Commentary Does the U.S. Senate have jurisdiction to try former President Donald Trump? There’s no shortage of absolute yes and no answers floating around the media. But here’s the real answer: We don’t know. Before going further, let me clarify one thing: I believe that, on the merits, the article of impeachment against the former president is absurd. But whether any president can be impeached and convicted after he leaves office is an entirely different issue. This essay may be hard for some readers to follow. But persevere: When you reach the end, you will understand why the real answer is, “We don’t know.” The Constitution is a legal document. For at least 500 years, the usual way English and American courts interpret legal documents has been to seek the “intent of the makers” (pdf). If we don’t have clear evidence of the makers’ actual intent (or, more precisely, their …