This Friday, the House of Representatives will judge the process of President Trump’s impeachment trial with a decision to either call witnesses on the allegation brought forth or to dismiss the need, thus resolving the claims that Trump illegally conspired with Ukrainian leaders.
From Monday to today, the House has spent dozens of hours in deliberation concerning Trump’s presidency with tensions that have radiated into nearly every medium brushing the face of current events.
What has often failed to disrupt the surface of popular bumble, however, is the truth of the case’s weakness – the facts of this episode, and the lack thereof.
In the case of Trump’s impeachment, the Democratic Party has made an asset of the power of speculation, whose influence shifts the emotions of the public but is immediately weakened in the plaintiff of a courtroom. Statements snatched from House members in the brief moments of recess show that there is already substantial doubt in the testimony of the former National Security Advisor, John Bolton.
Still, even if witnesses are called on Friday, (which is dependent on the votes of every Democratic House Member in addition to four from the GOP) the witnesses’ testimonies are charged to prove an impeachable offense. This will be political feat and one that leans heavily on the imputation of motives.
Other Republican senators have shared their doubts about the trial’s justification more openly. Sen. Mike Braun has said that a mere quid-pro-quo, alone, would not qualify as an impeachable offense. In addition, the President’s lawyer, Jay Sekulow, said that, “Nothing in the Bolton revelations- even if true- would rise to the level of an abuse of power or an impeachable offense.”
In this week of anxious anticipation, the Republican Senators hold the responsibility to see this trial to its likely end or procession with witnesses. The media’s eye is particularly attracted to the several senators who remain publicly undecided, including Sen. Lamar Alexander and Lisa Murkowski. Nevertheless, the GOP senators have stated on multiple occasions that an imbalance in witnesses will immediately lose the senators’ interest. Without representation from both parties, the trial cannot be tasked to give a fair trial.
It is the duty of all politicians and the purpose of impeachment to hold those in power accountable for all actions. If President Trump committed a federal crime or is shown to have gone against his duty as president in a manner of great severity he should be removed from office and no argument remains. However, many Democratic partisans have given reason to believe, with reckless loyalty to the idea of impeachment, that this discussion is only interested in the ends while the means are checked at the door.
It is now the fear of many that impeachment is only a tool to gain an upper-hand in the coming election. It’s an idea that is hard to palate at first but a recalling of the many Democratic members of the House who have chartered for impeachment since Trump’s first day in office brings the notion some authenticity. If these fears are justified it would confirm that the real violations of the Constitution are only in the misuse of impeachment itself.
