Impeachment has become a political weapon rather than a legal remedy for presidential misconduct, President Trump impeachment defense team member Ken Starr lamented.
“It won’t be a once-in-a-generation act, but an every administration act,” Starr said on the Senate floor Monday. “Democrats will regret it when Republicans are handing out the pens, the pens of the signing ceremony.”
Starr is one of several lawyers defending Trump during his Senate impeachment trial. He was previously appointed independent counsel in the investigation that preceded the impeachment of President Bill Clinton, who was later acquitted by the Senate in 1999.
House Democrats impeached Trump on two charges, abuse of power and obstruction of Congress, last year. The trial is now underway, with House impeachment managers arguing that Trump used his power as president to pressure Ukraine into investigating his political rival, former Vice President Joe Biden.
“In the world’s longest-standing constitutional republic,” Starr argued. “Instead of a once-in-a-century phenomenon, which it had been, presidential impeachment has become a weapon to be wielded against one’s political opponent.”
Trump and his Republican defenders in Congress have said Democrats are impeaching the president based on their dislike of him rather than his conduct. Democrats, on the other hand, have argued that Trump has shown a disregard for the constitution and is a danger to national security.
“Some courageous people came forward. Courageous people that risked their entire careers,” lead impeachment manager Adam Schiff said as he closed his opening remarks last week. “They risked everything, their careers. And yes, I know what you’re asked to decide may risk yours too. But if they could show the courage, so could we.”
