House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's decision to open a formal impeachment inquiry is a momentous step. Without some caution, it could also be a perilous one for American democracy. The impetus was a whistleblower complaint by a U.S. intelligence official that alleges misconduct by the president. Trump's administration tried its best to prevent the full complaint from being shared with Congress, which Pelosi said was the last straw. As the details of the case have emerged, it's become evident why the president wanted to suppress them: They show a flagrant abuse of power.
展开▼
