Time to impeach Trump

FOR all of my opposition to Donald Trump, I have long been sceptical of the political wisdom or evidentiary basis of efforts to impeach him.

My reasons: First, being a terrible president and a wretched person are not impeachable offences. Second, Robert Mueller's investigation has so far produced evidence that can be interpreted as obstruction of justice but not as clear proof. Third, impeachment in the House would be unlikely to translate into conviction in the Senate, even if Democrats win both chambers in the autumn. Fourth, impeachment without conviction could strengthen Mr Trump politically, much as it did for Bill Clinton after his own 1998 impeachment.

And, like it or not, Mr Trump remains popular with tens of millions of Americans. To overturn the results of an election for anything less than unambiguous evidence of criminal behavior is a danger to democracy itself.