeachment proceedings are meant to be factual and avoid any bias, many American citizens are still weary to speak about the controversial figure that President Trump is. From the moment he took office, President Trump’s refusal to divest from his business interests has placed him in direct violation of the US Constitution’s Foreign Emoluments Clause and Domestic Emoluments Clause. – Ed. His critics are accusing him of naivety and capitulating to President Vladimir Putin. The President must be held accountable under the law, through the impeachment process, for these … Hendershot wrote in an email on Nixon’s scandal, writing, “, Broadly speaking, Nixon’s encounter with impeachment stemmed from his role in the Watergate break-in and attempts to cover up his (and his administration’s) involvement. That's what's there and that's what's really important. Doug, this is excellent, as always. The particular issues are often ones that Trump has otherwise shown no interest in, like the environment or homelessness. Subscribe Subscribed Unsubscribe 396K. Trump’s willingness has always been a given. Stopping Trump is the top priority, but ensuring that the Trumpists in government lose wherever they hold power is just as important if we ever want to undo the damage already done to the country. Robert Hendershot, a history professor at Grand Rapids Community College, directs us to Section Four of Article II of the US Constitution, which states that, “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.”, “In the case of the U.S. Presidency” Hendershot said, “it is for the House of Representatives to decide on impeachment, and therefore the decision as to what constitutes a high crime or misdemeanor rests with that body.”. When The Collegiate reached out to the communications department at Grand Valley State University, Nate Hoekstra, GVSU’s associate director of digital media, suggested in an email that The Collegiate contact GRCC faculty. ... Trump is the top priority, but ensuring that the Trumpists in government lose wherever they hold power is just as important if we ever want to undo the damage already done to the country. Behind the scenes, some Republican senators are rumored to be looking for a middle position: coming out against what Trump did, but holding that it’s not an impeachable offense. What if he wins? And yet the scheme perks along until one guy — one of many, remember — reports it to Congress. That process has a name: impeachment. All Barr has to do is keep the investigation going through the 2020 campaign. “Do us a favor”. I wish I believed that. The second source is contemporary writing of what happened during the Constitutional Convention, how the framers came to that precise text. It’s no big deal; Trump just wants a favor. With impeachment in the news, W&M News sat down with Karin Wulf, William & Mary professor of history and executive director of the Omohundro Institute, to discuss the origin of the impeachment process outlined in the U.S. Constitution. President Richard Nixon was the next president to face threats of impeachment in 1974. The Trump Administration has been rightly criticized for being little more than a wealth-protection and enhancement scheme for the president, his family and fellow billionaires, but the political victories they’ve achieved have included destroying the apparatus of a regulatory state, and ramming through a record number of under- and un-qualified judges to lifetime appointments in the federal courts, where they will influence society and the law for decades to come, regardless of who sits in the Oval Office.
1. Who I am and why I started the Weekly Sift. If there’s anything that the framers agreed on, it’s that the people's representatives are the core of the government. In 1974 the House of Representatives Judiciary Committee approved three articles of impeachment – abuse of power, obstruction of justice, and contempt of Congress. Robert Hendershot, a history professor at Grand Rapids Community College, directs us to, Section Four of Article II of the US Constitution, which states that, “, 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.”. While it’s highly unlikely Trump will be removed from power before the 2020 election, there are a couple arguments to be made that impeaching him serves a … Get in touch!