Throughout the history of the United States, there have been several instances where presidents have been accused of, or have committed, illegal activities during their time in office. Here is a look at some of the most notable ones and the consequences that they faced. This is most prevalent with the criminal case of Donald trump.
Richard Nixon
Richard Nixon, the 37th President of the United States, is one of the most infamous examples of a president committing illegal activities during his term. Nixon was the target of the Watergate scandal, which eventually led to his resignation in 1974.
The scandal began in 1972 when five men were caught breaking into the Democratic National Committee headquarters at the Watergate complex in Washington, D.C. It was later revealed that the break-in was ordered by Nixon’s re-election campaign and that the president had been involved in covering up the crime.
As the investigation continued, Nixon’s administration was found to have illegally wiretapped and covered up other criminal activities. The scandal led to Nixon’s impeachment but ultimately resulted in his resignation before he could be removed from office.
Bill Clinton
Bill Clinton, the 42nd President of the United States, was impeached by the House of Representatives in 1998 on charges of perjury and obstruction of justice. Clinton was accused of lying under oath about his affair with White House intern Monica Lewinsky.
Clinton had initially denied the affair, but when it was revealed that he had been lying, he was put on trial in the Senate. Despite being impeached by the House, Clinton was acquitted in the Senate and served out the remainder of his term.
Andrew Johnson
Andrew Johnson, the 17th President of the United States, was also impeached by the House of Representatives in 1868. Johnson had been at odds with Congress over his policies, and when he tried to remove the Secretary of War without congressional approval, he was impeached on charges of violation of the Tenure of Office Act.
Johnson was ultimately acquitted by just one vote in the Senate. However, his standing with Congress was irreparably damaged, and he was unable to accomplish much during the remainder of his term.
James Buchanan
James Buchanan, the 15th President of the United States, was not impeached but did face criticism for his role in the Dred Scott v. Sandford case. The landmark case ultimately led to the Supreme Court ruling that African Americans could not be considered citizens of the United States.
As president, Buchanan had put significant pressure on the Supreme Court to rule in favor of slavery and to expand its reach into the territories. The ruling in the case had far-reaching consequences and is considered one of the most controversial in the court’s history.
Ulysses S. Grant
Ulysses S. Grant, the 18th President of the United States, faced several scandals during his time in office. One of the most significant was the Whiskey Ring scandal, which involved several officials within the government conspiring to avoid paying taxes on the whiskey they were making.
Grant’s Secretary of War, William W. Belknap, was also embroiled in scandal when it was revealed that he had received bribes for his role in awarding trading contracts to specific individuals.
Despite the scandals, Grant was never impeached and served out his full term. However, his reputation was damaged by the scandals, and many historians consider his presidency to be one of the most corrupt in American history.
Conclusion
The history of U.S. presidents who have committed illegal activities during their time in office is a messy and complicated one. While some have faced impeachment, others have managed to avoid being held accountable for their actions.
However, one thing that is clear from these examples is that the American people demand accountability from their leaders. No matter how powerful one may be, there will always be consequences for breaking the law.
It is important to remember these examples and learn from the past when considering the actions of current and future leaders. As history has shown, no one is above the law, and those who choose to break it will inevitably face the repercussions of their actions.