What was the first case of expulsion by impeachment in the U.S. Senate?
On this day in 1797, the U.S. Senate voted to impeach and expel Senator William Blount of Tennessee for disloyalty to the United States.
But what, exactly, does that mean?
In 1790, George Washignton appointed Blount as governor of Tennessee; later, the state would choose Blount as one of its first two senators. Blount was an avid land speculator, which led to some serious financial difficulties…
And eventually, those difficulties would lead to treason.
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