Sen. Dick Durbin wants an impeachment trial for former President Donald Trump to air out what Trump did. The former president is accused of inciting the riot at the U.S. Capitol building on January 6th.
Some opponents of the impeachment trial say it’s moot now. Others say it’s altogether unconstitutional. Durbin points to the 1876 case of Secretary of War William Belknap as a precedent for impeaching someone no longer in office.
Belknap, accused of illegally profiting from his political appointment, resigned. But the House impeached him anyway; the Senate acquitted him.