AND so President Trump, a few years into his presidential career, is likely to turn a duet into a trio, with him becoming the third President of the United States to be subject to impeachment, after Andrew Johnson in 1868 and Bill Clinton in 1998 ("Trump facing impeachment trial as Democrats unveil the charges", The Herald, December 11). The charges against the present President are, however, on a higher and more damaging plane. President Andrew Johnson sacked Edwin Stanton, Secretary of War in his Government, which largely led to Johnson's unsuccessful impeachment. President Clinton's impeachment arose in the main because of some of his sexual adventures and his descriptions of them. The attempt against him was also unsuccessful. President Trump is being accused of abuse of power and obstruction of justice, high up the pecking order of potential offences.
The impeachment procedure in the US is somewhat arcane. There appears to be some uncertainty about what kind of offence is supposed to be getting dealt with. Is the procedure unable to deal with offences not indictable under federal or state law or is that exactly what it is supposed to be addressing in an indictment?
In any event, what it amounts to is politicians, with all the baggage they have in tow, passing judgment on another politician. There have been successful impeachments in the US with regard to government officials, but there has never been one of a President. The current proceedings will almost certainly also be unsuccessful because of the lack of the necessary majority to convict in the Senate. The rationale behind these proceedings, in all probability, is being driven not by the prospects of success, but rather by the opportunity to cause damage to the Republican Party in advance of the next presidential elections in November 2020.
Ian W Thomson, Lenzie.
DR Charles Wardrop (Letters, December 6) praises President Trump.
It may be that the office of President of the United States of America deserves respect, but the present incumbent of that office merits no respect, admiration, courtesy or homage. He is not a statesman nor a diplomat, he shows a lack of understanding of simple manners. This is the man who ordered babies to be torn from the arms of mothers and put in cages. These children will never get over the adverse childhood experience Donald Trump has inflicted on them and their families. His language and behaviour are offensive to women, ethnic minorities and many other groups too numerous to mention.
Margaret Forbes, Kilmacolm.
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