Donald Trump impeachment: Is it too late?

 Donald Trump impeachment: Trump is going to be known in American history for all the wrong reasons – the latest of them being the only United States President to have been impeached twice. Wednesday was historic day as Democrats-led House of Representatives voted to impeach outgoing president Donald Trump. The most remarkable moment of the entire proceeding was inclusion of 10 Republicans who voted in favor of impeaching Trump, making the moral compass highlighted. 

But the next step of Senate voting in favor of the impeachment has been hazed off by Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell. McConnell clarified the reality soon after voting was done by House for Trump impeachment. He said, “Even if the Senate process were to begin this week and move promptly, no final verdict would be reached until after President Trump had left office. This is not a decision I am making; it is a fact.” 

This means that Senate voting on whether Trump will be removed from office will not happen till January 20, the day he exits White Office. 

This brings us to few questions worth contemplating – can a former president be impeached or removed from office; and does it make it worth the procedure?

Regarding first question of impeaching a former president, debate has been ongoing since forever. Even the Constitution is rather vague on the topic. Article II, Section of Constitution reads, “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.” 

But the clarity on the situation, which is at present, of what will ensue if impeachment process starts when the president is still in office and ends when he is not, is not offered by the Constitution. Constitution leaves it an open interpretation, something that hasn’t been tried before in America real time. 

This brings us to the second question – even if we can impeach the President at this point, what purpose does it solve? 

The face value of this question looks simple straight forward – holding a ‘former president’ on trial to decide if he was guilty of impeachable offences when he was in office doesn’t really make sense. But Senate voting will not only decide on impeaching Trump, but more. If Senate voting goes in favor of impeaching Trump, then the next vote would be held that would ban Trump from seeking any public office in future. The voting would be of simple majority of 50+1 by Senate. 

This will be groundbreaking for the 2024 elections. Trump wouldn’t be running for President, which he has made clear of doing. This can be a good and smart game plan by McConnell who has made it clear that he is done with Trump. This would allow GOP to get ‘rid of Donald Trump’. 

This brings us to a valid conclusion – it does after all make sense in impeaching Donald Trump and it isn’t too late.