Why impeachment is being used as a political tool in the US—and could become more common after midterms
A process with a high bar
In the US, impeachment lets Congress or other legislatures bring charges against elected officials, such as presidents and judges. The charges are not criminal, but conviction can remove someone from office.
A federal case moves from the House of Representatives to a Senate trial, where both sides may question relevant figures. Conviction requires a two-thirds Senate vote, making removal difficult in a politically divided chamber.
Impeachment as political messaging
Hegseth, President Donald Trump’s secretary of war, called the effort against him a “farce” and “sabotage,” according to the article. The case alleged he waged war on Iran without proper congressional approval, but was widely viewed as unlikely to succeed.
Only eight people, all judges, had been impeached since the first case concluded in 1799. University of Missouri law professor Frank O Bowman III told DW that impeachment threats have become more common during the Trump-Joe Biden era, while Yale professor Keith Whittington said partisan use has weakened the prospect of conviction and removal.
What the midterms could change
The article says Democrats will control both houses of Congress from next year, increasing the possibility of Trump facing impeachment for a third time. He was acquitted in 2020 on charges of abuse of power and obstruction of Congress, and in 2021 on a charge of incitement of insurrection.
Bowman said Democrats should focus first on issues of practical importance to the public, rather than rushing to impeach Trump. He also said changing Republican and public sentiment could affect the vote count; Whittington recommended negotiating with Republican senators to identify possible support across party lines.
Key points
- A two-thirds Senate majority is required to convict in a federal impeachment trial.
- Experts say impeachment can serve as political messaging even when conviction is unlikely.
- Democrats are set to control both chambers of Congress after the midterms.
- Trump was acquitted in two earlier impeachment trials, in 2020 and 2021.