"This is not his impeachment trial. It's his removal trial."

[Miles Archer]

Scott Dworkin
@funder

Impeachment is a done deal. Trump is impeached forever. This is not his impeachment trial. It’s his removal trial. Because that’s all this trial is about. Trump’s removal. Trump was impeached. That’s over. And there’s nothing Trump can ever do about it. Done. #TrumpsRemovalTrial

3:21 PM · Jan 20, 2020·Twitter for iPhone

Link to tweet

[Beartracks]

1. This is true. The media should call it accurately. n/t

[onenote]

4. Dworkin, for not the first time, is wrong.

See post # 3

[handmade34]

2. must keep reminding many

who woulda thought Nixon would appear gracious??

"As President, I must put the interest of America first"

we must be in the streets and continuously call if you can't



about 2 minute mark...

[onenote]

3. The US Constitution says the Senate has "the sole power to try all impeachments"

The Supreme Court refers the relevant provision of the Constitution as the Impeachment Trial Clause. And the Senate rules are entitled (and have been forever): RULES OF PROCEDURE AND PRACTICE IN THE SENATE WHEN SITTING ON IMPEACHMENT TRIALS

So, its actually accurate to describe what takes place in the Senate as an impeachment trial.

[Beartracks]

5. Ah. Well, unfortunately...

... it gives the impression that the Senate can un-do or otherwise nullify the House's impeachment -- a false impression the GOP will be happy to push.

=======

[onenote]

6. And we can ask them if that means Clinton's impeachment was "nullified"

[Igel]

11. Translate it into the usual jargon.

To impeach an official is to charge or indict him. Nothing more, nothing less.

Then a trial is held based on the charges or indictments. The charges are "tried" in the sense that they are evaluated and judged to be true or not true based on the evidence presented. Presumably there's valid evidence for the charges, otherwise the case is usually dismissed.

If the charges are dismissed or the verdict comes back not guilty, are the charges/indictments nullified?

Even if the official is cleared of all charges, nonetheless it is true that he was indicted. Whether or not that counts as impugning the person is a different matter.

[Different Drummer]

7. And the Fox faithful will be all to happy to believe.

[George II]

8. It bugs the crap out of me every time I hear that! People are so ignorant of facts.

[DinahMoeHum]

9. True, dat. Impeachment means INDICTMENT.

n/t

[Ahpook]

10. And Trump shrugged it off

In an interview I saw posted here.

It means nothing to him, his followers or the GOP.

[Rhiannon12866]

12. Twitter reply:

Link to tweet

[LastLiberal in PalmSprings]

13. Someone should post this on his refrigerator door.

[Pacifist Patriot]

14. I get his point, but it ignores customary useage that isn't really all that confusing.

The trial is the result of an impeachment, therefore an impeachment trial. Impeachment in this case, is a descriptive modifier distinguishing it from a criminal or civil trial in the judicial system.

We can go around saying, the trial resulting from his impeachment, or the Senate trial of the impeachment, or what have you. But impeachment trial is convenient shorthand and how contemporaries and historians have referred to this portion of the impeachment process since the first impeachment trial in 1868.

If you encounter anyone confused about it, just tell them the House impeaches (no it's not an indictment) and the Senate conducts a trial to decide if the articles of impeachment warrant removal from office. But I don't think anyone is going to convince the fourth estate and historians to stop using 'impeachment trial' and begin using 'removal trial.' Good luck with that.