this power, which is analogous to the bringing of criminal charges by a grand jury, has been used only rarely. the house of representatives has initiated impeachment proceedings 62 times since 1789, and nineteen federal officials have been formally impeached as a result, including: three presidents (andrew johnson, bill clinton, and donald trump), one cabinet secretary (william w. belknap), one senator (william blount), one supreme court associate justice (samuel chase), and fourteen federal judges.