High Crimes and Misdemeanors A History of Impeachment for the Age of Trump

America frequently talks about impeaching a president, but the impeachment provisions of the American constitution are widely misunderstood. In High Crimes and Misdemeanors, constitutional scholar Frank O. Bowman, III offers unprecedented clarity to the question of impeachment, tracing its roots to medieval England through its adoption in the Constitution and 250 years of American experience. By examining the human and political history of those who have faced impeachment, Bowman demonstrates that the Framers intended impeachment to be a flexible tool, adaptable to the needs of any age. Written in a lively, engaging style, the book combines a deep historical and constitutional analysis of the impeachment clauses, a coherent theory of when impeachment should be used to protect constitutional order against presidential misconduct, and a comprehensive presentation of the case for and against impeachment of President Trump. It is an indispensable work for the present moment.

1. How to interpret the Constitution's impeachment clauses; 2. British impeachments (1376–1787); 3. American impeachments before 1787; 4. The Founders' impeachment; 5. Impeaching legislators and lesser executive branch officials; 6. Impeachment of judges; 7. The impeachment of Andrew Johnson; 8. The fall of President Richard Nixon; 9. The strange case of William Jefferson Clinton; 10. The scope of impeachable presidential conduct: general principles; 11. Impeachment for obstruction of justice; 12. Impeachment for abuse of the pardon power; 13. Impeachment for lying; 14. Impeachment for corruption – schemes of peculation, the emoluments clauses, and the avaricious president; 15. The twenty-fifth amendment as an alternative to impeachment; 16. Impeaching Donald Trump.

Frank O. Bowman, III is a law professor, legal historian, and former federal and state prosecutor. He wrote and commented extensively on the Trump impeachment processes in the popular press, including the New York Times, CNN, Politico, Slate, where he is regular contributor, and many others. He has provided testimony to both Houses of Congress on multiple subjects including the meaning of 'high crimes and misdemeanors' during the Clinton impeachment crisis.