Related to the issue of how to deal with politicians with an unsavory episode in their past is how to deal with politicians with unsavory behavior in their present. Here, theoretically, the answer is simpler. There should be an investigation. The investigation should not become a kangaroo court. It should seriously look into the facts and allow the politician to opportunity to defend himself. But if the misconduct is serious enough, then the politician should resign.
Everyone, I think, would agree with this in theory. But it becomes very hard to live up to these standards when that means handing the office over to a member of the opposing party. The uproar in Virginia is an obvious example. Democrats were quick to call for Northam's resignation, so long as they thought he had an excellent successor in Lt. Governor Justin Fairfax. But when Fairfax was charged with rape and the Democratic Attorney General also turned out to have worn blackface, suddenly everything changed.
Likewise, Democrats called for Senator Al Franken of Minnesota to step down for accusations of pinching women's bottoms, but found it in their hearts to forgive Senator Bob Melendrez of New Jersey for accusations of bribery. They made various excuses, but we all knew the real reason. Franken's replacement would be appointed by a Democratic governor; Melendrez' replacement would be appointed by Republican Chris Christie.
As for Republicans, let us be real. Donald Trump could shoot someone in the middle of Fifth Avenue and Mike Pence could supply the gun and hide it afterward and help Trump clean the blood off his clothes, and Republicans would refuse to impeach because Nancy Pelosi would be next in line.
The answer is obvious. We should ensure that a politician who prematurely departs office will have to be replaced by a member of the same party. Many states have laws that if a US Senate seat falls vacant the governor must appoint a member of the same party as the former Senator. I favor such laws and would add that, as moral matter admittedly not enforceable, the Governor should appoint someone as similar as possible to the departing Senator, minus whatever infirmity caused the seat to be vacant. (It used to be customary to appoint the widows of Senators who died in office).
And I would favor taking the Speaker of the House and the President Pro Temp of the Senate out of the line of succession for Presidency and go straight to the Cabinet instead. If Donald Trump shot someone in the middle of Fifth Avenue and Mike Pence was his accomplice, I am sure Republicans could live with a President Mike Pompeo.
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