# Republicans: What would it take to impeach Donald Trump? **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [November 11, 2016, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republicans-what-would-it-take-to-impeach-donald-trump/771505 "2016-11-11T15:46:37Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![doorhinge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a5b964/32.png) [@doorhinge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doorhinge)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2016, 7:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republicans-what-would-it-take-to-impeach-donald-trump/771505/81 "2016-11-16T07:00:13Z")
> [@ThelmaLou](#): > > One word: gerrymandering. Could you explain exactly how gerrymandering would change/alter a statewide vote for POTUS, or a statewide vote for U.S. Senator? Are you suggesting that political party leadership have been redrawing the state’s borders? Moving the Mississippi, or Colorado River, perhaps? Trading parcels of land with Canada? ---
**Author:** ![doorhinge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a5b964/32.png) [@doorhinge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doorhinge)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2016, 7:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republicans-what-would-it-take-to-impeach-donald-trump/771505/82 "2016-11-16T07:03:49Z")
> [@TonySinclair](#): > > It’s not that tough. We’re talking about the real world, not the letter of the law. He won’t be impeached if he doesn’t veto any Republican bills, because Republican congressmen don’t give a rat’s ass about the country as long as they get their tax cuts, environmental and financial carte blanche, and voter suppression laws sufficient to guarantee their tenure. > > If he does veto too often, which he won’t, he could be impeached, but probably won’t be. The fact that vetoing isn’t a crime has nothing to do with it. If they want him gone, they have all kinds of things they can accuse him of, e.g. blatant corruption for giving his kids access to top secret info while they are running his businesses. Hahahaha. In other words, you’ve got nothing but wishful thinking. That’s not the real world for most people. Dream on, dude. :smack: ---
**Author:** ![Steve\_MB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steve_mb/32/5339_2.png) [@Steve\_MB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steve_MB)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2016, 11:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republicans-what-would-it-take-to-impeach-donald-trump/771505/83 "2016-11-16T11:39:03Z")
> [@kurtisokc](#): > > That being said, for Trump to be impeached, he would have to have committed a “high crime or misdemeanor” while in office. You can’t impeach someone for being a loathsome, despicable human being. “High crimes and misdemeanors” are whatever Congress says they are. They could impeach him for wearing white (including a white inner pocket lining) after Labor Day, if they so chose. ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2016, 1:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republicans-what-would-it-take-to-impeach-donald-trump/771505/84 "2016-11-16T13:20:32Z")
> [@doorhinge](#): > > Could you explain exactly how gerrymandering would change/alter a statewide vote for POTUS, or a statewide vote for U.S. Senator? > > Are you suggesting that political party leadership have been redrawing the state’s borders? Moving the Mississippi, or Colorado River, perhaps? Trading parcels of land with Canada? My bad. I stand corrected. Gerrymandering doesn’t play into the Presidential vote. I’ve been reading up on it, and the Democrats have to do something about it if they ever hope to have impact in Congress. I understand this is one of the things Obama intends to work on in his post-Presidential years. I tell ya, the more I read, the more respect I have for the way Republicans do things. Not. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2016, 1:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republicans-what-would-it-take-to-impeach-donald-trump/771505/85 "2016-11-16T13:49:34Z")
> [@Sterling\_Archer](#): > > Would an executive order instituting a mandatory registration of Muslims be enough? This is one that wouldn’t surprise me at all. The President is supposed to be impeached in the case of “high crimes or misdemeanors.” Yes, Congress can interpret that however they want, but it would be truly bizarre to interpret it this way, and would open the door for impeachment of anyone for anything, which if you’re a politician isn’t a trend you like. Remember what their first priority is. An executive order, however awful or imbecilic, isn’t a high crime. No one refers to such things as crimes. It might be unconstitutional and be stomped by the courts, but unsuccessfully attempting to make law what is later deemed unconstitutional is not in itself a crime, either, or the prisons would be filled to the brim with legislators and governors and such who’d passed laws later struck down by the courts. Anyway, mandatory registration of Muslims is almost certainly unconstitutional but most Republicans would love the idea, so why would they impeach him? They’d lap that shit up. Internment camps would probably get past a Republican congress. If Trump’s going to be impeached, it’ll be for an actual crime, and knowing Trump, it will involve corruption and theft. The stench of corruption is already wafting through Washington as Trump gets ready to appoint his kids to high positions. If they want to impeach him, Congress will be able to find a genuine reason if they want. ---
