Here’s how scholars interpret ‘treason, bribery, or other high crimes and misdemeanors’

As lawmakers charge President Trump with “incitement of insurrection,” here's a look at what qualifies as an impeachable offense.

Lindsey Graham—then a House representative for South Carolina prior to his election to the Senate—holds a tally sheet for the vote during the 1999 impeachment trial of President Bill Clinton. Although the House impeached Clinton, he was acquitted of high crimes and misdemeanors in the Senate.

 

Photographs by Scott J. Ferrell, CQ Roll Call Photograph Collection/Library of Congress

The U.S. House of Representatives has voted to impeach President Donald Trump on the charge of inciting an insurrection against the U.S. government. Trump is the first U.S. president in history to be impeached twice. He was previously impeached by the House on December 18, 2019, though he was not convicted by a two-thirds majority of the Senate. The Senate will now hold another impeachment trial to determine whether to remove Trump from office based on the new charge.

The Constitution provides that the president, vice president, and other civil officers of the United States can be removed from office for “Treason, Bribery, or other high Crimes and Misdemeanors.” But what exactly do these terms enshrined in Article

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