House Judiciary Dem Explains Impeachment For Those Who Slept Through Civics
Former law professor and House Judiciary committee member Jamie Raskin led an impromptu civics class on All In With Chris Hayes last night.
Hayes started by saying Republican had a "ghost of a point" about how impeachment was being handled, and asked about the committee's role.
"We're going to look at what the Founders mean by having impeachment in the Constitution. We know the electoral college meets every four years. Why did they decide to have impeachment in there? They wanted the people to have a last instrument of constitutional self-defense against a president who acts like a king and tramples the rule of law," Raskin said.
"It is all about getting rid of the kings. it was all kings and queens and election and corruption and treachery and war by the kingdoms for power. Congress wanted to create on a different principle. It was the king, the queen and the clergy and on the bottom was the people. And our founders flipped it upside down and said 'We, the people.' We started it that it way. The Framers put in every conceivable safeguard to make sure the president would not become like a king."
"You're using this originalist framework. What about when someone says, i don't care what the Founders thought. Why does it matter to me? Why should I care when I'm a nurse or a real estate professional and I don't like Donald Trump. What is the bite of what he has done in the life of the Republic and my life as a citizen?" Hayes asked.