World

How many US presidents have been put on trial?

Throughout US history, a few instances have occurred where a sitting president was put on trial. While impeachment is the common process for trying a president, there are other legal avenues for holding the president accountable for criminal conduct.

Impeachment

Impeachment is a political process that allows Congress to remove a sitting president from office. The Constitution outlines this process, with the House of Representatives voting to bring charges against the president and the Senate conducting a trial to determine removal. To date, only three presidents have been impeached: Andrew Johnson in 1868, Bill Clinton in 1998, and Donald Trump in 2019 and again in 2021. None of them was ultimately removed from office, as the Senate failed to reach the required two-thirds majority vote to convict them.

Other Avenues

A president can also be tried for criminal conduct in court. In 1974, President Richard Nixon was implicated in the Watergate scandal, resulting in a special prosecutor appointment and Nixon being named an unindicted co-conspirator in the trial of his top aides. Facing near-certain impeachment and removal, Nixon resigned before being formally charged.

President Andrew Johnson

Andrew Johnson, the 17th US President, faced impeachment in 1868 after violating the Tenure of Office Act by dismissing Secretary of War Edwin Stanton. This marked the first “president trial” in American history. The House of Representatives impeached Johnson, but he narrowly escaped removal from office when the Senate fell short of the necessary two-thirds majority by just one vote. The impeachment highlighted the intense political divisions during the Reconstruction Era following the Civil War. Johnson’s trial set a precedent for the gravity of impeachment proceedings in US politics.

President Bill Clinton

Bill Clinton also faced one of president’s trials during his time in office. In 1999, he was charged with perjury and obstruction of justice related to his affair with White House intern Monica Lewinsky. After a five-week trial in the Senate, Clinton was acquitted of both charges.

President Donald Trump

More recently, President Donald Trump faced criminal charges related to his conduct while in office. He was implicated in the hush money payments made to two women who claimed to have had affairs with him, and he was also investigated for possible obstruction of justice related to the investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election. After leaving office, Trump was charged with incitement of insurrection related to the January 6, 2021, riot at the US Capitol. While he was impeached twice by the House of Representatives for his conduct related to the riot, he was acquitted by the Senate both times.

Legal Loopholes

It is important to note that while presidents can be held accountable for criminal conduct, there are some legal protections that they enjoy while in office. For example, the Department of Justice has issued opinions stating that a sitting president cannot be indicted, and that the president has broad powers to pardon individuals. Additionally, the Constitution provides that the president can be removed from office only through impeachment and not through criminal prosecution.
In conclusion, while there have been few instances of sitting presidents being put on trial, it is an important mechanism for holding leaders accountable for criminal conduct. Impeachment remains the most well-known process for trying a president, but criminal trials can also be used to hold presidents accountable for their actions. Ultimately, however, the Constitution provides that the President can be removed from office only through impeachment, underscoring the importance of this political process in a system of government.

Trump claims criminal charges aim to undermine his 2024 White House bid

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World

Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi meets with CEOs of leading Norwegian companies

H.H. Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, has met with a group of CEOs from leading Norwegian companies, as part of their participation in the UAE-Norway Investment Forum, held alongside his official visit to the Kingdom of Norway.

During the meeting, H.H. Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed underscored the UAE leadership’s commitment to strengthening economic cooperation with its international partners.

He highlighted that investment in innovation and knowledge is a cornerstone for achieving sustainable development, noting that enhancing collaboration with Norwegian companies across key sectors will open new avenues for mutual economic growth between the two countries.

The UAE-Norway Investment Forum, taking place in Oslo, aimed to highlight available investment opportunities and strengthen trade relations between the UAE and Norway, fostering shared interests and supporting innovation and knowledge-based economic visions.

-wam

World

At the Indonesia International Book Fair 2024, TRENDS inaugurates 10th global office, releases four books

As part of its Asian research tour, partnership with Aletihad News Center, and
primary sponsorship of the Indonesia International Book Fair 2024, TRENDS
Research & Advisory inaugurated its office in Jakarta, marking its 10th location
worldwide. It also released four books in Indonesian.
The inauguration event was attended by ambassadors of the UAE, Bahrain, and
Jordan to Indonesia, chairpersons of the UAE and Indonesian Publishers’
Associations, the Director of TRENDS’ Jakarta office, and a group of researchers
and academics.
Speaking at the event, Dr. Mohammed Abdullah Al-Ali, CEO of TRENDS
Research & Advisory, stated that TRENDS’ international offices—set to reach 15
by the end of 2024—aim to enhance the Center’s research efforts and deepen its
role in disseminating knowledge, thus serving as a global knowledge bridge.
He emphasized, “At TRENDS, we believe in the importance of cooperation
between think tanks and prioritize this endeavor. We believe the TRENDS office in
Jakarta will enhance the exchange of knowledge and ideas between think tanks in
Asia and the Middle East, opening new horizons for collaboration in various
fields.”

