Democrat strategy around impeachment is ambiguous. Their Constitutional duty is not.

Congressional Democrats are commanding caution over the ‘I’ word. In doing so, they are absconding their responsibility.

The impeachment of a President has only happened twice; Andrew Johnson (1868) and Bill Clinton (1998–99). For the sake of context, it is worth including Nixon’s almost certain impeachment in 1974. Because of how rare these proceedings are there is a tendency to look too closely at historical precedent and ignore Constitutional certainty. That is wrong.

In all instances the circumstances of impeachment were distinctly different. The offences were different, the make up of Congress was different, the public reaction was different, and the long-term impact on the office was also different.

What has remained the same is the the role and the duty Congress has. That is the constant. The decision from Congress to impeach should be immune from any current political environment or electoral pressure. As detailed in Article 1, Section 2, Clause 5 of the Constitution, the House of Representatives have “the sole power of impeachment”, and Article I, Section 3, Clause 6 grants to the Senate “the sole Power to try all Impeachments”.