William Rawle, another early commentator, went so far as to say that the “legitimate causes of impeachment … can have reference only to public character, and official duty.… In general, those offences which may be committed equally by a private person, as a public officer, are not the subjects of impeachment.” In his view, “Murder, burglary, robbery, and indeed all offenses not immediately connected with office … are left to the ordinary course of judicial proceeding.”21 This was a contested view (and I shall contest
