> “High crimes and misdemeanors” was not defined by the founding fathers <
I was curious about that, so awhile back I looked it up. Evidently, in the language of the day a “high crime” was any misbehavior by a high official. So while treason would be a high crime, so would coming to work drunk.
John Quincy Adams explained impeachment process because the president has almost unlimited executive power:
“The exercise of this more than dictatorial power is indeed controlled, first, by the participation of the Senate in the conclusion of treaties and appointments to office. Secondly, by the reservation of the discretionary power of the House of Representatives, to refuse the supplies necessary for the executive action. And thirdly, by the power reserved to the house to impeach the President for maladministration, and to the senate to try that impeachment, and sentence him to removal and to disqualification for official station for ever. These are great and salutary checks upon the abusive application of the granted power. But the power is not the less granted.”