Experts note that an official can break a law and not be impeached, or he can be impeached without having broken any law. It's like being fired from your job for bad behavior but you haven't stolen any of the merchandise.
For example, one of the reasons for impeaching Bill Clinton was that he had an affair with a woman who was not his wife, and then lied about it. But the activity was consensual, which means no law was broken. As for lying to Congress, it's not nice but it's not a crime that warrants impeachment.
In contrast, there is evidence that Donald Trump, among other things, broke the law in asking the president of Ukraine for a personal favor in exchange for government military aid.
That amounts to bribery and extortion, say his accusers, and attempted bribery is a crime even if it's not successful. But his supporters insist that even if true, it does not rise to the level of an impeachable offense, since in politics "it happens all the time."
Confusing? Yes, but the Constitution is clear that an official can be impeached and removed from office and still face charges in a court of law.
Even that, however, applies only to federal charges. State and local jurisdictions can file charges against a president while still in office. See Article I, Section 3 of the Constitution, which states that punishment "shall not extend further than to removal from office," but nevertheless the official can still face indictment, trial, judgment and punishment, according to law.
Already, state jurisdictions have legal cases pending against the president, but it seems they are waiting until he leaves office before pursuing them. They were filed now so the cases would not run afoul of any statute of limitations.
It all amounts to a three ring circus of performances: Congress, White House and State House, leaving observers without a program to keep track of who's doing what to whom.
But that's what journalism is for.
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