This comment was submitted to Impeachable Offenses by an author who wishes to remain unnamed. It examines this article.
Recently, Hillary Clinton did her first televised interview about her loss in the 2016 presidential election. During the campaign, many people (including Clinton) believed that Hillary would make history as the first female President of the United States. Although Hillary won the popular vote, Donald Trump won the electoral votes and the presidency. After Hillary’s devastating loss, she explains that she felt like she “let everybody down.” Clinton dedicated most of her life to politics, which made losing to a real estate billionaire much more shocking.
When asked about what she thought happened during the election, Hillary had a lot to say. She commented that Trump was very good at creating a sort of “nostalgia” for many Americans who were angry because of the financial crash. Trump’s appeals for nostalgia, especially towards the conservative community, seem to have carried over into his presidency. Many of Trump’s attempts to connect with the public include statements that are said to be less than truthful. Some people would even say they are outright lies. Many Americans argue that this is a basis for impeachment, but that raises the question: is lying a crime when not under oath? The laws of impeachment aren’t crystal clear.
Additionally, Hillary acknowledges that one of her “most important mistakes” was using her personal email. While taking responsibility for her actions, she also contends that the FBI’s decision to reopen the email investigation at the last minute destroyed her campaign and cost her the election. Clinton also does not understand why FBI Director James Comey commented publicly on her email investigation but chose to never mention the existence of an ongoing investigation into Trump’s ties with Russia.
President Trump’s opponents began speculating about the possibility of impeachment almost immediately after the election. Among the most prominently mentioned grounds for impeachment include Trump’s lies and the very Russian investigation the FBI kept quiet during the campaign. It is interesting to consider whether, had Hillary Clinton won the election, her opponents would now be arguing just as vocally that her email practices amounted to an impeachable offense. While both Trump and Clinton have faced controversy, the loose definition of an impeachable offense makes their transgressions somewhat subjective. What qualifies as an impeachable offense seems to depend somewhat on the political party of the offender as well as the majority party in the House and Senate. Because of a Republican president and Republican dominated Congress, articles of impeachment against our current president will likely face difficulty.
