Sen. Rick Scott wants to amend the Constitution and raise the threshold for impeachment, currently set at a simple House majority.
The Florida Republican announced plans on Thursday, one day after President Trump was acquitted on two impeachment charges, to introduce a bill to amend the Constitution and make impeaching a president “much harder.” Scott’s amendment would require votes from three-fifths of the House to impeach the president.
“It should be harder, much harder, for either political party to take the process our founders created as a last resort against a tyrannical leader and use it instead as a tool for the tyranny of a political majority,” Scott, 67, said in an opinion piece. “I look forward to all of my colleagues, on both sides of the aisle, joining me in this effort to protect the integrity of our nation and our Constitution.”
GOP lawmakers accused House Democrats of rushing through their impeachment investigation into Trump. Democrats passed impeachment articles against Trump a little over two months after launching their investigation.
Democrats passed up attempts to force witnesses such as former national security adviser John Bolton to testify after the White House announced its intent to claim executive privilege over certain testimonies. House members claimed that pursuing testimonies would unduly burden the investigation with lengthy court fights.
On Wednesday, the Senate voted 52-48 to acquit Trump on the first article of impeachment. The article alleged he had abused his power and pressured Ukraine to investigate his political rivals in exchange for U.S. military aid. Sen. Mitt Romney from Utah was the only Republican to vote to convict Trump on the charge.
Romney joined Republicans in voting down the second article of impeachment that alleged Trump had obstructed Congress when he claimed executive privilege to prevent witness testimony.