Four books in Indonesian
As part of the Jakarta office’s inaugural activities, four books were released in
Indonesian, including the 11th and 12th books of the Muslim Brotherhood
Encyclopedia and Global Trends in AI and Automation and the Future of
Competition between Man and Machine: An Analytical Forward-looking Vision.

Hostility to Arab states
The 11th book of the Muslim Brotherhood Encyclopedia, The Concept of the State
According to the Muslim Brotherhood, highlights its hostile stance toward Arab
states since its inception. The group views them as an obstacle to its ascent to
power. It opposed the modern principles upon which these states were built,
considering them incompatible with the group’s unique interpretation of Islam,
which it claimed to embody exclusively.

Exclusion of nonconformists
The 12th book, The Muslim Brotherhood: Rejection of Tolerance and Exclusion of
Nonconformists, examines the Muslim Brotherhood’s stance towards
nonconformists, individuals, and entities. The book reveals the group’s binary view
of the world, categorizing others as allies or adversaries. It ties these relationships
to the Brotherhood’s internal power struggles and self-serving interests.

Global Trends in AI
The third book, Global Trends in AI, explores significant developments in AI and
its impact on various aspects of life, including the economy, society, and
governance. It also offers a comprehensive analysis of technological advancements
in AI, its applications across sectors, the ethical and social challenges it presents,
and its future trajectory.

Automation

The fourth book, Automation and the Future of Competition between Man and
Machine: An Analytical Forward-looking Vision, addresses the growing challenges
faced by the human workforce in the face of widespread automation and AI
applications. The book concludes that while automation presents a significant
challenge to the labor market, it simultaneously creates new opportunities. It
emphasizes the importance of preparing for this shift through skills development,
continuous education, and adopting economic and social policies that support the
workforce.

Prominent pavilion and active presence
The TRENDS’ pavilion at the Indonesia International Book Fair has attracted
numerous visitors, including academic researchers and officials, such as the
ambassadors of the UAE, Bahrain, Qatar, Jordan, and Turkey. Additionally,
chairpersons of Arab and Indonesian publishers’ associations, authors, publishers,
and students visited the pavilion. All were impressed with and praised TRENDS’ diverse, valuable publications. They also commended TRENDS’ active
international presence and ability to address global developments with rigorous
analytical research.
Dr. Mohammed Abdullah Al-Ali honored the esteemed guests, including
ambassadors of the UAE and Bahrain to Indonesia, Wedha Startesti Yudha,
Chairperson of the Indonesia International Book Fair Committee, Arys Hilman
Nugraha, Chairman of the Indonesian Publishers Association, and others,
presenting them with TRENDS’ publications and commemorative shields.
Additionally, he awarded TRENDS’ Research Medal to Ni Made Ayu Martini
Indonesian Deputy Minister of Marketing, Tourism and Creative Economy
It is worth noting that during its current Asian research tour, TRENDS announced
the launch of the TRENDS Research Medal, awarded to individuals who make
significant contributions to the development of scientific research and promote collaboration with TRENDS in strengthening a culture of research across various fields.

World

US determined to prevent full-scale war in Middle East, Joe Biden tells UNGA79

US President Joe Biden highlighted the US Administration’s determination to prevent a wider war that engulfs the entire Middle East region, noting that a diplomatic solution “remains the only path to lasting security to allow the residents from both countries to return to their homes on the border safely”.

In remarks he made today before the 79th Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA79), the US President said, “Full-scale war is not in anyone’s interest,” adding that a diplomatic solution is still possible.

He also touched on “the rise of violence against innocent Palestinians on the West Bank”, and the need to “set the conditions for a better future”, which he said featured “a two-state solution, where the world — where Israel enjoys security and peace and full recognition and normalised relations with all its neighbours, where Palestinians live in security, dignity, and self-determination in a state of their own”.

President Biden underscored the ceasefire and hostage deal put forth by Qatar and Egypt, which the UN Security Council endorsed. He said, “Now is the time for the parties to finalise its terms, bring the hostages home,” adding that this would help ease the suffering in Gaza, and end the war.

-WAM