Impeachment
In September 2019, following news that President Trump requested assistance from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to investigate former Vice President Joe Biden, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi launched a formal impeachment inquiry. Brookings experts have provided analysis on the history, context, and processes surrounding impeachment, and explored its ramifications for American politics and public policy.
Elaine Kamarck
Founding Director - Center for Effective Public Management
Senior Fellow - Governance Studies
John Hudak
Deputy Director - Center for Effective Public Management
Senior Fellow - Governance Studies
On the subdued role of Chief Justice John Roberts during the Senate impeachment trial: “He was at best the Senate’s crossing guard — or perhaps the traffic cop when he admonished the parties to stay civil.”
"The United States political scene is as deeply polarized along partisan lines as it has been for at least a century. It would take a very brave Republican indeed to break ranks with the president under these circumstances."
"In the House, [impeachment] was largely a partisan process. It's looking like it's now going to be largely a partisan process in the Senate as well"
On the question of bringing witnesses and new evidence into the Senate trial on impeachment: "Democrats will ask, ‘Don’t the American people deserve to know the truth?’ On the other hand, [Republicans] may well calculate that public testimony would create uncertainties that they’re willing to go to considerable lengths to avoid.”
