Politico released a poll today that shows 43 percent of voters want Congress to begin impeachment proceedings against President Trump that represents a 5 percent increase from last week. It is less, however than the 45 percent of voters who oppose impeachment.
Demonstrating the divide that exists since the election 76 percent of self-identified GOP voters don’t think Congress should begin impeachment proceedings, while 71 percent of Democratic voters do.
Impeach President Trump for what exactly?
Article II, Section 4 of the U.S. Constitution states, “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.
The House of Representatives have impeached only two Presidents, President Andrew Johnson and President Bill Clinton, and the Senate convicted neither.
President Richard Nixon of Watergate infamy was deserving of impeachment, and I think could have been convicted by the Senate, but he resigned before that could happen.
Johnson’s impeachment is due in large part to a dispute with Congress over how to handle deal with the recently defeated Southern states. Clinton’s impeachment was a result of him perjuring himself giving testimony during a sexual harassment lawsuit filed by Paula Jones.
While I think impeaching Clinton was a political blunder there was actual evidence that he committed perjury. Whether that constitutes a “high crime or misdemeanor” is up for debate.
What evidence is there that President Trump committed any crime?
Nothing. It doesn’t matter to those who seek impeachment as 54 percent of those who want impeachment believe Trump has proven to be unfit to serve and Congress should remove him from office, and it doesn’t matter whether he has committed an impeachable offense or not.
43 percent believe he has committed an impeachable offense. What evidence they have for the supposed offense is anyone’s guess. Media reports based on anonymous sources don’t count, and those stories have not pegged him engaged in treason, bribery, or even a high crime and misdemeanor.
You can’t impeach a President because you don’t like him, don’t like his policies, or think he’s incompetent. Voters who feel this way already have a remedy – the ballot box in 2020.
I admit some conservatives wanted to see President Barack Obama impeached as well. I would ask the same question – based on what?
At least President Obama didn’t have media outlets polling this question on a weekly basis or ever.
The Constitution gives Congress a tool to remove a President who commits severe offenses. If the special investigator or the FBI uncovered evidence that President Trump did commit an impeachable offense, then Congress should consider taking action. Until then, people just need to deal that he is the President of the United States and unpopular opinion of him does not change that fact one iota.