Center for American Progress

RELEASE: Trump’s Impeachable Conduct Violates Basic Tenets of American Law
Press Release

RELEASE: Trump’s Impeachable Conduct Violates Basic Tenets of American Law

Washington, D.C. — While a president need not break any specific laws in order to be impeached and removed from office, a new column from the Center for American Progress shows how the type of behavior demonstrated by President Donald Trump potentially violated a range of federal laws.

In addition to bribery and extortion, as discussed in a previous column in this series, Trump’s conduct appears to implicate the following federal laws:

  • Prohibition against soliciting campaign assistance from a foreign national
  • Fraudulent denial of honest services
  • Prohibition against any individual from using government funds or property for their own use
  • Witness tampering
  • Coercing federal employees to engage in political activity
  • Obstruction of justice
  • Criminal conspiracy

The column argues that both the House of Representatives and Senate must recognize Trump’s actions for what they are and protect the security of America’s democracy and sanctity of the rule of law by removing him from office.

Read the column: “Trump’s Impeachable Conduct Strikes at the Heart of the Rule of Law: Part 2” by Maggie Jo Buchanan, William Roberts, and Michael Sozan

For more information or to speak with an expert, please contact Sam Hananel at [email protected] or 202-478-6327.