Trump’s Second Impeachment Sets a New Precedent

Trump is the first U.S. President in history to be impeached twice. He may also become the first to face impeachment proceedings after leaving office.

President Donald J. Trump speaks with Vice President Mike Pence in the Oval Office of the White House Tuesday, Jan. 4, 2021, prior to leaving for his trip to Georgia. (Official White House Photo by Joyce N. Boghosian)

The House of Representatives voted 232–197 to impeach President Donald Trump for the second time in just over a year, making Trump the first in U.S. President in history to be impeached twice.

There have been noticeably mixed responses from Republicans on the plausibility of the accusations levied against the president. Unlike the first impeachment, ten House Republicans broke with their party and voted for impeachment.

The impeachment article states, “Donald John Trump engaged in high Crimes and Misdemeanors by inciting violence against the Government of the United States.”

It continues to quote the president’s statements that were thought to have incited the violence, including “we won this election, and we won it by a landslide” and “if you don’t fight like hell you’re not going to have a country anymore.”

Legal experts have said that President Trump is unlikely to face criminal charges in connection with the Capitol riot. Prosecutors would have to prove his speech was directed at inciting “imminent lawless action” and that the violence which followed was imminent and directly due to his rhetoric. Despite…