Legal Definitions - impeachable offense

An impeachable offense refers to a serious misconduct committed by a public official that, if proven, could lead to their removal from office through the impeachment process.

In the United States, the Constitution specifies that the President, Vice President, and all civil officers can be impeached for, and convicted of, Treason, Bribery, or other high Crimes and Misdemeanors. While "Treason" and "Bribery" have relatively clear legal definitions, the phrase "high Crimes and Misdemeanors" is broader and often interpreted to include significant abuses of power, breaches of public trust, or other grave offenses against the government and the public, even if they are not necessarily criminal acts in the everyday sense.

• Example 1: Bribery and Corruption

  Imagine a high-ranking government official responsible for awarding federal contracts. This official secretly accepts a multi-million dollar payment from a private company in exchange for ensuring that the company wins a lucrative contract, despite having a less competitive bid than others. This action directly benefits the official personally while harming the public interest.

  How it illustrates the term: This scenario clearly falls under "Bribery," as the official is accepting a personal gain in exchange for official action, which is explicitly listed in the U.S. Constitution as an impeachable offense.

• Example 2: Abuse of Power and Obstruction of Justice

  Consider a federal agency head who uses their position to direct agency resources to investigate political opponents of the current administration, without any legitimate legal basis, and then attempts to destroy evidence or intimidate whistleblowers who try to expose these actions.

  How it illustrates the term: Such actions could be considered "high Crimes and Misdemeanors" because they represent a profound abuse of governmental power, a serious breach of public trust, and an obstruction of justice, undermining the integrity of government institutions.

• Example 3: Treason

  Suppose a high-level intelligence official, during a time of declared war, deliberately provides classified military strategies and troop movements to an enemy nation, directly resulting in significant casualties for U.S. forces and jeopardizing national security.

  How it illustrates the term: This act directly constitutes "Treason," as it involves aiding an enemy of the United States and giving them comfort, which is one of the specific grounds for impeachment outlined in the Constitution.