Chuck Schumer: “But a hallmark of rule of law is proportionality of punishment. If the President were caught, if any President were…”

“But a hallmark of rule of law is proportionality of punishment. If the President were caught, if any President were caught speeding at a hundred miles an hour, he would have to be disciplined so that others would not feel that reckless speeding was permissible. But we certainly would not use the political equivalent of capital punishment, impeachment, to discipline that President. On the other hand, if the President accepted a bribe, there would be no doubt he should be impeached, and all 435 of us would vote for it. Lying under oath about an extramarital relationship requires significant punishment, such as censure, but not the political version of capital punishment, impeachment. My colleagues, the rule of law requires that the punishment fit the crime. Allow us to vote for censure, the appropriate punishment under rule of law.”