I have been paying attention to the impeachment process for President Donald Trump simply because I’ve never seen an impeachment inquiry or trial before.

I know the nuts and bolts of it all is political. The Democrats control the house, so they’ve forwarded the articles of impeachment. The Republicans control the senate, so they’re going to close the impeachment in as speedy a fashion possible. President Trump will not be found guilty unless some other earth-shattering evidence comes forward.

The Government Accountability Office, a non-partisan congressional fact-finding entity that looks into complaints about how government is handled, offered an opinion last week that President Trump’s Administration broke the law when it withheld pre-approved aid to Ukraine.

The articles of impeachment the president faces are that he used his political office to attempt to get a foreign government, Ukraine, to become involved in tampering with the U.S. 2020 presidential election. A second article is that President Trump obstructed the house investigation and inquiry into wrongdoing.

The Constitution says the president can be impeached for “high crimes and misdemeanors.” Right now, the President and his administration, along with a unified GOP in the house and senate, say the president didn’t do anything wrong. 

There are a lot of people who just don’t care about this matter. And those who do care? Well, they’re firmly supporting either the Republicans and/or the Democrats. The impeachment is falling strictly along party lines.

Questions and discussion during the House of Representatives inquiry saw Republicans repeatedly ask to have former Vice President Joe Biden or his son, Hunter Biden, testify. Not that they have anything to do with the articles of impeachment facing the president. However, Republicans believe the Bidens were involved in wrongdoing in Ukraine long before Trump took office. Hunter Biden’s job on the board of directors at a Ukrainian power company raises eyebrows for many people across party lines.

The important thing that gets lost in this investigation into the Bidens should be distinctly separate from an investigation and trial involving the conduct of President Trump. Of course, Republicans will say that the reason aid to Ukraine was “delayed” is because President Trump was concerned about corruption in Ukraine — starting with the Biden’s involvement in that country. That doesn’t mesh with the argument that Trump released the aid to Ukraine. The confusion grows because the GOP says because Trump eventually released the aid to Ukraine, there was no crime. The aid was released after Trump’s withholding of it, which the GAO has found is illegal, occurred. 

I find it hard to accept any arguments into this particular case regarding the Bidens because I believe that should be a completely separate case. The evidence regarding the guilt over which this case against the Bidens may be incredibly overwhelming. Still, it is separate from the issues regarding President Trump.

The GAO’s finding quashes that defense and it causes a Catch 22 in the Republican theory that there was no wrongdoing at all.

I understand where Republicans are coming from, because I just don’t understand how Hunter Biden can be appointed as a board of director’s member to a Ukrainian power company. It just reeks of nepotism and political favoritism. When I think of all the people in the world with knowledge and ability to help a power company in Ukraine, I just can’t see Hunter Biden as the leading candidate.

What do we end up with? Two wrongs. And, of course, two wrongs don’t make a right.

Are we dealing with an impeachable offense when it comes to President Trump’s actions? We’ll likely never know because most of those with the information as to the President’s direct intent didn’t answer House of Representative subpoenas and the president is protected by executive privilege in his private conversations dealing with the federal government. And this is proper. The president should have some privacy when dealing with international policy.

As a person watching this process play out from rural Wisconsin, it’s very difficult. Honestly, I’ve been critical of the President before, due to his brash nature, which constantly plays out on the world stage. The president makes our country and its citizens appear negatively. I believe our president is wise, experienced and genius in many facets of public policy. Yet, he hasn’t been able to parlay his ability to command the “art of the deal” to our benefit.

Wisconsinites should feel this keenly as Harley Davidson has had to open another overseas plant to avoid European tariffs that are part of an ongoing trade war engineered by Trump. It’s been yet to be seen where Trump’s foreign trade policy has helped our economy. Wall Street is not Main Street. Just because stock brokers are making profits on a booming stock market, which Trump inherited, doesn’t mean it helps us here in rural Wisconsin. If you don’t believe me, ask a dairy farmer.

All this said, I don’t see any way that President Trump gets impeached by the Senate.

I like to talk about local topics in my column, I rarely talk about federal issues. I realize this next week one of the biggest points of interest for all Americans will be watching what occurs during the senate impeachment trial of President Trump. This is truly a historic moment.

It could be a very quick affair should the senate not allow witnesses or questions. Does that fulfill their oath? No. But even though history is watching, politicians don’t care.

I’ve been amazed to which degree the GOP has been able to circle the wagons and simply say “no” to any evidence, information, testimony, legal arguments or factual representations that show that President Trump has done anything wrong. History will look back on this time and it will be astounding. Is America a reality show? Do people care about government? There’s an incredible amount of apathy and regarding Ronald Reagan’s “shining city on a hill.”

We live in an age where the state is so polarized that soon it will only be headed one way. I don’t know if President Trump is guilty of a “high crime or misdemeanor.” I need to hear truthful testimony from his cabinet and himself to determine that. I don’t think I will hear anything more than was revealed at the house inquiry. GOP senators will exonerate President Trump along party lines.

Simply speaking from our wholesome hometown, I don’t think, without some enlightenment, this is going anywhere. And without evidence of a compelling nature, why did it begin in the first place? Impeaching a president requires overwhelming evidence and political support. It just doesn’t exist in this moment in time, so it is a distraction from our federal process. That is sad for all of us. Without more evidence this is a show trial.

— Matt Johnson is publisher of the Monroe Times. His column is published Wednesdays.