The term “High Crimes” and misdemeanors is bandied about without most people understanding what “High Crimes” means. It refers to crimes, all crimes, committed by people in HIGH PLACES in government. It is not a level of crime but a level of the person committing the crime. Basically, any crime committed by the President is a HIGH CRIME!
Actually, when the Founders wrote that “high crimes” had the meaning of abuse of office — including actions which do not run afoul of any particular statute or established principle of the Common Law, but are abuse of office nonetheless. Violation of the Presidential oath of office is the basic form of a ‘high crime’ committed by the President, and on a plain reading of the meaning of the oath and the Constitution, Obama has committed multiple high crimes.
High crimes are any criminal activity. Misdemeanors are anything the house feels like that extra-judiciously thwarts the will of the Legislature.
Think malfeasance, misfeasance and nonfeasance. Would all be impeachable offenses.