Forty-four percent of Americans view Trump favorably, according to a recent poll, matching his highest rating ever. They have that view even knowing (if they choose to know) everything in the case put forward by House managers last week. ADTo deprive those Americans of the opportunity to vote for their favored candidate has to raise questions for any believer in democracy. If they accept the White House defense, senators will accept as precedent for all time that a president may use the powers of his office for personal political gain and against the national interest. ADADSenators, if they accept the White House formulation, also would enshrine as precedent that the executive branch may decide, without any limit or rebuke, when to cooperate with a congressional investigation and when to defy it.

Source: Washington Post January 26, 2020 19:41 UTC