Grade 2 of 5: Major Abuse of Power
First Impeachment: Abuse of Power and Obstruction of Congress Over Ukraine
The first impeachment arose from a July 25, 2019 call between Trump and Ukrainian President Zelensky in which Trump asked Ukraine to 'do us a favor' by investigating the Bidens and the 2016 election, while $391 million in congressionally approved military aid was being withheld. Ambassador Gordon Sondland testified that there was an explicit quid pro quo and 'everyone was in the loop.' Ambassador William Taylor testified that U.S. officials were told the aid was conditioned on the announcement of investigations. The Senate acquitted on party-line votes except for Romney, who voted to convict on the abuse of power article. Two days after the acquittal, Sondland was recalled as ambassador and Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman (who had raised the alarm about the call) was removed from his NSC post and reassigned to the Army.