How many presidents of the U.S. were impeached?
Two – Andrew Johnson in 1868 and William Jefferson Clinton in 1998. Neither of them were removed from office because they were not convicted. In the civilian world, when someone is suspected of committing a crime and there isn’t enough evidence to arrest them outright, the DA convenes a Grand Jury. The Grand Jury hears testimony and is presented evidence, and then votes to either indict – charge with the offense – or not to indict. If indicted, the suspect then goes to trial in the courts. From there the suspect is either convicted and sent to prison or acquitted and sent home. In the workings of the government, when a sitting President is suspected of having committed a crime, the House hears testimony and is presented evidence, and then votes either to impeach – the same as indicting – or not to impeach. If the vote is to impeach, the President then stands trial in the Senate.
