The impeachment of Donald Trump is no longer a remote prospect

Editorial: More American voters now support than oppose impeachment. If public opinion turns further against the president, it could be a matter of time until his departure

How far away Bill Clinton’s misdemeanours seem. He was, after all, impeached and then acquitted, accused of perjury and obstruction of justice in the sexual harassment case brought by Paula Jones. His personal conduct was deplorable, and he did not tell the truth about it, but nothing came close to the “high crimes” test under the United States constitution for the removal of a president.

Donald Trump is a different kettle of very different fish. Last week he said, on camera: “China should start an investigation into the Bidens.”

It is against the law in the US to solicit foreign assistance for electioneering. This is a serious charge that has been levelled at Mr Trump his whole time as president. He has been accused of accepting Russian help to fight the 2016 presidential campaign, although no evidence of law-breaking has yet met the threshold for prosecution.