If there are no witnesses, it is not the Democrats’ fault.

Impeachment threatens to damage the institution of Congress, nevertheless Democrats do their jobs.

I have previously written about the historic demise of Congress’ power which has been eroded at the hands of multiple presidents. It no longer has the power of the purse, nor does it do much to ‘regulate commerce with foreign nations’. It laughs in the face of Advice and Consent, with more ‘acting’ senior White House positions than ever.

But these are exceptional times — the impeachment trial of a first term President — and therefore historical trends are less helpful; redundant even. It is right that we examine the behaviour of our individual representatives during this trial with objectivity. Judgement has to be individual, not just institutional.

Oversight of the Executive branch, regardless of how Constitutionally sacrosanct it is, has therefore become a optional extra for Republicans; an in work-perk if you will. To be exercised if, and only if, it serves a political purpose. Impeachment cannot happen, Republicans say, because it is too close to an election and we simply cannot allow that. It’s too disruptive to disrupt the Disruptor-in-Chief. Wait, or maybe it can’t happen because it doesn’t reach the criteria of a high crime…