In the Sunday, Dec. 22, Forum, The Washington Post Fact Checker, Glenn Kessler, states: “There’s nothing in the Constitution that says an impeachment needs to be a specific crime" (”Trump’s letter bereft of truth").

Not true. The Constitution sets specific grounds for impeachment. They are, “Treason, Bribery, or other high Crimes and Misdemeanors.” To be impeached, the House must find that the official committed one of these acts. The United States has a criminal code -- something is a crime if declared as such by the relevant and applicable law.

No criminal statute is referenced in the articles of impeachment. Abuse of power is nebulous and not specific; there is no law that defines it. Obstruction of Congress is not a crime. The president has the right of executive privilege, which Congress can challenge in court. Then it could become obstruction of justice if Congress prevailed and the president refused to comply. The House didn’t wait to go to court. The president is correct — no law has been broken, so there is no crime or misdemeanor. This impeachment is baseless.

David Pumphrey,

Richfield