WACO, TX — After Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi launched a formal impeachment inquiry into President Donald Trump, 25 News sought the thoughts of Judge Ken Starr, who was part of President Clinton's impeachment discussions in 1998.
The Starr Report was penned in part by Ken Starr and led to discussions regarding the impeachment of President Clinton for his alleged obstruction of justice.
The report cited alleged attempts made by former President Clinton to tamper with possible testimony by his then Executive Security Betty Currie.
The impeachment discussions surrounding the Clinton presidency ultimately ended in an acquittal.
"Pelosi confronts a fundamental question in our representative democracy: Will the full House of Representatives actually pursue formal impeachment as occurred with Presidents Nixon and Clinton?" said Judge Starr, now with more than 20 years of retrospect.
Judge Starr explained of the 230 years impeachment has existed, 62 initiated proceedings have occurred, of which 19 individuals have been impeached. Of those 19, eight resulted in a conviction by the Senate and a removal from their office.
"Two have been presidents--Andrew Johnson after the Civil War and, of course, Bill Clinton during the waning years of the 20th century. Neither was successful," said Judge Starr. "Of the eight successful impeachment convictions, every one was of a federal judge. No executive branch officer has actually been removed. Not one."
"Till now, impeachment demands were largely the province of the activist wing of the Democratic Party, but the president's summertime telephone conversation with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky — as revealed by a still-unidentified whistleblower — has triggered a strong move toward invoking the Constitution's most punishing political sanction," continued Judge Starr.
"Speaker Pelosi would do well to look to our nation's rich history for guidance," Judge Starr concluded.
