DONALD Trump is no stranger to calls for impeachment, but commentators believe the latest revelations that he may have pressured his Ukrainian counterpart to investigate former US Vice President Joe Biden would mean that the hour has cometh – and he would not be the first to find himself in such a predicament.
Impeachment?
The US Constitution declares 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 misdemeanours”.
How many Presidents have been impeached before?
It has only happened twice in US history.
The first?
In 1868, Andrew Johnson, became the first President to be impeached, accused of “misdemeanours”, related to removing his secretary of war and attempting to replace him. The trial ended with Johnson’s opponents failing to achieve the majority necessary to convict him.
And Bill Clinton was the second?
Yes, in 1988. After news of his affair with former White House intern Monica Lewinsky became public knowledge, the President at first adamantly denied to federal investigators – and the public – ever having had “sexual relations with that woman”. The articles of impeachment alleged that he had perjured himself by lying to investigators about his relationship with Lewinsky and said that he had obstructed justice by encouraging staff to deny the relationship.
But he was ultimately acquitted?
While it was largely agreed he had behaved badly, it was ruled that he had not behaved at the level of “high crimes and misdemeanours” and the impeachment served to reinforce the criterion that Presidents should only be removed from office in limited and extreme circumstances.
Wasn’t Nixon impeached?
Nixon faced calls for impeachment following Watergate. Three articles of impeachment were filed – again for the “misdemeanours” aspect – but Congress ultimately did not pursue them and Nixon resigned in August 1974 before any impeachment could proceed.
So what’s happening to Trump now?
A whistleblower raised the alarm about a conversation between Trump and an initial “mystery” counterpart that was submitted to the Intelligence Community Inspector General.
But we know the identity of the “mystery” counterpart now?
Trump has confirmed he had a discussion on the telephone with Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelenskiy on July 25. Reports in the States suggest he repeatedly asked Zelenskiy to investigate suggestions that Biden threatened to withhold American aid unless a prosecutor who was looking into a gas company in which his son was involved was fired.
Is impeachment likely?
House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff said that it “may be the only remedy” to Trump’s refusal to make public the complaint and phone call transcript.
MAUREEN SUGDEN
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