Introduction

Months after former US President Donald Trump was indicted on government charges in Manhattan, the case escalated at an unusual moment in America, especially since this is the first time a former president has been charged with “federal crimes.”

However, other presidents before him have been impeached or left office in disgrace after a scandal or a criminal charge, though none of them have been in as much legal jeopardy as the one that threatens Trump now.

Richard Nixon

Background

Among them is former President Richard Nixon, who was found not guilty by a grand jury in 1974 as a conspirator in the Watergate scandal but was never charged with the crime, according to the Wall Street Journal.

His resignation prevented him from being charged, but did not remove him from indictment, as Watergate prosecutors had doubts about prosecuting him.

They were concerned about whether the former president could get a fair trial and later received a pardon from President Gerald Ford.

Bill Clinton

Background

In addition, in 1998, President Bill Clinton was impeached by the House of Representatives on charges of perjury and obstruction of justice in connection with his attempt to cover up his affair with former White House intern Monica Lewinsky.

The Senate voted against conviction, but the threat of criminal charges remained until the last hours of Clinton’s presidency, when he struck a deal with independent attorney Robert Wray.

The attorney general then agreed not to indict a grand jury after Clinton admitted under oath to perjury, waived his five-year law license, and agreed to a $25,000 fine.

Ulysses Grant

Background

In 1872, America’s 18th president, Ulysses Grant, was arrested for speeding while driving through the capital, but paid a fine and missed court.

Vice Presidents

Aaron Burr

Aaron Burr, vice president from 1801 to 1805, escaped warrants from New York and New Jersey after killing Alexander Hamilton in a duel. He was later arrested in Alabama in 1807, tried for high treason in Virginia for conspiring to secede the western states from the Union in order to create his own empire in Spanish territory, and was eventually acquitted.

Spiro Agnew

Vice President Spiro Agnew resigned in 1973 after refusing to contest a tax evasion charge in connection with a broader investigation into alleged bribes he received during his tenure in Maryland politics, including his tenure as governor of Maryland.

Conclusion

Compared to practice elsewhere, the Trump impeachment trial looks less outlandish, even among liberal democracies.

In the past decade alone, the current or former heads of state of France, Italy, Israel, Brazil and South Korea have been charged with crimes such as illegal campaign finance, bribery and tax fraud.

Prior to Trump’s indictments, US persecution of political leaders did not exceed US vice presidents.

Having survived two impeachments as president, he also faces a private investigation into his efforts to remain in office after losing the 2020 election.

His lawyers are also trying to prevent a criminal investigation into Georgian election meddling. In every investigation, Trump has said he did nothing criminal.