Who was impeached but not removed?

Asked by: Justice Volkman  |  Last update: January 30, 2026
Score: 4.7/5 (41 votes)

Three U.S. Presidents—Andrew Johnson (1868), Bill Clinton (1998), and Donald Trump (2019, 2021)—were impeached by the House but acquitted by the Senate, thus remaining in office, with Trump being the only president impeached twice. Richard Nixon resigned before the full House vote after articles of impeachment were approved by committee, and John Tyler also faced impeachment proceedings, but these three are the most prominent examples of those impeached and not removed.

How many presidents have been impeached but not removed?

But there have been only 21 impeachments. This includes three presidents, one cabinet secretary, and one senator. Of those who were impeached, only eight officials were found guilty by the Senate and removed from office.

Can you be impeached but not removed?

The power of impeachment can both remove someone from office and, should Congress vote to do so, also disqualify an impeached individual from holding future office. Fines and potential jail time for crimes committed while in office are left to civil courts.

Who cannot be removed from office by impeachment?

All other public officer and employees may be removed from office as provided by law, but not by impeachment.

Why was Johnson not removed from office?

Once again, Johnson was acquitted by one vote, 35 to 19, on both articles. No Senator had changed his previous vote. At that point, the Senate ended the impeachment proceedings. Senator James Grimes of Iowa was one of the seven Republicans who had voted against removing Johnson.

President Trump Impeached — But Not Removed: How Does That Work?

43 related questions found

What did Johnson do wrong to be impeached?

The primary charge against Johnson was that he had violated the Tenure of Office Act. Specifically, that he had acted to remove Edwin Stanton from the position of Secretary of War and to replace him with Brevet Major General Lorenzo Thomas as secretary of war ad interim.

Who was the first US president to be impeached?

President Andrew Johnson became the first President of the United States to be impeached by the House of Representatives.

Why does impeachment not mean removal from office?

Impeachment proceedings are remedial rather than punitive in nature, and the remedy is limited to removal from office. Because the process is not punitive, a party may also be subject to criminal or civil trial, prosecution, and conviction under the law after removal from office.

Which president left office to avoid impeachment?

Republican congressional leaders met with Nixon and told him that his impeachment and removal were all but certain. Thereupon, Nixon gave up the struggle to remain in office, and resigned on August 9, 1974.

Why did they impeach Renato Corona?

In May 2012, Corona was impeached and convicted for failing to disclose his financial assets as required by the Constitution, making him the first Philippine government official to be removed from office through impeachment.

Can the President fire the vice president?

The Constitution of the United States gives Congress the authority to remove the vice president of the United States from office in two separate proceedings. The first one takes place in the House of Representatives, which impeaches the vice president by approving articles of impeachment through a simple majority vote.

Who is the only president to get impeached?

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.

Who can impeach Donald Trump?

Impeachment begins in the House of Representatives, where articles of impeachment are drawn up. These articles are then voted on by House members. Each article is voted on separately and requires a simple majority to pass. Once an article has been passed in the House, the president has been impeached.

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).

Who was the only president to resign after being impeached?

Nixon's second term ended early when he became the only U.S. president to resign from office, as a result of the Watergate scandal. Yorba Linda, California, U.S. New York City, U.S. Nixon was born into a poor family of Quakers in Yorba Linda, Southern California.

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. 

How many impeachments does Trump have?

He is the only U.S. president and only federal official to be impeached twice. He was impeached by the House seven days prior to the expiration of his term and the inauguration of Joe Biden. Because he left office before the trial, this was the first impeachment trial of a former president.

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.
 

Why was Trump not removed from office?

The trial saw no witnesses or documents being subpoenaed, as Republican senators rejected attempts to introduce subpoenas. On February 5, Trump was acquitted on both counts by the Senate, as neither count received 2/3 votes to convict. Trump remained in office for the remainder of his first term.

Has a president ever been impeached successfully?

No U.S. President has ever been successfully impeached and removed from office; three presidents—Andrew Johnson, Bill Clinton, and Donald Trump (twice)—were impeached by the House but acquitted by the Senate, while Richard Nixon resigned before the full House could vote, though he likely would have been impeached. Impeachment requires a simple majority vote in the House, but removal from office requires a two-thirds supermajority conviction in the Senate, a threshold that has never been met for a president. 

Does double jeopardy apply to impeachment?

Both the House Judiciary Committee and the Senate during the trial explicitly rejected such arguments, reasoning, in short, that "impeachment is not a criminal proceeding" and thus double jeopardy concerns do not attach.

What is the penalty 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. There is no appeal.

Has a vice president ever been impeached?

No vice president has ever been impeached, thus leaving it unclear whether an impeached vice president could, as president of the Senate, preside at their own impeachment trial.

What are the four legal reasons for impeachment?

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.