First impeachment inquiry into Andrew Johnson

First impeachment inquiry against Andrew Johnson
First impeachment inquiry against Andrew Johnson
Accused	Andrew Johnson, 17th President of the United States
Committee	Judiciary
Committee chair	James F. Wilson
Date	January 7 – November 25, 1867 (10 months, 2 weeks and 5 days)
Outcome	Impeachment inquiry completed; Judiciary Committee recommended impeachment; recommendation rejected by full House vote
Charges	High crimes and misdemeanors;
Congressional votes
House vote authorizing the inquiry
Votes in favor	108
Votes against	39
Result	Approved
First vote by the House Judiciary Committee an impeachment resolution
Votes in favor	4
Votes against	5
Result	Rejected
Final vote by the House Judiciary Committee on the impeachment resolution
Votes in favor	5
Votes against	4
Result	Approved
Subsequent House vote on the impeachment resolution
Votes in favor	57
Votes against	108
Result	Rejected

The first impeachment inquiry against Andrew Johnson was launched by a vote of the United States House of Representatives on January 7, 1867, to investigate the potential impeachment of the President of the United States, Andrew Johnson. It was run by the House Committee on the Judiciary.

The vote authorizing the inquiry was viewed as giving Republicans an opportunity to register their disdain for Johnson without formally impeaching him. Most congressmen had expected that the sentiments in House Committee on the Judiciary would side against impeachment. However, surprising many, the committee voted 5–4 on November 25, 1867, to recommend impeachment (after having held a preliminary vote against it months prior). Despite this recommendation, the House voted 57–108 on December 7, 1867, against impeaching Johnson, with more Republicans voting against impeachment than for it.

This impeachment inquiry preceded the second impeachment inquiry into Andrew Johnson (launched in January 1868), which played a role in the lead-up to Johnson's impeachment on February 24, 1868.