The Process and Politics of Presidential Impeachment

Guest: Hamline University Professor of Political Science and University of Minnesota Visiting Professor of Law David Schultz

An impeachment inquiry against President Donald Trump is underway in the U.S. House of Representatives. The president is alleged to have pressured Ukrainian leaders to investigate former Vice President Joe Biden and his son, Hunter, over the latter’s business dealings in Ukraine.  Trump is also alleged to have urged Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky to investigate possible Ukrainian interference in the 2016 election, despite the fact that there is no evidence of such interference having taken place. A key issue is whether President Trump threatened to withhold military aid to Ukraine if the requested investigations did not materialize. Trump and Ukrainian President Zelensky have both denied that military aid was conditioned on a quid pro quo, although Trump has admitted to discussing the Bidens during a phone call with Zelensky. The impeachment inquiry became public this week, with US diplomats testifying before the House Intelligence Committee. Hamline University Political Science Professor and University of Minnesota Visiting Professor of Law David Schultz discusses the current impeachment inquiry, and previous impeachment proceedings against US presidents.