Tag

#impeachment

6 incidents

Grade 4 of 5: Critical Rights and Rule-of-Law Concern

January 6 Capitol Insurrection: Incitement of an Attack on Democratic Transition of Power

Following months of false claims that the 2020 election was stolen, Trump held a rally on January 6 and incited his supporters to march to the Capitol. A mob of thousands stormed and occupied the building for hours, injuring 140 police officers, causing multiple deaths, and forcing the evacuation of Congress. Trump watched on television and, despite multiple requests, refused to call off the mob for over three hours.

Grade 4 of 5: Critical Rights and Rule-of-Law Concern

January 6: Capitol Insurrection, Incitement, Second Impeachment, Supreme Court Immunity

For hours after the Capitol was breached, Trump did not issue a clear call to stop; at 2:24 PM, while rioters were in the building, he tweeted that Pence 'didn't have the courage to do what should have been done,' and his 4:17 PM video telling rioters they were 'very special' and he 'loved' them was posted while the attack was ongoing. Congressional Republicans and aides documented attempts to get Trump to intervene that he ignored or dismissed. The second impeachment passed with 10 Republican House votes — the most bipartisan presidential impeachment vote in U.S. history. Senate Minority Leader McConnell stated on the Senate floor that Trump was 'practically and morally responsible' for January 6 before voting against conviction on jurisdictional grounds. The Supreme Court's July 1, 2024 immunity ruling narrowed the federal prosecution; it ended when Special Counsel Smith moved to dismiss after Trump's November 2024 election, citing Justice Department policy.

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.

Grade 2 of 5: Major Abuse of Power

Sondland Testimony: 'Everyone Was in the Loop' on Ukraine Quid Pro Quo

Sondland had originally testified in closed session that he had no knowledge of a quid pro quo involving military aid. After two other diplomats — William Taylor and Tim Morrison — submitted testimony contradicting Sondland's account, Sondland submitted a supplemental declaration amending his prior testimony to acknowledge he had told a Ukrainian official that the release of military assistance would likely not occur until Ukraine announced investigations. In his public testimony, Sondland went further, naming Pompeo, Mulvaney, and Bolton as aware of the arrangement and stating the quid pro quo was explicit.

Grade 2 of 5: Major Abuse of Power

Ukraine Quid Pro Quo: Withheld $391 Million in Military Aid to Extort Investigation of Biden

Ukraine had been under Russian military pressure since 2014. The $391 million in security assistance — congressionally appropriated bipartisan aid that had nothing to do with Biden — was withheld by Trump's Office of Management and Budget while the White House sought a Ukrainian announcement of investigations. The July 25 call between Trump and Zelensky documented the pressure: Trump told Zelensky he needed a 'favor' — an investigation of the 2016 election and of Biden — before the U.S. would proceed. A White House national security official filed a whistleblower complaint. The aid was eventually released in September 2019 after the whistleblower complaint became public.

Grade 2 of 5: Major Abuse of Power

Ukraine Extortion and First Impeachment: Withholding Military Aid to Coerce Election Interference

Trump conditioned release of congressionally-approved military aid on Ukraine's announcement of investigations targeting his political rival. The scheme, exposed by a whistleblower and confirmed by multiple witnesses including Trump's own ambassador to the EU, made national security funds contingent on Trump's personal electoral interests. The House voted to impeach; the Senate acquitted on party lines after blocking witness testimony.