To the editor:
Who says you can’t impeach a federal government official after they have left office? Republicans want you to believe that this tactic is not available, necessary or constitutional.
In 1876 the U.S. House of Representatives proposed to impeach the current Secretary of War, William Belknap, on corruption charges. Fearing the results, Belknap delivered his resignation to the White House before the hearings began. The House stuck to its plan and went ahead with impeaching Belknap.
In his Senate trial, the impeachment managers argued that departing the office does not excuse the alleged offense; otherwise, officeholders would simply resign to escape conviction or impeachment.
The Senate voted 37 to 29 that Belknap was eligible to be impeached and tried even though he had resigned and no longer was in office. Belknap was eventually acquitted by the Senate because of the two-thirds vote needed to convict, although they had voted earlier that he was eligible for impeachment.
It has happened before and the time is right. Get on with it, members of the U.S. Senate. As Bill Belichick says, “Do your job.”
Bill Stewart
Saugus
