PEORIA, Ill. — Former President Donald Trump’s second impeachment trial began on Wednesday after the United States Senate voted 56-44 in favor of the trial being constitutional.
Bradley University political science professor Dr. Megan Remmel says many people have called the trial symbolic, not expecting a conviction.
“He’s not going to be convicted, so it does feel symbolic,” said Remmel. “But, there is actually substantive value in having this trial.”
According to Remmel, the trial creates a public record and has shown the public video and testimonials that were not available previously.
The new evidence presented by impeachment managers could be used in the future against Trump, as well.
“I assume that a lot of this evidence that has been presented by the impeachment managers is going to be possibly used in both criminal and civil suits in the future,” said Remmel. “Even if he’s not convicted, I don’t think the former president’s legal troubles are necessarily over after this trial.”
The trial could also be useful to who voters cast their ballots for in the future.
“It is going to put senators on the record about what they think the boundaries of the presidency are,” she said.
While the trial itself does have value, according to Remmel, she doesn’t believe it has much, if any, impact on the overall American political climate.
“I don’t think it makes the polarization in Washington, D.C. better, but I also don’t think it makes it worse,” said Remmel. “If you were already anti-Trump, you’re still going to be anti-Trump — if you were pro-Trump, you’re still going to be pro-Trump.”
The impeachment trial comes as some Republicans have spoke against the former president, while some have defended him.
Historically, Remmel says, one party can implode, generally over one single issue.
“The Whig Party imploded over slavery, and part of it broke off into the Republican Party of Lincoln in the 1860s,” she said. “If something sinks a party, there’s a part that doesn’t survive.
“The part that does survive is a new entity.”
Remmel said Trump has filed paperwork with the Federal Elections Commission to try and create a third party, called the Patriot Party.
“If that happens, because of the way election laws are structured, it would be really hard for either the Republican or Patriot party to win because they’d draw votes from each other,” she said.
Remmel said she could see the issues splitting the Republican Party, that’s not about Trump, but what he represents.
Full interview with Remmel:
