House Democrat To Begin Trump Impeachment Proceedings
Tomorrow, ex-FBI Director James Comey is scheduled to testify before Congress regarding whether or not Trump may have attempted to curtail the investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 presidential campaign. However, one House Democrat believes that the time to get the Trump impeachment ball rolling is today, before Comey ever even speaks.
As Fox 59 reports, Texas Representative Al Green was the first House Democrat to demand the impeachment of Donald Trump on the House floor. He made the call for impeachment in May, not long after the POTUS fired former FBI Director Comey and told a reporter that the decision had to do with “this Russia thing.”
According to Representative Green, who has been labeled a “Maverick” Democrat, Trump obstructed justice by firing Comey. And that, says Green, is grounds for impeachment.
“The remedy for obstructing justice is impeachment. The firing, coupled with the statement, indicated that the president intended to do what he did.”
Al Green announced in a statement Tuesday evening that he will be drafting at least one article of impeachment regarding Trump’s alleged obstruction of justice. However, reports The Washington Times, the House Democrat is not sure when the impeachment document might actually be filed, and he claimed to want to get some public feedback before officially moving forward with his plans to oust Trump from the White House.
Texas Democratic @RepAlGreen to start process to impeach Trump https://t.co/bv0n7Dz6qX pic.twitter.com/cMBvhpCcwX
— NBCBLK (@NBCBLK) June 7, 2017
According to Representative Green, regardless of what James Comey has to say when he testifies before Congress tomorrow, Trump intended to obstruct the Russia probe when he fired Comey. Regardless of the outcome of the firing, Green claims that Trump’s intent with the firing was obstruction of justice, and alone grounds for impeachment.
“This is obstruction of justice. This will continue to be obstruction of justice regardless of testimony given by Mr. James Comey. This will remain obstruction of justice regardless of the findings of any investigation.”
Impeachment never sounded so GOOD! ?????????
— Monica Fraker (@FrakerMonica) June 7, 2017
How many Republicans are in the house again. Why are you running your mouth? Nothing you can do.
— The Tech Lab (@thetechlab) June 7, 2017
Voice- of a select few. Shouting into the wind.
— Noah Sender (@earthcityblues) June 7, 2017
While House Democrat Green is publicly flouting and touting the idea of a Trump impeachment, even moving forward with the drafting of at least one article of impeachment; other Democrats in Washington have been more wary and tentative with regard to discussing the “I-word.” Talk of a Trump impeachment began circulating before POTUS No. 45 was even inaugurated, but until now, it’s been fairly low key among politicians.
In fact, Democratic leaders in D.C. have reportedly encouraged their fellow members of Congress to avoid talking about impeachment at all, let alone introducing articles of impeachment. Top Dems have been urging their fellow disgruntled lawmakers to wait until the Russia probe has been completed, a process that could theoretically give more ammo to those seeking Trump’s impeachment.
Rep. @BradSherman is joining @RepAlGreen's effort to impeach @realDonaldTrump https://t.co/VhI1ewpBRc via @JakeLahut pic.twitter.com/rkUmOij8Cc
— POLITICO (@politico) June 7, 2017
Just this week in an appearance on the daytime talk show The View, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi avoided talking about impeachment. Even when the subject was brought up by host Joy Behar. Behar, like House Democrat Al Green, cited Comey-related obstruction of justice when calling on Pelosi to lead Congressional Dems toward her desire outcome of impeachment.
“It sounds like obstruction of justice. And is it grounds for impeachment?”
Unlike Texas Representative Green, Nancy Pelosi says she’s waiting for more “data, evidence and facts.”
“When that word comes up I always say to my colleagues in the Congress, my constituents, and people across the country what I said before: anything you do has to be based on data, evidence, facts. So you can speculate but it’s got to be the law and the facts and how they match up.”
At least two senior House Democratic leadership aides have confirmed that Representative Green didn’t run his impeachment plans past Nancy Pelosi or anyone else any warning that he was going to be moving forward with drafting his article(s) of impeachment against Trump.
Because Republicans hold majorities in both the House and Senate, and because his effort is lacking the support of even his own party, it is unlikely that Democratic Texas Representative will be successful in his impeachment endeavor.
[Featured Image by Andrew Harnik/AP Images]
