meaner gene
Diamond Member
- Feb 11, 2017
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"...the American impeachment process is remedial, not penal: it is limited to office holders, and judgments are limited to no more than removal from office and disqualification to hold future office."
Actually you just pointed out the process is penal. It invokes a penalty more expansive than a states felony bar on holding public office.
And since there are two penalties, a persons actions (such as resigning) can't be used to stop the process. Imagine someone about to be convicted resigns, and claims that he is no longer an office holder and they have to stop any procedures against him. Saving him from conviction, and saving him from a ban from public office.
That resigning gives you a "get out of jail free" card is ridiculous.