WASHINGTON, D.C. – CBS News Political Analyst Leonard Steinhorn says the ongoing second Impeachment trial of Ex-President Donald Trump is legal.
He shared his analysis on WKOK’s On The Mark Tuesday, “The bottom line is this: You had the person empowered by Article 2 of the Constitution urging people to go and undo the work, or attack, the people empowered by Article 1 of the Constitution, the Congress. To so many people, that’s a fundamental assault on our Constitution.”
Steinhorn also says it’s clear enough lawmakers think the former president crossed the line, “You had all 50 Democrats and six Republicans say, ‘This should proceed. There’s nothing unconstitutional about it…that the founders never imagined that a president in the last month or weeks of office…if they did something bad would never be held accountable.”
When asked why the trial can’t be a criminal case instead, Steinhorn says that would have to come from the Department of Justice, something the Biden Administration won’t want to pursue.
He also says convicting the former president or not should be the role of Congress, “Impeachment is based on fitness for office, and the very fact that there are enough Republicans who are willing to break ranks with the most popular person in their party, Donald Trump, and with many of their own voters, tells you that this is troubling enough to be able bring this up and leave it up to the conscience of Congress.”
Steinhorn says if conviction fails, Congress can still hold a censure vote and attach wording from the 14th Amendment that may prohibit Trump from serving in office again. You can hear all of Steinhorn’s comments HERE.
