Explainer: How impeachment works and why Trump is unlikely to be removed

[turbinetree]

Politics
December 5, 2019 / 9:50 AM / Updated 24 minutes ago

Jan Wolfe 5 Min Read

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi on Thursday instructed the House Judiciary Committee to draft articles of impeachment against President Donald Trump for pressuring Ukraine to investigate a political rival.
What happens next and why Trump is unlikely to be removed from office are both explained here.
WHY IMPEACHMENT?

The founders of the United States feared presidents abusing their powers, so they included in the Constitution a process for removing one from office.

The president, under the Constitution, can be removed from office for “Treason, Bribery, or other high Crimes and Misdemeanors.”

High crimes and misdemeanors have historically encompassed corruption and abuses of the public trust, as opposed to indictable violations of criminal statutes.

Former President Gerald Ford, while in Congress, famously said: “An impeachable offense is whatever a majority of the House of Representatives considers it to be at a given moment in history.”

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-trump-impeachment-explainer/explainer-how-impeachment-works-and-why-trump-is-unlikely-to-be-removed-idUSKBN1Y91TP?il=0

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WHAT ABOUT OPENING A TRIAL AND QUICKLY ENDING IT?

"The Senate rules allow members to file, before the conclusion of the trial, motions to dismiss the charges against the president. If such a motion passes by a simple majority the impeachment proceedings effectively end.

Clinton’s Senate impeachment trial, which did not end in a conviction, lasted five weeks. Halfway through the proceedings, a Democratic senator introduced a motion to dismiss, which was voted down."

[Runningdawg]

1. I have never expected him to be convicted or removed

I want the votes of the people who enable the traitor on the congressional record. And I want history to show, that against all odds, the Democrats did the right thing. We TRIED to stop the madman.

[Proud Liberal Dem]

2. Exactly

Holding him accountable is what is important.

[MFGsunny]

4. I agree 10000%

ESPECIALLY holding him PUBLICLY accountable.

That scarlet "I" won't just be stamped on his underoos, it will be stamped on his dang maga forehead for all recorded time (and the history books plus all known digital media).

[customerserviceguy]

6. Trump will wear it

like a badge of honor among his supporters. And having that "I" hasn't done Bill Clinton much harm.

[CrispyQ]

3. Look for McConnell to finish it in an afternoon. -nt

[rocktivity]

5. Better to have tried and lost than not to have tried at all

Doing the right thing isn't always fun or easy or expedient -- but it IS always right.


rocktivity