 | The examples and perspective in this article may not represent a worldwide view of the subject. (June 2023) |
Abuse of power or abuse of authority, in the form of "malfeasance in office" or "official abuse of power", is the commission of an unlawful act, done in an official capacity, which affects the performance of official duties. Malfeasance in office is often a just cause for removal of an elected official by statute or recall election. Officials who abuse their power are often corrupt.[1][2][3]
In the United States, abuse of power has been cited in the impeachment of at least five federal officials. Two of these (Judge George English and President Richard Nixon) resigned before their trial in the Senate could take place, and two others were acquitted by the Senate. The first impeachment trial of President Donald Trump concluded with the president being found not guilty on both articles of impeachment with one of them being the charge of abuse of power. At the state level, Governor Rod Blagojevich of Illinois was impeached and unanimously removed from office by the Illinois Senate in 2009 for offenses including abuse of power.
- ^ "Corruption and abuse of power". Independent Office for Police Conduct. Archived from the original on January 8, 2021. Retrieved January 18, 2020.
- ^ "Vanuatu officials accused of abuse of power amid corruption claims". RNZ News. February 19, 2019. Archived from the original on February 14, 2021. Retrieved January 18, 2020.
- ^ Gerson, Michael (September 24, 2019). "Opposing Trump's corrupt abuse of power is today's form of patriotism". The Washington Post. Retrieved January 18, 2020.