MOSCOW (Sputnik) — A number of experts consider impeachment a highly probable turn of post-elections events, but history shows such initiative is not likely to succeed.
Latest controversy
On October 28, less than two weeks before the Election Day, the FBI Director James Comey wrote a letter to the US Congress, announcing that the agency had uncovered some evidence that could be related to the probe into Clinton’s handling of the classified information as the secretary of state and might reopen the investigation. The lack of any further details in his letter was strongly criticized by Clinton and her campaign members, who called for the FBI to disclose the information they had. However, the FBI generally does not publicize the facts related to the ongoing investigations.
Clinton was ahead of Trump by five points, according to The Washington Post and ABC News latest poll, by two in a Fox News poll, while the CNN poll put her advantage at three points.
The Los Angeles Times showed 48 percent of voters supporting Trump versus 42.6 percent favoring Clinton.
Pros and cons
RIA Novosti spoke to a number of experts, whose opinions divided on whether it was a real possibility or a Republican pipe dream.
Clinton cannot be impeached for something she did before assuming office, according to Michael W. Traugott, Research Professor Emeritus at University of Michigan.
"They cannot impeach Clinton for what happened before she becomes President (if she does)," Traugott told RIA Novosti.
He added that Congressional committees could nevertheless convene to examine and discuss "any number of topics."
The author of the program "Background politics" Justin Russell, however, said that the Republicans might attempt to start the impeachment process, despite not being able to finish the process.
"They [Republicans] may begin impeachment, activating articles of impeachment. They can do this all day long, but without the investigation they cannot do [it]," Russell told RIA Novosti.
He added that if Clinton won, the threat of the impeachment would "hang over her like dark clouds" and complicate her relationship with the Congress. He also said that this could be a problem for Donald Trump as well, as he has some legal concerns of his own.
From Clinton to Clinton
Dave Schippers, who served as the Chief Investigative Counsel for the House Judiciary Committee’s probe into Bill Clinton’s possible impeachment, said recently that he was "terrified" of Hillary Clinton.
"Today, I am still terrified of Hillary. … Because if she gets into office. In fact, I’ve told my wife, I said, ‘If Hillary gets elected, look for the FBI or somebody to come and pick me up the next day,’ said as quoted by the Breitbart News website.
"Vince Foster was probably as close to Hillary as anybody on the face of the Earth. … He knew all about the money she made, the $100,000 she made overnight in the commodities market. He knew everything. … In my opinion, he was a weak link in the chain of evidence," Schippes said.
Fairly reckless thing
Not every Republican is keen to start the impeachment process. Darrell Issa the California congressman and Trump supporter said that was "not gonna happen" and advised fellow Republicans to "calm down."
"The fact is we have impeached and removed from office nine federal judges in our history, no members of the executive branch, not a president, not a vice president, not a cabinet officer, so floating that word is usually a fairly reckless thing," Issa said as quoted by CNN.
The Congress plays a crucial role in the process of impeachment with the House of Representatives initially deciding there are valid reasons for the impeachment and the Senate holding a formal trial. The vital part of the Congress might explain Comey’s decision to inform its members of the possible new evidence in the Clinton investigation.
