Thread by @cpeedell

Hi @neal_katyal ,
Just read your excellent book on impeachment. Brilliant writing to make it all so understandable for the layperson (and a UK citizen like me!). However, I think you have overlooked a major issue regarding idea of “Yardstick” related to individual conscience 1/6

I think you’ve failed to take into account the risk of a President having a high degree of control over his own party. This happens when the party is weak, but the President has a strong “base” related to his own popularity. The Yardstick disintegrates in this situation 2/6

In the Trump case, he has his own huge populist support base. If the GOP led senate vote to remove him, they’ll be destroyed as a party. Trump therefore has control over the entire “Jury”. He could have “Kompromat” on the GOP too. This shows deep flaws in US Constitution 3/6

I therefore think the idea of the Yardstick coming into play is way off the mark. Why else would there be 100% GOP support in both Houses at this stage (except Amash)? And it’s more than that - I’ve seen hours of #ImpeachmentHearings and the #GOP defence of #Trump is insane 4/6

Pelosi has done right thing to withhold articles of impeachment from Senate, but this can’t be held off forever. Last hope in this situation is the #SCOTUS ruling on his tax returns in June. But can SCOTUS be relied upon, especially with current worries of health of RBG? 5/6

This is a desperate situation not only for the US, but the entire world order. If the US survives this, then the Constitution needs more radical changes than you suggest. Trump has demonstrated that the separation of powers are currently almost non-existent 6/6