This Abridge News topic aggregates four unique arguments on different sides of the debate. Here are the quick facts to get you started:
THE QUICK FACTS
- On Wednesday, Attorney Alan Dershowitz, a member of President Trump's legal defense team, offered a controversial argument during Senate impeachment proceedings.
- In response to a question about whether it mattered if Trump engaged in a quid pro quo, Dershowitz said motive was what mattered and if an act was in the public interest, it was not impeachable.
- "Every public official that I know believes that his election is in the public interest. And if a president does something which he believes will help him get elected in the public interest, that cannot be the kind of quid pro quo that results in impeachment."
- Dershowitz said a quid pro quo that involved an illegal act, or was done for personal financial gain, would be impeachable.
- The argument quickly drew criticism from democratic lawmakers, who say the reasoning sets a dangerous precedent when it comes to abuse of power.
CLICK TO VIEW OPINIONS ranging from Critical of Arguments to Supportive of Arguments
Presenting the ludicrous 'Dershowitz Doctrine'
Trump impeachment defender Alan Dershowitz's quid pro quo argument is absurd
Alan Dershowitz's impeachment argument is perfectly logical and that's why liberals are twisting it
Why Trump impeachment attorney Dershowitz is right that reelection serves the public interest