WVTM 13.
SHERI: MANY QUESTIONS REMAIN
ABOUT WHAT’S NEXT FOR PRESIDENT
TRUMP AFTER MEMBERS OF THE HOUSE
VOTED TO IMPEACH HIM ON CHARGES
HE ABUSED HIS POWER AND THEN
OBSTRUCTED JUSTICE.
WVTM 13’S CHIP SCARBOROUGH
TALKED TO A POLITICAL EXPERT TO
HELP BREAK DOWN THE NEXT STE
IN THE CASE.
>> I THINK ALL THE CUES WERE
THERE THAT IT WAS GOING TO
HAPPEN.
>> DR. ALLEN LINKEN TEACHES
POLITICAL SCIENCE AT THE
UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA.
HE SAYS IT’S FIRST IMPORTANT TO
UNDERSTAND WHAT IT MEANS WHEN
THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
IMPEACHES A PRESIDENT.
>> IT’S ESSENTIALLY A GRAND JURY
INDICTMENT THAT THE HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVES IS SERVING TO
FORMALLY TO CHARGE THE
PRESIDENT.
SO IMPEACHMENT IS JUST SAYING
SENATE, NOW YOU HAVE TO TRY HIM.
>> HE SAYS THE PRESIDENT WILL
CONTINUE DOING HIS JOB UNTIL
MEMBERS OF THE SENATE HEAR THE
IMPEACHMENT CHARGES AND DECIDE
WHAT COURSE OF ACTION TO TAKE.
CHARGES THAT INCLUDE ABUSE OF
POWER BY ENLISTING A FOREIGN
GOVERNMENT TO INVESTIGATE
POLITICAL RIVAL, THEN
OBSTRUCTING CONGRESS IN ITS
INVESTIGATIO
LINKEN SAYS WHATEVER HAPPENS IN
THE SENATE COULD EITHER PLAY OUT
QUICKLY OR DRAG ON.
>> THE SENATE CAN BE BOTH
WITNESSES AND JURORS.
THE SENATE IS DEFINITELY THE
JUROR, BUT IT CAN ALSO BE THE
WITNESS.
>> SO DR. LINKEN SAYS REGARDLESS
OF THE OUTCOME IN THE SENATE
WE’RE NOT TALKING ABOUT JAIL
TIME HERE.
HE SAYS WORST CASE SCENARIO, THE
PRESIDENT WILL LOSE HIS JOB AND
NOT BE ABLE TO RUN FOR
REELECTION.
>> THIS IS NOT A CRIMINAL TRIAL.
THIS IS A HUMAN RESOURCES TRIA
>> IF THE SENATE CHOOSES TO
CLEAR THE PRESIDENT OF ALL
CHARGES, LINKEN SAYS HE WOULD BE
THE FIRST PRESIDENT TO RUN FOR
RE-ELECTION AFTER BEING
IMPEACHED.
AT LEAST TWO-THIRDS OF THE
SENATE MUST VOTE TO CONVICT THE
PRESIDENT OF ANY WRONGDOING
BEFORE HE IS OFFICIALLY REMOVED
FROM OFFICE.
>> SO IT’S VERY UNLIKELY THAT
HE’LL BE CONVICTED.
>> UNLIKELY BECAUSE HE SAY
REPUBLICANS HAVE MAJORITY
CONTROL IN THE SENATE.
IN TUSCALOOSA, CHIP SCARBOROUGH,
WVTM 1
SHERI: DR. LINKEN SAYS BECAU
IMPEACHMENT IS SO RARE, THERE
REALLY AREN’T ANY PROCEDURES IN
PLACE FOR HOW FAST THE HOUSE O
REPRESENTATIVES HAS TO PRE
