Key facts
- President Trump and allies are discussing a legislative resolution to void his first-term impeachments.
- The discussions were reported by The Wall Street Journal, citing sources familiar with the matter.
- There is no legal precedent for expunging an impeachment.
- Previous attempts by representatives to introduce resolutions to reverse impeachments did not gain traction.
- New documents related to the impeachment effort were released by Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard.
U.S. President Donald Trump and his allies have reportedly discussed pursuing a legislative resolution to void his impeachments from his first term, according to The Wall Street Journal. The report, citing individuals familiar with the matter, indicates that Trump himself has floated the idea of reversing his 2019 impeachment, suggesting new evidence of a "conspiracy" surrounding the House vote. Lawyer Alan Dershowitz has reportedly advised Trump that he could ask the Supreme Court or Congress to reverse the impeachment.
Allies of Trump have long characterized his impeachment as a "sham" and a politically motivated "witch hunt." In the past, Representatives Marjorie Taylor Greene, Elise Stefanik, and Markwayne Mullin introduced House resolutions aimed at reversing the impeachments, with then-Speaker Kevin McCarthy expressing support for the notion. However, these efforts have not gained traction in Washington, largely because there is no legal precedent for expunging an impeachment, and Trump was acquitted by the Republican-controlled Senate.
More recently, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard released new documents related to the impeachment effort, which she claims show proof of a "coordinated effort" to "manufacture a conspiracy." These documents, which include investigative materials and deposition transcripts concerning a whistleblower complaint, have largely been disregarded by politicians and legal scholars. The whistleblower's complaint focused on concerns about Trump pressuring Ukraine to investigate political rival Joe Biden. The transcripts indicate the whistleblower communicated with congressional Democrats before filing the allegation.