Sen. Lamar AlexanderOvjeren akaunt

There is no need to consider further the frivolous second article of impeachment that would remove the president for asserting his constitutional prerogative to protect confidential conversations with his close advisers. 4/15

It was inappropriate for the president to ask a foreign leader to investigate his political opponent and to withhold United States aid to encourage that investigation. 5/15

When elected officials inappropriately interfere with such investigations, it undermines the principle of equal justice under the law. 6/15

But the Constitution does not give the Senate the power to remove the president from office and ban him from this year’s ballot simply for actions that are inappropriate. 7/15

The question then is not whether the president did it, but whether the United States Senate or the American people should decide what to do about what he did. 8/15

I believe that the Constitution provides that the people should make that decision in the presidential election that begins in Iowa on Monday. 9/15

The Senate has spent nine long days considering this “mountain” of evidence, the arguments of the House managers and the president’s lawyers, their answers to senators’ questions and the House record. 10/15

Even if the House charges were true, they do not meet the Constitution’s “treason, bribery, or other high crimes and misdemeanors” standard for an impeachable offense. 11/15