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High crimes and misdemeanours
Dec. 5th, 2019 01:26 pmAs a Brit trying to avoid thinking about the high crimes and misdemeanours of our own political leadership, I'm watching the impeachment proceedings in the States with great interest.
It has frequently occurred to me that among all the definitions of High Crimes & Misdemeanours, one is often missing or not emphasised. It's certainly about using high office to gain personal advantage, but the point is that "high" doesn't define either the crime or the misdemeanour - it defines the office of the person committing it, because the higher the office, the worse the offence. It brings that office into disrepute and no country should tolerate it. Shouldn't but may have to... In our case Friday 13th looms with just that prospect.
It has frequently occurred to me that among all the definitions of High Crimes & Misdemeanours, one is often missing or not emphasised. It's certainly about using high office to gain personal advantage, but the point is that "high" doesn't define either the crime or the misdemeanour - it defines the office of the person committing it, because the higher the office, the worse the offence. It brings that office into disrepute and no country should tolerate it. Shouldn't but may have to... In our case Friday 13th looms with just that prospect.