**Author:** ![Damuri\_Ajashi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/898d66/32.png) [@Damuri\_Ajashi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Damuri_Ajashi)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2016, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republicans-what-would-it-take-to-impeach-donald-trump/771505/86 "2016-11-16T15:34:39Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > Cute. > Seriously, is there anything he could do that would convince the Republicans to impeach him, or do you really believe he has and/or deserves a free pass? If 2016 Trump reverts back into 1996 Trump, they will find an excuse to impeach him and it will be the sorry task of the Democrats to keep him in power. It will never happen. Just like a trump nomination will never happen and a Trump presidency will never happen. Judge Judy for SCOTUS!!! ---
**Author:** ![Damuri\_Ajashi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/898d66/32.png) [@Damuri\_Ajashi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Damuri_Ajashi)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2016, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republicans-what-would-it-take-to-impeach-donald-trump/771505/87 "2016-11-16T15:36:46Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > That one’s easy. Trump does a temporary step-down, “President” Pence pardons him, things go back to normal. The President cannot pardon state crimes, only federal ones. What is a temporary step down? ---
**Author:** ![Damuri\_Ajashi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/898d66/32.png) [@Damuri\_Ajashi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Damuri_Ajashi)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2016, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republicans-what-would-it-take-to-impeach-donald-trump/771505/88 "2016-11-16T15:37:46Z")
> [@alphaboi867](#): > > The President can’t issue pardons for state crimes. > > Sent from my SM-G930P using Tapatalk ninja ---
**Author:** ![Damuri\_Ajashi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/898d66/32.png) [@Damuri\_Ajashi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Damuri_Ajashi)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2016, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republicans-what-would-it-take-to-impeach-donald-trump/771505/89 "2016-11-16T15:38:48Z")
> [@Bricker](#): > > Do you think a governor’s pardon would help instead? Is it a lawsuit or a criminal prosecution? ---
**Author:** ![Damuri\_Ajashi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/898d66/32.png) [@Damuri\_Ajashi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Damuri_Ajashi)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2016, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republicans-what-would-it-take-to-impeach-donald-trump/771505/90 "2016-11-16T15:40:06Z")
> [@Bricker](#): > > That is worrisome. The only thing that gets a President to leave is his own honor. If Trump did decide to retain the office, there is really no legal way he could be removed. As commander in chief, the military would be legally obligated to follow his orders. He could order an armored division to surround the White House and keep out any local > Police or Federal Marshals. > > The country has been very lucky so far that every President has chosen to gracefully depart; a President that refused could literally become a dictator for life with no real recourse from the country. > > Dark times indeed. > > Wait. > > Does that sound right? It seems like it wouldn’t be, somehow. What do you think? I think Washington was the last president that could have pulled this off. ---
**Author:** ![Damuri\_Ajashi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/898d66/32.png) [@Damuri\_Ajashi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Damuri_Ajashi)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2016, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republicans-what-would-it-take-to-impeach-donald-trump/771505/91 "2016-11-16T15:45:06Z")
> [@PhillyGuy](#): > > Thank you for such a friendly response. > > As to the answer, I think it is worrisome. > > I’m pretty sure the FBI rank and file is behind Trump. > > I’m very sure most of our soldiers are behind Trump. > > Will this still be true in four or eight years? Don’t know, but, probably, yes. > > Doesn’t our national police force, and military, also believe in rule of law? Well, yes, sure. But a strongman president, in a presidential republic, can convince a lot of people that the real threat to rule of law consists of the body of political opponents. Remember that lots and lots of Americans were convinced that utterly mainstream Hillary Clinton was the real threat to rule of law. > > Are we safer because the US is such a long-established democracy? I guess. But increasing wealth/income inequality, plus presidential republic = caudillo. I think you worry too much. I doubt Eisenhower, Reagan and George W Bush combined could have pulled this off. I know too many soldiers and police to think that even a small minority of them would go along with this even if he was being replaced by a democratically elected Hillary or Jane Fonda. ---
**Author:** ![Damuri\_Ajashi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/898d66/32.png) [@Damuri\_Ajashi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Damuri_Ajashi)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2016, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republicans-what-would-it-take-to-impeach-donald-trump/771505/92 "2016-11-16T15:46:56Z")
> [@PoppaSan](#): > > Really? Do you actually believe what you wrote? The people and military will blindly follow the person sitting in the oval office after the next election? The term ends upon the inauguration of the next president as determined by the constitutional process. Just because someone says I ain’t leaving doesn’t usurp the process. Martial law declaration before the election though hasn’t been tried. > [@alphaboi867](#): > > Only until noon on Inauguration Day, after that he ceases to be Commander-in-Chief and his orders cease to have any legal effect. Any soldier obeying him over the newly sworn President would be guilty of treason. I think you’ve been whooshed ---
