The possibility of Trump’s impeachment has been stewing for quite some time.
A group of Democrats will test the waters and file new articles of impeachment against the president before Thanksgiving, according to Rep. Luis Gutiérrez (D-Ill.).
Gutiérrez, a sharp critic of Trump, is leading the charge to remove him from office.
“It is clear to us that he is unfit to be president of the United States of America.”
While we still do not know how many Democrats will join Rep. Gutiérrez in the effort, an aide revealed Rep. Steve Cohen (D-Tenn.) as one of the lawmakers. Cohen announced his intention to introduce articles of impeachment as early as August. He cited Trump’s defense of the violence incited by white nationalists who marched in Charlottesville, Virginia.
Cohen’s office declined to comment for The Hill.
The Time to Act is Now
Democratic leaders have avoided the idea of impeaching Trump, fearing that the proceedings would politicize the ongoing investigations into Russian election interference, potential collusion between the Trump campaign and Russia, and whether Trump obstructed justice when he fired F.B.I. Director James Comey.
However, the issue of impeachment is about much more than bipartisan politics. Trump appears increasingly unstable. The president has threatened to launch nuclear weapons and start wars. His administration has launched repeated attacks on essential social services, on people of color, on women, and on the separation of church and state. The Trump team is leveraging necessary immigration reform to implement a xenophobic border security agenda. Trump’s government is launching attacks on the environment and denying climate science despite an urgent need to alter our energy system for the health of the planet and humans everywhere.
This is about human rights and the health of our democracy. This is not about Democrats and Republicans.
Gutiérrez understands this. The congressman argues that the indictments of several former Trump campaign officials are only fueling the effort.
“There is an increased interest.”
Reps. Brad Sherman (D-Calif.) and Al Green (D-Texas) have already introduced articles of impeachment against the President. Last months, Green stopped short of forcing a vote on the issue. He’s now suggesting that a future vote is inevitable. Congress has invoked impeachment powers in situations less dire than the one we face currently. Green says that the rules were “drawn for a time such as this and a president such as Mr. Trump.”
“I’m in no rush to be first, but I will say this: We have to – we have to bring it to the floor.”
Green also acknowledged that some Democrats will be hesitant to do so while the investigation is still active. He warned that “history won’t be kind” to lawmakers who do nothing.
“I can’t let my record show this. The people who will probably judge us, probably haven’t been born.”
