Censure, Not Impeachment: Make a Moral, Not a Political Statement

With the Impeachment Train now leaving the station and gathering speed, it may seem futile to push for another option — censure. But making the argument early may burnish censure’s appeal if the impeachment process stalls or derails — which early signs indicate it will.

Given the instigating event — Donald Trump’s phone call with the new Ukraine president asking a “favor” (that Ukraine investigate the business dealings of the son of Trump’s likely 2020 Democratic rival, Joe Biden), while putting U.S. military aid to Ukraine on hold — and given the partisan lines already being drawn, the high crime and misdemeanor required to impeach will be hard to prove.

While Democrats see wrongdoing and abuse of power, further imperiling our democracy — Trump demanding a quid pro quo for his own political gain, in exchange for nearly $400 million in military aid Ukraine badly needs in its war with Russia — Republicans see no explicit quid pro quo, claiming it “an absolute joke” (a voter) and a “nothing-burger” of a call (Sen. Lindsey Graham), a call based on the “hearsay” of a “partisan” whistleblower (memo here). Should the Democratic-controlled House draw up articles of impeachment, the Republican-controlled Senate will not likely change this tune, even despite new reporting of the machinations of Trump’s minions —…