Thread by @RobertMaguire_

"A 'high crime' is a felony, and a misdemeanor is a misdemeanor. The words haven't changed that much." - Bruce Castor, presenting an incorrect interpretation of the requirements for impeachment.

(SPOILER: An impeachable offense does not have to be a crime at all)

One of Andrew Johnson's articles of impeachment mentioned that he "made and delivered with a loud voice certain intemperate, inflammatory and scandalous harangues, and did therein utter loud threats and bitter menaces"

And one of Richard Nixon's approved articles of impeachment involved "making or causing to be made false or misleading public statements for the purpose of deceiving the people of the United States."

Lying to the public and the press is not a crime.

When the founders debated impeachment, they specifically discussed the possibility of a president misusing powers that he -- and he alone -- is endowed with by the Constitution, like the pardon power. These are not crimes, but abuses of the public trust.

While debating the Constitution, George Mason voiced concerns about putting broad pardon powers in the hands of a president who was not of sound character.

This was Madison's response

In Federalist 65, Hamilton described impeachment as "POLITICAL" (emphasis his) because it relates "chiefly to injuries done immediately to the society itself."

In other words, not strictly criminal conduct.