Has any U.S. president been impeached and convicted?
Asked by: Prof. Fritz Balistreri | Last update: February 9, 2026Score: 5/5 (74 votes)
No U.S. President has ever been impeached by the House and subsequently convicted by the Senate to be removed from office; Presidents Andrew Johnson, Bill Clinton, and Donald Trump (twice) were impeached but acquitted, while Richard Nixon resigned before the full House could vote on his impeachment. Conviction requires a two-thirds vote in the Senate, a threshold never met for a president, although Johnson came close, missing removal by one vote, and Trump was acquitted in both his trials.
Has a president ever been impeached and convicted?
No U.S. President has ever been impeached by the House and then convicted by the Senate for removal from office; three presidents—Andrew Johnson, Bill Clinton, and Donald Trump (twice)—were impeached but acquitted by the Senate, while Richard Nixon resigned before the House could vote on impeachment. Removal requires a two-thirds Senate vote, a threshold never met for a president, though eight federal judges have been removed after conviction.
Can a president go to jail while in office?
Jump to essay-1Because criminal charges have never been filed against a sitting President, the Supreme Court has never considered a case addressing whether a sitting President could be prosecuted. The executive branch has expressed the view sitting Presidents enjoy absolute immunity from criminal prosecution.
Who is the only U.S. president to be impeached twice?
Donald Trump is the only U.S. President to have been impeached twice, first in 2019 for abuse of power and obstruction of Congress, and again in 2021 for incitement of insurrection following the January 6 Capitol attack, though he was acquitted in both Senate trials.
Which president got impeached for lying?
Res. 611, Clinton was impeached by the House of Representatives on December 19, 1998, on grounds of perjury to a grand jury (first article, 228–206) and obstruction of justice (third article, 221–212).
How to impeach a president
How many impeachments does Donald Trump have?
Trump had been impeached for the second time by the House of Representatives on January 13, 2021. The House adopted one article of impeachment against Trump: incitement of insurrection. He is the only U.S. president and only federal official to be impeached twice.
Was Trump's impeachment successful?
At the trial in the Senate, 57 senators voted "guilty", which was less than the two-thirds majority needed (67) to convict Trump, and 43 senators voted "not guilty", resulting in Trump being acquitted of the charges on February 13, 2021.
What president was buried wrapped in an American flag?
President Andrew Johnson, the 17th U.S. President, was buried wrapped in an American flag as per his final wishes, along with a copy of the U.S. Constitution under his head, at his burial site in Greeneville, Tennessee. This practice reflects his deep connection to the Union, even after his contentious presidency, and stands out as a unique detail of his funeral, notes the National Park Service.
What president resigned to avoid impeachment?
Thus, while Nixon himself was not impeached, the impeachment process against him is so far the only one that has brought about a president's departure from office (he resigned).
What are three things the President can't do?
A PRESIDENT CANNOT . . .
make laws. declare war. decide how federal money will be spent. interpret laws.
Who has absolute immunity in the US?
In the U.S., absolute immunity protects specific government officials for core functions, including judges (for judicial acts), prosecutors (for prosecutorial acts like courtroom advocacy and evidence presentation), legislators (during legislative proceedings), witnesses (when testifying), and the President (for certain "official acts" within their "exclusive constitutional authority"). This immunity is a complete shield from civil or criminal liability for those specific actions, though not for administrative or unofficial conduct.
Can a president pardon themselves?
O.L.C. Supp. 370, 370 (1974) (opining during the Nixon Administration that a President may not pardon himself based on the fundamental rule that no one may be a judge in his own case ).
What happens when a president is impeached but not convicted?
Learn more about the Senate's role in the impeachment process. If found guilty, the official is removed from office. They may never be able to hold elected office again. If they are not found guilty, they may continue to serve in office.
How many presidents have been convicted by the Senate after having been impeached by the House of Representatives?
Three presidents have been impeached, although none were convicted: Andrew Johnson in 1868, Bill Clinton in 1998, and Donald Trump twice, in 2019 and 2021.
What was Trump's first impeachment for?
After an inquiry between September and November 2019, Trump was impeached by the U.S. House of Representatives on December 18, 2019; the articles of impeachment charged him with abuse of power and obstruction of Congress.
Which president fathered a child at 70?
President John Tyler, the 10th U.S. President, fathered his last child, Pearl Tyler Ellis, at age 70 in 1860 with his second wife, Julia Gardiner, making him the U.S. President who had a child at the oldest age, and he fathered the most children (15). This remarkable late fatherhood is why his family line extended so far, with grandsons alive well into the 21st century.
Which president did not use the Bible to take the oath of office?
Several U.S. Presidents did not use a Bible for their oath, including John Quincy Adams (used a law book), Theodore Roosevelt (used no book at his first swearing-in), and Lyndon B. Johnson (used a Catholic missal), with Calvin Coolidge also noting he didn't use one, adhering to Vermont tradition. The Constitution doesn't require a Bible, allowing for these variations, often signifying a belief in secularism or responding to unique circumstances.
Which president was buried in a piano box?
President William Howard Taft, the 27th U.S. President and only one to also serve as Chief Justice, was rumored to have been buried in a piano box due to his large size (around 330 pounds), but this is a myth; he was buried in a standard casket at Arlington National Cemetery, where he rests near John F. Kennedy.
Can a U.S. president be charged with treason?
Article II, Section 4: The President, Vice President and all civil Officers of the United States, shall be removed from Office on Impeachment for, and Conviction of, Treason, Bribery, or other high Crimes and Misdemeanors. President Donald Trump was impeached twice during his single term in office.
Has any president been removed from office?
No U.S. President has ever been removed from office through the impeachment process, though three presidents—Andrew Johnson, Bill Clinton, and Donald Trump (twice)—were impeached by the House of Representatives but acquitted by the Senate, while Richard Nixon resigned before the full impeachment process concluded. The Constitution allows for removal for "Treason, Bribery, or other high Crimes and Misdemeanors," but conviction in the Senate requires a two-thirds majority, which has never been achieved for a president.
How many times can a president be impeached?
A U.S. President can be impeached multiple times because the Constitution doesn't limit the number of impeachments, though only President Donald Trump has been impeached twice (both times by the House, with Senate acquittals), while Andrew Johnson and Bill Clinton were impeached once each, with none removed from office.
Did any Republicans vote to impeach Trump?
Yes, 10 House Republicans voted to impeach Donald Trump in January 2021 for "incitement of insurrection" following the January 6th Capitol attack, making it the most bipartisan presidential impeachment in U.S. history. These Republicans, known as the "Impeachment 10," included Liz Cheney, Adam Kinzinger, and Jaime Herrera Beutler, among others, who broke with their party to vote for impeachment, though most faced significant political backlash.
Did Democrats try to impeach Trump?
The first formal impeachment efforts were initiated by two Democratic representatives (Al Green and Brad Sherman) in 2017, the first year of his presidency.
What is the punishment for impeachment?
The Constitution requires a two-thirds vote of the Senate to convict, and the penalty for an impeached official upon conviction is removal from office. In some cases, the Senate has also disqualified such officials from holding public offices in the future.