William Worth Belknap from 1869 to 1876 was the Secretary of War under President Ulysses S. Grant. He was impeached by a unanimous vote of the House of Representatives shortly after he had resigned for allegedly having received money in return for post tradership appointments. In other words he took bribes to put personal interests ahead of national interests.
Alberto Gonzales has lied to Congress and perjured himself trying to cover up the fact that he has been putting personal interests ahead of national interests. The Constitution provides for impeachment for "treason, bribery, or other high crimes and misdemeanors." And now Jay Inslee, Democrat of Washington, and five other prosecutors-turned-representatives have introduced a resolution to conduct an impeachment inquiry.
I hope Congress follows through on this one. Gonzales will resign if Impeachment proceedings are begun, which is just as well. And it will be a wake up call and a warning shot to the Bush Administration that the Constitution is still in effect. If Democrats are willing to take the side of the Constitution and stand up to political pressure.
Unfortunately, that is a big IF.
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