The Founders were brilliant in their creation of a process to remove a President.
It is complex, frustrating, political and has never been successful … if you define “success” as removal of the President.
President Andrew Johnson was impeached for not following the mandates of the Constitutional Amendment that created certain rights for the recently freed slaves. The House of Representatives sent the Articles of Impeachment to the Senate, which did not find him guilty of “high crimes and misdemeanors,” as required by the Constitution.
The second time around, President Richard Nixon saved the country from the agony of a trial and resigned before the Senate trial. The third time around, President Bill Clinton denied having “sex with that woman.” He was not found guilty by the Senate.
Now we have President Donald Trump most certainly being impeached by a Democratic majority House of Representatives and most likely being found not guilty by a Republican majority Senate.
Did the alleged quid pro quo with the trade-off of political favors for releasing withheld military assistance for Ukraine rise to the level of impeachment? Same question for the alleged obstruction of Congressional inquiry by refusing to provide documents or witnesses that were subpoenaed. The Senate presided over by the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court will soon decide.
There are three saving graces to the miserable impeachment process that has dominated the news for more than a year. The first is that the need to have a back-stop against the abuse of power has been clearly demonstrated. The second is that the potential for impeachment and conviction – no matter how costly or difficult the process – will inhibit the natural desire of those in power to abuse the gift they have been given by the voters. The third is that Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell promises a speedy process leading to his self-proclaimed forgone conclusion. So it appears the ship of impeachment has been launched and we will not be swearing in a new President.
On a much happier note, congratulations to the Black Knights for their 14th state championship. What an achievement to make us all proud to be Graham County citizens.
Roger Carlton is a columnist for The Graham Star.