Action 99 – IMPEACH...soon?
Background: By March 6, it was already evident that there was enough malfeasance on the part of the Trump-2 administration to warrant an impeachment inquiry, although it was also evident that the votes weren’t there to carry it out. (see Action #59 – Censure President Trump – where many reasons are listed). But Trump’s erratic and dangerous behavior since then should definitely result in impeachment and removal from office, before he completely ruins the nation. Trump’s new meme coin grift, alone, should be sufficient grounds for impeachment (1). As Senator Chris Murphy noted this week, “The Trump coin scam is the most brazenly corrupt thing a President has ever done. Not close.”
But how to make impeachment and removal from office a reality? It may be instructive to look at how the Nixon resignation went down. Underlined text are historic facts from the 1970s that resonate today.
In 1972 the Watergate break-in happened, followed by a spate of firings and resignations among high level officials. The New York Times declared: "The nation is in the hands of a president overcome with dictatorial misconceptions of his constitutional authority." In May of 1974, after multiple resolutions calling for impeachment had been put forward and after some loud street demonstrations, the House finally held impeachment hearings. Nixon had to be compelled by the Supreme Court to turn over his tapes. Finally in July the Judiciary Committee approved three articles of impeachment: obstruction of justice, abuse of power, and contempt of Congress. This was a bipartisan determination: 7 Republicans joined 21 Democrats in voting in favor of at least one of the articles. At that point, the scuttlebutt was that impeachment by the House was a certainty, and conviction by the Senate was a possibility. But Nixon remained determined to stay in office, although his approval ratings had plummeted: down to 24 percent, and 53% supported impeachment.
As part of the impeachment investigation, a study was done on the Constitutional Grounds for Presidential Impeachment. It concluded that impeachable offenses could fall into three categories: 1. "exceeding the powers of the office in derogation of those of another branch of government" 2. "behaving in a manner grossly incompatible with the proper functions and purpose of the office" and 3. "employing the power of the office for an improper purpose or personal gain." The Nixon White House issued scathing comments about the impeachment inquiry being a “partisan witch hunt”
When in August 1974 the “smoking gun tape” was released (making it clear that Nixon personally participated in the Watergate cover-up), three of his closest Republican friends (Senators Goldwater and Scott, and Congressman Rhodes) met privately with him to tell him that they had the votes for impeachment in the House and conviction in the Senate. Nixon then finally agreed to resign, escaping the embarrassment of formal impeachment.
Action: Contact our Maine Congress people. Suggest that they start working quietly to gain commitments from some of their Republican colleagues so that when impeachment gets back on the table (for example after the midterm elections), they can be counted on to impeach and convict. It’s past time that the Republicans as well as the Democrats start reclaiming their dignity and doing their job. Also, start (or continue) building bridges with your Republican friends, family, neighbors. Trump’s days in office are numbered. Perhaps take an IMPEACH sign to your next protest, which will be May 1 (details forthcoming later).
Contact:
Senator Susan Collins: Email: www.collins.senate.gov/contact/email-senator-collins/form
Phone: (202) 224-2523 (DC office), (207) 945-0417 (Bangor office)
Senator Angus King: Email www.king.senate.gov/contact
Phone: (202) 224-5344 (DC office), (207) 945-8000 (Bangor office)
Representative Jared Golden: Email: golden.house.gov/contact
Phone: (202) 224-3121 (DC office), (207) 249-7400 (Bangor office)
Representative Chellie Pingree: Email: https://pingree.house.gov/contact/
Phone: (202) 225-6116 (DC office), (207) 774-5019 (Portland office)
Urgency: Calls for impeachment need to be ongoing and consistent. It is the only peaceful remedy we, the people, have under the Constitution. Request Trump impeachment in every one of your calls to Congress.
Extra Credit:
Ø (1) Essential reading:
https://newsletter.tnr.com/index.php?action=social&chash=1b5230e3ea6d7123847ad55a1e06fffd.1668&s=5722871251abd03288fb1995cfa03a31
Ø See Action #58 “Say NO to Crypto”, March 6
Ø https://www.politico.com/story/2007/02/when-the-gop-torpedoed-nixon-002680
published 2007
Ø https://apnews.com/article/ff1504ddaa5446e5903d4e883e79ff51
published 2019
Ø https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Impeachment_process_against_Richard_Nixon
Ø You may have encountered the oft-repeated, humorous saying: “My mind is made up! Don’t confuse me with facts!” Apparently, this arose during the Nixon impeachment, when Congressman Earl Landgrebe declared: "Don't confuse me with the facts. I've got a closed mind. I will not vote for impeachment. I'm going to stick with my president even if he and I have to be taken out of this building and shot."