Hello from Washington, I'm Chuck Todd, cast. So we are back with another edition of our annual

tradition of what ifs and alternative histories.

Today we're going to tackle one of the most consequential moments in recent political history.

It's a moment that I think we'll be debating for years, maybe for this entire century, depending on what happens

in the 2024 election.

What if Mitch McConnell had voted to convict Donald Trump during the second impeachment?

You'll remember, after the January 6thth riot Democrats impeached the former president

for inciting an insurrection. The impeachment trial didn't play out until after Trump

left office and that gave cover for some senators including Mitch McConnell to acquit

Trump and let the process play out by the legal system.

Let me read an excerpt from McConnell's famous floor speech that day when he decided not to convict.

Here's what he said.

If President Trump were still in office,

I would have carefully considered whether the House managers

prove their specific charge.

By the strict criminal standard, the President's speech probably was not incitement.

However in the context of impeachment the Senate might have decided this was

acceptable shorthand for the reckless actions that preceded the riot.

But in this case that question is moot because

former President Trump is constitutionally not eligible for conviction. There is no doubt

this is a very close question. Donald Trump was president when the House voted,

though not when the House chose to deliver the papers.

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