General Discussion

While these interpretive arguments have, and likely will continue to be raised, the Senate has determined by majority vote on multiple occasions that they retain the power to proceed against an Executive Branch official who has resigned from office. These decisions span from the trial of former Secretary of War William Belknap in 1876 to former President Trump in 2020.16 Nevertheless, it appears that while Congress may have legal authority to impeach and try a former official, current disagreement on the matter may be widespread enough to create a practical obstacle to obtaining the supermajority necessary to convict a former official.