Op/Ed: The House was right
The House of Representatives has impeached President Donald Trump for abuse of power and obstruction of Congress. The president feels he has been wrongfully and unfairly charged.
As someone who chose to become a public defender because I identified with the working class and poor communities that have historically borne the brunt of prosecutors rushing to judgment, I am admittedly hypersensitive to cases where someone claims to be wrongfully accused and convicted.
This helps explain why I can relate to Republican members of Congress who said this impeachment vote represents a rush to judgment and was not in the best interest of the country at this time. Nonetheless, it is most certainly in the best interest of preserving our Democracy.
Today’s political climate is so highly partisan that even the most casual observer knew President Trump
would be indicted well before a single Democrat cast their vote Wednesday night. And we can be equally sure he will be cleared in a trial in the Republican-controlled Senate.
The process–however it unfolds–will not lead us to a consensus. In fact, it will likely inflame passions further…and that is not good for our country.
The potential fallout from impeachment notwithstanding, though, what President Trump did cannot and must not be ignored. His actions left the House of Representatives no other ethical choice than to stand up for the rule of law and for members to uphold their oath of office to protect and defend the Constitution. This kind of check on the President’s powers is exactly what the framers had in mind as they knew it would be essential to sustain a healthy democracy.
Here are the facts surrounding the first article of impeachment that are not even disputed by the President’s staunchest supporters:
• President Trump ordered $391 million of military aid to be temporarily withheld from Ukraine who depended upon that support to fight a Russian-backed uprising.
• Using ‘unofficial’ channels, Mr. Trump promised Ukraine’s new president a meeting in the Oval Office if he would announce an investigation into alleged improper influence-peddling by Joe Biden on behalf of his son.
Is this behavior grounds for impeachment?
Impeachment involves “high Crimes and Misdemeanors,” threats to the state and violations of public trust that need not be crimes in themselves. Based upon the common language at the time, it was understood to refer to officials who betrayed the public trust.
President Trump’s attempted extortion of a foreign government (while simultaneously acting against the national interest by endangering an ally) to help him beat his political opponent would have enraged our Founding Fathers.
The President’s defenders rightly remind us that intent is very difficult to prove. Perhaps President Trump pushed Ukraine to further investigate the gas company in question, not to smear Joe Biden, but out of a genuine concern about corruption in Ukraine.
I am glad Mr. Trump is not my client. Because the rationalizations offered by his supporters are simply not credible and are easily refuted by the facts:
• Ukrainian officials knew and were concerned about the delay.
• President Zelensky’s statement claiming ignorance about the hold-up in essential military aid is contradicted by multiple records and witness testimony. Upon consideration, it appears more likely his comments were based on a desire to avoid angering the President, who had already tried to extort him over the $391 million in promised military aid.
• The aid was released only after a whistleblower’s complaint exposed the plot.
The fact that a United States President was foiled by one voice speaking truth to power to prevent him from wielding the enormous power of his office to rig an election in his favor does not exonerate him from his impeachment-worthy attempt.
It is, however, a testament to the strength of our Democracy and the power of one!
Anton Andrew
Candidate for State Representative in the 160th LD
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