**Author:** ![Thing\_Fish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ecb155/32.png) [@Thing\_Fish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thing_Fish)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2016, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republicans-what-would-it-take-to-impeach-donald-trump/771505/93 "2016-11-16T17:39:41Z")
> [@Damuri\_Ajashi](#): > > The President cannot pardon state crimes, only federal ones. > > What is a temporary step down? I think the idea is that Trump would resign for a minute, Pence would pardon him, then Pence would name Trump as his VP and then resign, making Trump President again. But it wouldn’t be quite that simple, because once Pence became President, he doesn’t get to appoint whoever he wants as VP, he needs the Senate to confirm the nomination. ---
**Author:** ![DiggitCamara](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/df788c/32.png) [@DiggitCamara](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DiggitCamara)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2016, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republicans-what-would-it-take-to-impeach-donald-trump/771505/94 "2016-11-16T17:44:32Z")
> [@doorhinge](#): > > IMHO, a wall isn’t needed. What’s needed are laws making it illegal to hire illegal aliens. And strict enforcement of those laws. _Buh bye illegal aliens._ Federal laws? To strictly enforce regulation of private companies hiring practices? Sounds like there would have to be a pretty big government entity to enforce that, wouldn’t it? And here I thought that Republicans wanted small government and less regulations. ---
**Author:** ![Bookkeeper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bookkeeper/32/281_2.png) [@Bookkeeper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bookkeeper)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2016, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republicans-what-would-it-take-to-impeach-donald-trump/771505/95 "2016-11-16T19:59:46Z")
If Trump is impeached it will probably be for blatant interference with the IRS, either to force them to go after his enemies or to shut down audits of his personal, corporate, and foundation taxes. ---
**Author:** ![Euphonious\_Polemic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/euphonious_polemic/32/3002_2.png) [@Euphonious\_Polemic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euphonious_Polemic)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2016, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republicans-what-would-it-take-to-impeach-donald-trump/771505/96 "2016-11-16T21:31:35Z")
> [@Bookkeeper](#): > > If Trump is impeached it will probably be for blatant interference with the IRS, either to force them to go after his enemies or to shut down audits of his personal, corporate, and foundation taxes. And why would congressional Republicans impeach him over this? As long as he goes after mutual enemies? Have you seen who is in office? I think they’d applaud if he did this. ---
**Author:** ![doorhinge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a5b964/32.png) [@doorhinge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doorhinge)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2016, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republicans-what-would-it-take-to-impeach-donald-trump/771505/97 "2016-11-17T19:42:10Z")
for historical reference - > [@doorhinge](#): > > IMHO, a wall isn’t needed. What’s needed are laws making it illegal to hire illegal aliens. And strict enforcement of those laws. _Buh bye illegal aliens._ > [@DiggitCamara](#): > > Federal laws? To strictly enforce regulation of private companies hiring practices? Sounds like there would have to be a pretty big government entity to enforce that, wouldn’t it? > > And here I thought that Republicans wanted small government and less regulations. I didn’t specify, but State and Federal laws would be required. The federal government hires people. The state governments hire people. Public companies hire people. Private companies hire people. The same police agencies which are currently charged with enforcing state and federal laws could pick up the few remaining illegal aliens who chose to illegally stay in the U.S.A… ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2016, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republicans-what-would-it-take-to-impeach-donald-trump/771505/98 "2016-11-20T15:22:11Z")
> [@Clothahump](#): > > Commit a felony like Bill Clinton did. How about violate the Constitution, like [Trump is about to do](https://thinkprogress.org/trump-poised-to-violate-constitution-his-first-day-in-office-george-w-bushs-ethics-lawyer-says-73e14789a935#.qlf4c5ajr)? ---
**Author:** ![ThisIsTheEnd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thisistheend/32/4713_2.png) [@ThisIsTheEnd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThisIsTheEnd)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2016, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republicans-what-would-it-take-to-impeach-donald-trump/771505/99 "2016-11-20T16:42:43Z")
He’ll do something worthy. He’s already secured the “Most Divisive President Ever” belt away from Obama. He’s tweeting at a Broadway show demanding an apology. You really think all this shit is going to stop once he gets sworn in? The whole world is now part of The Donald J. Trump Show. ---
**Author:** ![Fiveyearlurker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/da6949/32.png) [@Fiveyearlurker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiveyearlurker)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2016, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republicans-what-would-it-take-to-impeach-donald-trump/771505/100 "2016-11-20T17:12:02Z")
I think it would be funny if the GOP is leading the impeachment charge to get him out of their hair (and to install Pence) and the Democrats have to try to fight against impeachment to make them wallow in the Trump suckitude and keep Pence out. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republicans-what-would-it-take-to-impeach-donald-trump/771505.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republicans-what-would-it-take-to-impeach-donald-trump/771505.md?page=6)