WASHINGTON — When the House votes to impeach President Donald Trump on Wednesday, it will be 21 years almost to the day when the House adopted two articles of impeachment against President Bill Clinton.
Observations and analysis:
THE RULES COMMITTEE ON TUESDAY: Expect fireworks when the House Rules Committee — for the first time in history — takes up an impeachment resolution Tuesday. The powerful committee sets the rules of debate. President Richard Nixon resigned before he was impeached; even with all the partisan acrimony surrounding the Clinton impeachment, Democrats and Republicans came together and with unanimous consent agreed on the procedures. A big difference is that everyone agreed that Clinton having sex with White House intern Monica Lewinsky was wrong with the punishment the issue.
With Trump, the Republicans do not agree the president did anything wrong with his request to the Ukraine president to dig up dirt on a rival or withhold military assistance. The committee has nine Democrats and four Republicans and will resist any GOP bid to rewrite the resolution. House Judiciary Chairman Jerrold Nadler, D-N.Y., and the top Judiciary Republican, Doug Collins, R-Ga., will testify.
HISTORY REPEATS: Trump and Republicans and their allies have stepped up pressure on the 31 House Democrats whose districts Trump won in 2016, including two from Illinois, Reps. Lauren Underwood and Cheri Bustos, who have not yet said how they will vote on Trump’s impeachment.
In 1998, the tables were turned to a degree. Back then, House Republicans leaders trying to unify their side against Clinton would not allow a floor vote to censure Clinton; that would have helped up to 30 Republicans who represented districts Clinton won in 1996. By not having a censure option — and in no way wanting to defend Clinton, his fate was sealed.
On Monday, a spokesman for Rep. Dan Lipinski, D-Ill., said he would vote yes on impeachment. Lipinski faces two major March Democratic primary opponents who support impeachment.
ROLL CALLS: 2019: On Wednesday, all the Republicans are expected to stick together and vote against the two articles of impeachment against Trump; one for abuse of power and the other for obstruction of Congress.
My bet is there will not be many Democrats voting nay.
1998 Clinton roll call recaps ...
Passed: Article 1, whether Clinton committed perjury in his Aug. 17, 1998 grand jury testimony (223 Republicans and 5 Democrats to total 228 yes votes). Against, 206 (that was 200 Democrats, 5 Republicans, one Independent and one not voting).
Failed: Article 2, whether Clinton perjured himself in the Paula Jones sexual harassment lawsuit, 205 yes (200 Republicans and 5 Democrats) to 229 against (200 Democrats, 28 Republicans, one Independent and two not voting).
Passed: Article 3, whether Clinton obstructed justice when it came to the Jones case, the vote was yes, 221 (216 Republicans and 5 Democrats) to 212 against (12 Republicans, 199 Democrats, one Independent and two not voting).
Failed: Article 4, whether Clinton misled Congress, yes 148 (147 Republicans and 1 Democrat) to 285 against (81 Republicans, 203 Democrats, one Independent and two not voting).
THE CHIEF JUSTICES: 1999: The Clinton Senate impeachment trial opened on Jan. 14, 1999, with Supreme Court Chief Justice William Rehnquist presiding. 2020: At a date to be determined in early January, the Senate will convene as a court of impeachment with Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts Jr. presiding.
TRUMP AND BRIBERY, WIRE FRAUD REFERENCES: The House Judiciary Committee published a 169-page report making the case that Trump committed “multiple federal crimes,” including bribery and wire fraud.
The Democrats put this in to address GOP critics who say Trump is not accused of any specific crime.
Wrote the House Democrats, “It is occasionally suggested that Presidents can be impeached only if they have committed crimes. Offenses against the Constitution are different in kind than offenses against the criminal code. Some crimes, like jaywalking, are not impeachable. Some impeachable offenses, like abuse of power, are not crimes. Some misconduct may offend both the Constitution and the criminal law. Impeachment and criminality must therefore be assessed separately — even though the commission of crimes may strengthen a case for removal.”
