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You're going to hear a lot of bad faith arguments about impeachment.
Trump’s team will argue you can’t convict former officials or presidents.
But history shows otherwise! And the Founders disagreed, too.
Let's turn to 18th Century Britain. (Stay with me, folks)
THREAD:
Trump’s team will argue you can’t convict former officials or presidents.
But history shows otherwise! And the Founders disagreed, too.
Let's turn to 18th Century Britain. (Stay with me, folks)
THREAD:
Our Founders didn’t invent impeachment from scratch. Oh no.
According to Hamilton, they looked to Britain which provided “the model from which the idea of this institution has been borrowed.”
In the 18th Century, British Parliament impeached two men – both *former* officials.
According to Hamilton, they looked to Britain which provided “the model from which the idea of this institution has been borrowed.”
In the 18th Century, British Parliament impeached two men – both *former* officials.
Parliament impeached the former Lord Chancellor in 1725 for acts of bribery during his term.
And in 1787, while America's Founders met to draft our Constitution, Warren Hastings of Britain was impeached for abuses he committed while Governor-General of Bengal.
And in 1787, while America's Founders met to draft our Constitution, Warren Hastings of Britain was impeached for abuses he committed while Governor-General of Bengal.
The Founders accepted this view of impeachment, and adopted it when drafting our Constitution.
They also recognized that impeachment had to have “teeth,” so no one could escape accountability by leaving office.
Disqualification from future office was always essential!
They also recognized that impeachment had to have “teeth,” so no one could escape accountability by leaving office.
Disqualification from future office was always essential!
But enough about Britain.
In 1876, the U.S. Secretary of War William Belknap was impeached for accepting a bribe.
He was impeached *while* he was in office. He faced trial *after* he left office. The Senate voted 37-29 that former officials could be tried.
Sound familiar?
In 1876, the U.S. Secretary of War William Belknap was impeached for accepting a bribe.
He was impeached *while* he was in office. He faced trial *after* he left office. The Senate voted 37-29 that former officials could be tried.
Sound familiar?
It’s just common sense:
Presidents must be accountable for their offenses, whether they occur on the first day of their term or the last.
Our Founders agreed. The history of the impeachment power agrees. There’s no “January exemption.”
Trump must be convicted.
Presidents must be accountable for their offenses, whether they occur on the first day of their term or the last.
Our Founders agreed. The history of the impeachment power agrees. There’s no “January exemption.”
Trump must be convicted.
