Sherrod Brown was wrong about impeaching Trump

Sherrod Brown, the Ohio Democrat trying to reclaim a U.S. Senate seat, has told The Columbus Dispatch he would not support impeaching President Donald Trump, whatever the midterms bring. MS NOW commentator Hayes Brown argues the stance is a misstep, because it hands Republicans a talking point and casts doubt on impeachment as a legitimate tool.

Brown leads incumbent Republican Sen. Jon Husted by four points in the latest polling average, and his campaign stresses cost-of-living concerns. The opposition to impeachment may be meant to reassure voters who think Democrats care more about punishing Trump than easing economic strain. Still, the Constitution gives the House sole power to impeach by simple majority; senators only serve as jurors, and conviction takes 66 votes.

Speaker Mike Johnson has already predicted Democrats would move within days of taking power, portraying any effort as a partisan vendetta. Brown voted to convict Trump in both earlier trials, and after the 2021 acquittal he faulted Republicans for ignoring the violence of January 6. Brown did not claim Trump has done nothing impeachable, and Democrats are reportedly preparing investigations rather than an immediate impeachment push.

Summarized by PolitiKool from MS NOW’s reporting. Read the full story at MS NOW →