search
Sections List
American Journal News

Trump now accounts for half of all presidential impeachments

Donald Trump ‘willfully made statements that, in context, encouraged — and foreseeably resulted in — lawless action at the Capitol.’

By Emily Singer - January 13, 2021
Share
Donald Trump

Donald Trump on Wednesday became the only president in U.S. history to be impeached twice, and now has the distinction of having been the subject of half of all of the presidential impeachments that have taken place since the birth of the republic.

The House of Representatives impeached Trump on one article, namely: “In his conduct while President of the United States—and in violation of his constitutional oath faithfully to execute the office of President of the United States and, to the best of his ability, preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States, and in violation of his constitutional duty to take care that the laws be faithfully executed—Donald John Trump engaged in high Crimes and Misdemeanors by inciting violence against the Government of the United States.”

Trump was charged based on his actions at a rally just prior to the violent and deadly attack by his supporters on the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, when a mob broke into and ransacked the building in response to the joint session of Congress being held there to certify the results of voting in the Electoral College and confirm President-elect Joe Biden’s victory in the 2020 presidential election.

The impeachment charge says Trump “willfully made statements that, in context, encouraged — and foreseeably resulted in — lawless action at the Capitol, such as: ‘if you don’t fight like hell you’re not going to have a country anymore.'”

“Donald John Trump, by such conduct, has demonstrated that he will remain a threat to national security, democracy, and the Constitution if allowed to remain in office, and has acted in a manner grossly incompatible with self-governance and the rule of law,” the impeachment charge concludes. “Donald John Trump thus warrants impeachment and trial, removal from office, and disqualification to hold and enjoy any office of honor, trust, or profit under the United States.”

In contrast to his first impeachment, which no Republican House members voted in favor of, at least 10 Republicans voted this time to impeach Trump. Among them was Rep. Liz Cheney (R-WY), a member of House Republican leadership, who said in a statement announcing that she supported impeachment, “There has never been a greater betrayal by a President of the United States of his office and his oath to the Constitution.”

The House voted to impeach Trump exactly one week after the violence at the Capitol, which resulted in the deaths of five people, including one Capitol Police officer.

The House proceeded with impeachment hearings after Mike Pence refused to remove Trump by invoking the 25th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which sets forth the authority of “the Vice President and a majority of either the principal officers of the executive departments or of such other body as Congress may by law provide” to deem a president “unable to discharge the powers and duties of his office.”

It has not yet been determined when a trial in the Senate would take place.

Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said the Senate would not be back in session until Jan. 20, meaning that a trial wouldn’t take place until after Trump was out of office. However, sources tell the New York Times that McConnell is in favor of convicting Trump, with the idea that doing so would rid the GOP of the man who oversaw the party’s loss of the House, the Senate, and the White House in just four years.

Trying Trump on the charge on which he was impeached will put a number of Senate Republicans up for reelection on the spot, forcing them to choose between voting to let Trump off the hook for inciting a deadly insurrection or enraging his still significant base by voting to punish him.

The first time Trump was impeached, almost exactly a year ago to the day, it was on charges of abuse of power and obstruction of Congress connected with his attempts to coerce Ukraine into announcing that it was investigating Trump’s likely Democratic opponent in the 2020 election, Joe Biden. During the trial that followed, just one Republican voted to convict him: Sen. Mitt Romney of Utah.

Just two other U.S. presidents have been impeached: Andrew Johnson in 1868 and Bill Clinton in 1998.

Clinton was not convicted during his trial in the Senate. Some of the GOP senators who did vote to convict him are still serving: McConnell, Lindsey Graham, Mike Crapo, Chuck Grassley, Jim Inhofe, and Richard Shelby.

Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


AJ News
Subscribe to our newsletter.
Read More
AJ News
Latest
Megadonor embroiled in ethics scandal gave thousands to Winsome Earle-Sears

Megadonor embroiled in ethics scandal gave thousands to Winsome Earle-Sears

By Jesse Valentine - April 21, 2025
“I Was Terrified To Get Pregnant Again After Having to Flee Tennessee for a Life-Saving Abortion”

“I Was Terrified To Get Pregnant Again After Having to Flee Tennessee for a Life-Saving Abortion”

By Bonnie Fuller - April 21, 2025
Goldman Sachs: Trump’s tariffs will lead to job losses

Goldman Sachs: Trump’s tariffs will lead to job losses

By Jesse Valentine - April 17, 2025
Democrats take stand for wrongly deported Maryland man

Democrats take stand for wrongly deported Maryland man

By Jesse Valentine - April 16, 2025
North Carolina law would make it illegal for Democratic AG to sue Trump

North Carolina law would make it illegal for Democratic AG to sue Trump

By Jesse Valentine - April 11, 2025
Older Americans suffer under Republican slash and burn policies

Older Americans suffer under Republican slash and burn policies

By Jesse Valentine - April 09, 2025
Scott Brown got Trump’s tariff plans for New Zealand very wrong

Scott Brown got Trump’s tariff plans for New Zealand very wrong

By Jesse Valentine - April 08, 2025
Trump admin canceled Social Security contracts to punish Maine governor

Trump admin canceled Social Security contracts to punish Maine governor

By Jesse Valentine - April 03, 2025
Senate Republicans vote to eliminate cap on overdraft fees

Senate Republicans vote to eliminate cap on overdraft fees

By Jesse Valentine - April 03, 2025
Forced to carry a dying baby, this Texas mother of four says she didn’t think it could happen to her

Forced to carry a dying baby, this Texas mother of four says she didn’t think it could happen to her

By Bonnie Fuller - March 28, 2025
Despite pleas from women and doctors, Texas may implement even more abortion restrictions

Despite pleas from women and doctors, Texas may implement even more abortion restrictions

By Bonnie Fuller - March 28, 2025
Trump’s antiwar claims don’t hold up in leaked group chat

Trump’s antiwar claims don’t hold up in leaked group chat

By Jesse Valentine - March 28, 2025
Frontline Republican governors cheer on Department of Ed closure

Frontline Republican governors cheer on Department of Ed closure

By Jesse Valentine - March 26, 2025
GOP-led legislatures ramp up abortion restrictions

GOP-led legislatures ramp up abortion restrictions

By Jesse Valentine - March 18, 2025
HHS slashes vaccine research, amplifies misinformation

HHS slashes vaccine research, amplifies misinformation

By Jesse Valentine - March 11, 2025
Senate Republicans scrap consumer protections for payment apps

Senate Republicans scrap consumer protections for payment apps

By Jesse Valentine - March 10, 2025
Rep. Don Bacon admits he voted for Medicaid cuts

Rep. Don Bacon admits he voted for Medicaid cuts

By - February 28, 2025
Trump admin cracks down on affordable weight-loss treatments

Trump admin cracks down on affordable weight-loss treatments

By Jesse Valentine - February 27, 2025
Republican lawmakers are lying about Medicaid fraud

Republican lawmakers are lying about Medicaid fraud

By Jesse Valentine - February 26, 2025
Trump’s education pick: schools may lose funds for teaching Black history

Trump’s education pick: schools may lose funds for teaching Black history

By Jesse Valentine - February 13, 2025
JD Vance defends DOGE staffer who promoted eugenics 

JD Vance defends DOGE staffer who promoted eugenics 

By Jesse Valentine - February 10, 2025
Texas’ abortion ban has OB-GYNs working in an environment of ‘extreme fear’

Texas’ abortion ban has OB-GYNs working in an environment of ‘extreme fear’

By Bonnie Fuller - February 04, 2025