Avoiding the T Word

   The Constitution specifies three grounds for impeachment of a government official: "Treason, bribery or other high crimes and misdemeanors."
   But for all the talk about impeaching the current president of the United States, almost no one is using the T word in reference to the president's words and actions.
   Consider this definition of treason: Soliciting help from a foreign government in a domestic election. And offering to give to or threatening to withhold money from a foreign government in exchange for aid in a domestic election campaign can be tantamount to bribery or extortion.
   Recent revelations suggest two potential counts of treason and one count of bribery.
   Now consider this as evidence: "Russia, if you're listening, I hope you can find the 30,000 emails that are missing" from the files of his opponent.
   And this: Asking the president of Ukraine for help in connecting the family of his political opponent to corruption, and in return he would release financial aid to the Ukraine military.
   As for "high crimes and misdemeanors," there is a long list of potential offences, as indicated in published reports.
   Is there truth and evidence to support any of these allegations?
   That's up to the House of Representatives to determine, as it undertakes a formal impeachment inquiry about the actions of the current president of the United States.
   Only four times in American history has there been a move toward impeaching a sitting president. Two -- Andrew Johnson and Bill Clinton -- were impeached but not convicted after a trial in the Senate. Articles of impeachment against Richard Nixon were approved by a House committee but he resigned before the full House could vote on it. Therefore, we must say that he was not impeached.
   Nixon's successor issued a presidential pardon soon after the resignation for any federal crimes that Nixon may have committed, so he would not have to face court charges after leaving office. (Cynic's note: If he was innocent, why issue a pardon?)
   Now the nation faces another potential impeachment of a sitting president, and the question arises as to whether -- if he is impeached -- will he be convicted after a Senate trial and removed from office?
   And if so, will his successor issue a pardon for any federal crimes he may have committed while in office?
   Even so, a president would still be liable for state charges -- either civil or criminal -- at any time.
   The speculation here is that the current president is likely to be impeached by the House of Representatives, but whether he will be convicted by the Senate and removed from office is too soon to say.
   And, considering the historic attitudes of the man currently in the Oval Office, would he refuse to leave, claiming the entire episode was a charade and a fake?
   We live in interesting times.