I’m going to assume that Trump is guilty of something for this post.  I think he’s guilty of collusion and obstruction but I defer to Mueller and will accept his conclusions.

So lets say Mueller finds he’s guilty… then what?

This article says that Mueller would not indict Trump:

“Mr. Mueller has told the president’s lawyers that he will follow Justice Department guidance that sitting presidents cannot be indicted. Rather than charge Mr. Trump if he finds evidence of wrongdoing, he is more likely to write a report that can be sent to Congress for lawmakers to consider impeachment proceedings.”

To me, impeachment is a waste of time.

First, nothing will happen unless Democrats take the House, no matter how guilty Trump is.

Second, even if the House brings charges, you won’t get 2/3 of the Senate to convict him.  You won’t get the needed Republican votes (somewhere around 17).  There are not that many Republican senators who would vote to convict.  They are afraid of their Trump cult base who will believe he is innocent regardless of the facts.

Third, a failed impeachment attempt would probably not hurt him.  It didn’t hurt Clinton (who was charged with minor stuff compared to this).  Trump’s side would say it proves he is innocent.   Giuliani keeps saying public opinion is Trump’s jury.  To me, this is just how Trump’s cult sees the accusations of sexual harassment.  Trump was elected, therefore the public decided he was innocent.

Fourth, the Democratic House should concentrate on legislation to help people on issues such as health care.

I understand that a lot of the Democratic base hates Trump (since I do) and wants impeachment but it’s not the best way to punish him if he is guilty.

If Trump can’t be indicted while he is president, I want him to be indicted the day after he leaves office (hopefully 1/21/21).  If he’s a criminal, he should be treated like any other crook – no worse but no better.

Lock him up!

update

Here’s a column by Ken Gormley, an expert on impeachment who wrote an excellent book about the Clinton trial and what led up to it.

I have said before that Democrats should concentrate on issues like health care, gun safety, income inequality, racism, etc. instead of impeachment.

This article discusses how Republicans will use the threat of impeachment if Democrats win the House to energize their voters.

This is a good column on why impeaching Trump won’t work based on the Clinton impeachment effort from the 1990s.  

There’s also this point.  Democrats should stick to the real issues.

Also, Republicans could use the threat of impeachment to motivate their base.

We should let the investigations play out and see where they take us.  I think it’s likely they will find criminal financial dealings by Trump but I doubt they will send him to jail.

Sad!