Editorial | Core values of the United States at risk of being undermined
- Refusal by Republican senators to impartially carry out their duties in the impeachment trial will damage American democracy and further erode the trust foreign governments have in Washington
For foreign governments, such an outcome would further erode trust in Washington. But such matters do not appear to be on the minds of leading Republicans, who have rejected the accusations against Trump as an attempted coup. There are two counts, both of a serious nature: abuse of office and obstruction of congress. Already, though, Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell has said he will side with the president, making clear he has no intention of even considering the evidence. If Republican senators choose such a path, a vital political check and balance will have been weakened.
Conviction requires a two-thirds majority of senators, with Republicans holding 53 seats to 45 for Democrats with two independents. The evidence against Trump is compelling and fits easily within constitutional provisions limiting the powers of the president to protect the American people and the nation. Only twice before have lawmakers felt the need to use such measures, in both cases deciding wrongdoing was not sufficient to require dismissal.
Trump has repeatedly ignored protocol, rules and policies since taking office almost four years ago. He has rejected calls to hand over tax returns and divest business interests, leading to potential conflicts in official dealings with countries where he and his family have investments. Refusal by Republican senators to impartially carry out their duties will be damaging for the US political system and its much-vaunted democracy. Voters may yet have to be the judge.
But the impeachment case has given insight into how Trump approaches foreign policy. Governments grappling with his unpredictability and negotiating inconsistencies have been given less reason to trust him.