History

Famous Recall Elections & Impeachment Trials

Name: Famous Recall Elections & Impeachment Trials
Creator: Community curated
License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Nixon's near-impeachment, Clinton's trial, Trump's two impeachments — which political accountability process was the most dramatic?

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Source:Community curated

Updated:3/7/2026

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Case↕	Year↕	Jurisdiction↕	Charge / Grounds↕	Known For↕
Richard Nixon (Resignation)	1974	United States (federal)	Obstruction of justice, abuse of power, contempt of Congress	Resigned before certain impeachment, Watergate scandal, 'I am not a crook', only US president to resign, pardoned by Ford
Bill Clinton Impeachment	1998-1999	United States (federal)	Perjury, obstruction of justice (Monica Lewinsky affair)	Impeached by House, acquitted by Senate, 'I did not have sexual relations with that woman', approval ratings rose during trial
Donald Trump — First Impeachment	2019-2020	United States (federal)	Abuse of power, obstruction of Congress (Ukraine phone call)	Withholding military aid to pressure Ukraine investigation of Biden, acquitted by Senate, Romney only Republican to vote guilty
Donald Trump — Second Impeachment	2021	United States (federal)	Incitement of insurrection (January 6 Capitol attack)	First president impeached twice, most bipartisan impeachment vote (7 Republicans voted guilty), acquitted, fastest impeachment in history
Andrew Johnson Impeachment	1868	United States (federal)	Violating Tenure of Office Act (firing Secretary of War)	First US presidential impeachment, acquitted by one vote, really about Reconstruction policy disagreements with Congress
Gray Davis Recall	2003	California, USA	California energy crisis, budget deficit	Arnold Schwarzenegger won replacement election, 135 candidates on ballot, 'Total Recall' headlines, only 2nd successful US governor recall
Park Geun-hye Impeachment	2016-2017	South Korea	Corruption, abuse of power, influence peddling (Choi Soon-sil scandal)	Massive candlelight protests (millions), Constitutional Court unanimously upheld, sentenced to 24 years, later pardoned
Dilma Rousseff Impeachment	2016	Brazil	Fiscal responsibility law violations (budget manipulation)	Critics called it a parliamentary coup, deeply polarized Brazil, replaced by Michel Temer (later also charged with corruption)
Fernando Collor de Mello Impeachment	1992	Brazil	Corruption and influence peddling	First democratically elected president impeached in Latin America, resigned during trial, banned from office for 8 years, returned as senator
Alberto Fujimori (Self-Coup + Later Trial)	1992 (coup) / 2009 (convicted)	Peru	Human rights abuses, corruption, autogolpe	Dissolved Congress in 1992 self-coup, later convicted of human rights crimes, 25-year sentence, daughter ran for president
Boris Johnson (Partygate / Privileges)	2023	United Kingdom	Misleading Parliament about COVID lockdown parties	Privileges Committee found he deliberately misled Commons, resigned before vote, 'Partygate' — parties at No. 10 during lockdowns
Gavin Newsom Recall Attempt	2021	California, USA	COVID-19 restrictions, French Laundry dinner	Survived recall with 62% voting 'No', Larry Elder was leading replacement candidate, cost $276 million, pandemic politics backlash
Joseph Estrada Impeachment	2000-2001	Philippines	Plunder, corruption, betrayal of public trust	Impeachment trial collapsed when Senate blocked evidence, triggered EDSA II people power revolution, Estrada ousted, later pardoned
Jacob Zuma (Parliamentary Votes)	2017-2018	South Africa	State capture, corruption (Gupta family influence)	Survived 8 no-confidence motions in Parliament, ANC finally recalled him, 'state capture' became defining term, later jailed for contempt
Warren Hastings Impeachment	1788-1795	United Kingdom (Parliament)	High crimes and misdemeanors in India (corruption, cruelty)	First major British impeachment trial, Edmund Burke prosecuted, lasted 7 years, acquitted, established principle of colonial accountability