Its been a good day for democratic checks and balances. First, the UK Supreme Court overturned Boris Johnson's unlawful prorogation of parliament, allowing it to return. And second, the US Democrats have finally grown a backbone and begun an impeachment investigation against Donald Trump:
Speaker Nancy Pelosi announced that the US House of Representatives would begin a formal impeachment inquiry into Donald Trump, setting the stage for an extraordinary constitutional clash over allegations that the president sought the help of a foreign country to harm a political rival.
“The actions taken to date by the president have seriously violated the constitution,” Pelosi said in a formal address in Washington on Tuesday evening. “The president must be held accountable. No one is above the law.”
The only thing surprising about this is that it has taken so long, and that is down to democratic spinelessness. Fortunately, that cuts both ways, and being criticised by their voters and the prospect of primary challenges against collaborators seems to have focused their mind. They're doing it for the wrong reason, but at least they're finally doing the right thing. And while there is no chance of impeachment being passed by the Republican Senate, accountability for that failure will rest clearly on them, not on the Democrats.
Now, if only they'd grow a backbone and do what their voters want on policy...
