How Impeachment Could Backfire

Playbook: “As far as we know, there are no plans to allow those Republicans who are troubled by Trump’s actions in Ukraine to express their disapproval in some formal way — be it a resolution or another official action. All they can do is go on the record with their concerns.”

“What this means is that unless the dynamics in the Senate change in the coming days, or something jolts the proceedings — John Bolton coming forward with shocking new information, for example — the U.S. Congress will soon say it’s OK to use the power of the presidency to conduct opposition research on an opponent.”

“Precedent matters in Washington. Just look at how Bill Clinton’s Senate trial became the blueprint for Trump’s. The next president will now be able to argue that it’s no problem to lean on a foreign government for political help. After all, Congress said so.”