Senate has sole power to try impeachments

The House of Representatives impeached President Bill Clinton on Dec. 19, 1998. It was a Saturday. The votes, in which two articles of impeachment passed, were held around mid-day. By 3 p.m., the House had named its impeachment managers and physically delivered the articles to the Senate for trial.

Impeachment was on. The House, controlled by a Republican majority, was serious about its ultimately …