The Delusional Dems: Trump being Trump is an impeachable offense.
Seriously though, many think there are no constitutional limitations regarding impeachment. They are wrong. The Constitution says impeachment requires the one impeached must have committed a crime (U.S. Const., Art. II, Sec. 4).
Impeachment being a criminal proceeding puts impeachment in the cross-hairs of the Fourth and Fifth Amendments (4A & 5A) which prohibit UNREASONABLE searches and seizures, including investigations. Thus to launch a constitutional impeachment investigation, there must be at least particularized and articulatable reasonable suspicion (RS) of a crime being committed and to proceed at some point there must be probable cause (PC) of the crime being committed. Even a traffic stop requires RS. A cop can’t pull you over because he doesn’t like you or has a “hunch” you’ve committed a crime. The cop must have evidence that you have committed a particular violation that he can clearly articulate.
In this so-called impeachment case, Art. II, Sec. 4 doesn’t define necessarily what the crime must be, only that it is a crime. The Constitution leaves the definition of a crime up to Congress - the crime being charged is where the scope of impeachment is undefined by the Constitution. So if Trump has committed a crime that Congress has already legitimately and constitutionally legislated as a crime and there is RS and RS to investigate and proceed, then the impeachment proceedings are on solid constitutional grounds.
But what particular crime had the Delusional Dems found that they have clearly articulated to constitutionally justify an investigation of Trump? I know of none. They launched the investigation and proceeded to the impeachment process without articulating or clarifying any RS or PC of a crime, making this whole process unconstitutional and illegal.
Like the horrific Spanish Inquisition, the Delusional Dems impeachment investigation of Trump was launched at entirely will, ignoring the constitutional requirements and individual rights against such unjust government acts as reminded in the 4A & 5A. The Delusional Dems have proceeded as though America was a third-world dictatorship where government at will stomps on and entirely disregards the God-given rights and freedoms of the individual. Today Trump, tomorrow you and I.
The Delusional Dems have tried to make it easier to impeach a U.S. President than to make a traffic stop. After this debacle is over (soon I think), I hope these corrupt and delusional Dems are called to answer for THEIR unconstitutional and illegal acts in this whole affair. I say, “IMPEACH THE IMPEACHERS.”
Unless of course, you go by what Gerald Ford said the definition of impeachment is:
“...Ford, rather famously, argued on the floor of the House that “high crimes and misdemeanors” should be defined as “whatever a majority of the House of Representatives considers them to be at a moment in history.”
Delusional or not, in case you haven’t noticed it’s occurring.
But what particular crime had the Delusional Dems found that they have clearly articulated to constitutionally justify an investigation of Trump? I know of none. They launched the investigation and proceeded to the impeachment process without articulating or clarifying any RS or PC of a crime, making this whole process unconstitutional and illegal.
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And following on what you’ve said, Jim, were Senators to hold impeachment deliberations, that are de factor acknowledging that a crime has been committed. Maybe that’s the trap the Dems are setting...