Impeachment: How it works and why Trump should be worried

Impeachment efforts against US officials are becoming more common, but experts say they can serve to draw attention to alleged misconduct or pressure an official to resign even when conviction is unlikely. A failed attempt against Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth over the Iran war could be followed by further cases, including a possible third impeachment of Donald Trump.

In federal cases, the House brings charges and the Senate holds a trial; conviction requires a two-thirds majority, which partisan divisions make difficult to reach. Only eight people, all judges, had been impeached before Hegseth’s case concluded in 1799? The article says eight people have been impeached since the first case concluded in 1799, while Trump was acquitted in 2020 and 2021. Democrats’ expected control of both chambers from next year may make another attempt more likely, though experts warn it could distract from issues affecting the public.