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The U.S. Constitution says the president can be removed from office by Congress for “treason, bribery, or other high crimes and misdemeanours.” Exactly what that means is unclear.
Before he became president in 1974, replacing Republican Richard Nixon who resigned over the Watergate scandal, Gerald Ford said: “An impeachable offence is whatever a majority of the House of Representatives considers it to be at a given moment in history.”
Frank Bowman, a University of Missouri law professor and author of a forthcoming book on the history of impeachment, said Congress could look beyond criminal laws in defining “high crimes and misdemeanours.” Historically, it can encompass corruption and other abuses, including trying to obstruct judicial proceedings.
www.reuters.com
Before he became president in 1974, replacing Republican Richard Nixon who resigned over the Watergate scandal, Gerald Ford said: “An impeachable offence is whatever a majority of the House of Representatives considers it to be at a given moment in history.”
Frank Bowman, a University of Missouri law professor and author of a forthcoming book on the history of impeachment, said Congress could look beyond criminal laws in defining “high crimes and misdemeanours.” Historically, it can encompass corruption and other abuses, including trying to obstruct judicial proceedings.
Explainer - What does it take to remove a U.S. president from office?
The "i word" - impeachment - is swirling around the U.S. Congress since the release of Special Counsel Robert Mueller's redacted Russia report, which painted a picture of lies, threats and confusion in Donald Trump's White House.