Does Congress have the power to impeach a former president?

This bill has Resolution Agreed to the Senate
Bill Summary

This resolution outlines the logistics for the article of impeachment against former President Trump. It sets dates for the House and Senate to meet, along with establishing how the trial will discuss if Trump can be impeached as a former president. Sponsor: Sen. Charles E. Schumer (Democrat, New York)
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Opponents say

    "Political prudence is a talent. It involves applying crystalline principles to untidy realities. The principle of holding people accountable for their actions is generally sound. But high-minded rhetoric about enforcing "accountability" on Trump ignores the fact that neither his reputation nor his future political salience hinges on the Senate impeachment trial."  Source: George F. Will (Columnist, The Washington Post)


    "Actually, another impeachment might unleash even more dangerous impulses than we’ve seen since Nov. 3, and now there are, in effect, no guardrails left. Equally concerning are the ways in which the insurrectionists who participated in and backed the Capitol invasion will respond. There’s disturbing internet traffic about "demonstrations" Jan. 17 and 20, with threats on state capitols as well as at the inauguration. A second impeachment is likely to add fuel to the fire of revolution that’s been simmering, and flaring up, over the past four years." Source: Prof. David Dougherty (Loyola University Maryland)  


    "The outgoing president’s reputation among these people will only grow with each cry of glee from his enemies. Even if he vanishes into exile, his supporters will seek another saviour, another maverick from the rambling confederacy that is modern American democracy. That is why liberals everywhere should be careful how they react to Trump’s going. Losers should know how to lose well, but victors should know how to win wisely. So ignore Trump, and just count the minutes until he goes." Source: Simon Jenkins (Columnist, The Guardian)

Proponents say

    "In any case, now we have the trial. Make no mistake about it, President Trump will stand trial and there will be a vote on his guilt. I hope he's voted guilty...The evidence is all out there. Who was the witness? The entire American people. We all saw what Trump did. We all saw what these horrible insurrectionists did. And we're going to have the trial. Now, there will be a two-week place where the, you know, in the next two weeks the—both sides will prepare their papers. That's actually good for us because in that first week, this week, we're going to spend time filling the president's cabinet...And then in the second week, we will begin on the COVID relief bill. President Biden's $1.9 trillion dollar bill called the American—what is it called, an American Rescue proposal, Rescue Plan. American Rescue Plan, ARP. So we'll have some time to do those things. People said, how are you going to get this all done? Well, we said we were going to try to do these three things at once: Cabinet, impeachment, COVID. And we're making good progress on those. Despite McConnell trying to blockade everything, there are different things we can do to get around them." Source:  Sen. Chuck Schumer (Democrat, New York) 


    "The Speaker [Rep. Pelosi] has and will continue to take action to ensure accountability and enhance the security of the Capitol. Following the insurrection, the House Sergeant at Arms, the Senate Sergeant at Arms and the Chief of the Capitol Police were removed from their positions. It is the job of the Capitol Police Board, on which these three individuals sat, to properly plan and prepare for security threats facing the U.S. Capitol." Source: Drew Hammill (Deputy Chief of Staff for Rep. Pelosi) 


    "The mob was fed lies. They were provoked by the president and other powerful people, and they tried to use fear and violence to stop a specific proceeding of the first branch of the federal government which they did not like. But we pressed on, we stood together and said an angry mob would not get veto power over the rule of law in our nation." Source: Sen. Mitch McConnell (Republican, Kentucky)