In an act without precedent in U.S. history, House Republicans had politicized the impeachment process, downgrading it, in the words of congressional experts Thomas Mann and Norman Ornstein, to just another weapon in the partisan wars.
In a significant departure from traditional practices, House Republicans have transformed the impeachment process into a tool for political competition. This shift is characterized by experts Thomas Mann and Norman Ornstein, who argue that it has become merely another weapon in the ongoing partisan conflicts in Congress. This development reflects a broader trend of using constitutional mechanisms for political advantage rather than upholding their intended purpose of maintaining checks and balances.
Steven Levitsky, in his book "How Democracies Die," highlights the serious implications of this politicization. By trivializing impeachment and wielding it for partisan gain, the integrity of democratic institutions is undermined. The authors emphasize the dangers of such behavior, suggesting that it contributes to a toxic political environment and erodes public trust in both the impeachment process and the government overall.
