Democratic congressman pushes articles of impeachment against Trump, but colleagues criticize it
By LISA MASCARO MATT BROWN and LEAH ASKARINAM WASHINGTON AP A Democratic lawmaker is launching a renegade effort to impeach President Donald Trump pushing past party leaders on Wednesday with an attempt to force a procedural vote in the U S House that is expected to fail Related Articles EPA announces rollback for particular Biden-era limits on so-called forever chemicals in drinking water Trump s Middle East visit comes as his family deepens its business crypto ties in the region Trump administration rescinds curbs on AI chip exports to foreign markets What to expect at RFK Jr s first Senate hearing as wellbeing secretary House works into the night as Republicans push ahead on Trump s big bill Rep Shri Thanedar of Michigan reported his intention to charge ahead saying that as an immigrant he wants to do all he can to protect America s Constitution and its institutions His resolution contains seven articles of impeachment against the Republican president Donald J Trump has been committing crimes since day one bribery corruption taking power from Congress creating an unlawful office in DOGE violating First Amendment rights ignoring due process the congressman commented earlier from the House floor It would be the historic third time Trump has faced impeachment efforts after being twice impeached during his first term as president first in on charges related to withholding military aid to Ukraine as it confronted Russia and later on a charge of inciting insurrection over the Jan attack on the Capitol by a mob of his supporters Trump was acquitted both times by the Senate Thanedar is not the only Democrat who has signaled impeachment efforts against Trump But his decision to go it almost alone without backing from party leadership comes as he faces his own political challenges at home with several primary opponents looking to unseat him in his Detroit-area congressional district Democrats who streamed out of their weekly caucus meeting were critical of the impeachment effort They declared the focus should not be on impeachment but on Republican efforts to cut spending on crucial programs that Americans rely on such as Medicaid and nutrition assistance There s no sponsorship for an impeachment resolution There have been no hearings on compiling a record for which impeachment can be based And this is just a procedure that s meaningless at this point mentioned Rep Hank Johnson D-Ga The sponsor is out of sync with the mood and the trajectory of House Democrats The work that we need to focus on is that Republicans are stripping away access to wellness care stripping away nutritional assistance for hungry kids and giving tax breaks to the wealthiest Americans and large corporations reported Rick Larsen D-Wash This resolution has nothing to do with that Timing is also key Thanedar s resolution claiming Trump committed high crimes and misdemeanors comes as Trump is traveling in the Middle East in his first major trip abroad of his second term violating a norm in American politics of not criticizing the president once he leaves the U S waters edge But Thanedar explained he was pressing ahead in part because of Trump s trip abroad and the anticipated conflicts of interest as the president appears to be mixing his personal business dealings with his presidential duties and is considering accepting a lavish gift of an airplane from the Qatari administration My constituents want me to act Thanedar explained The Associated Press late Tuesday It s time for us to stand up and speak We can t worry about Is this the right time We can t worry about Are we going to win this battle It s more about doing the right thing he mentioned I took an oath to protect and defend the Constitution So did Mr Trump He has violated his oath and he s doing unconstitutional engagements It s time for someone to stand up and say that and if that s just me then so be it Thanedar is using a procedural tool to force a vote Wednesday on whether to proceed to the issue or shelve the matter One top Trump ally Republican Rep Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia criticized Thanedar and dismissed the impeachment effort It s DOA she posted on social media Impeachment of a president or other U S functionaries once rare has become an increasingly common in Congress Republicans in the House opened an impeachment inquiry into then-President Joe Biden a Democrat but stopped short of action The Republicans in Congress did however impeach Biden s Homeland Defense Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas The Senate dismissed two articles of impeachment against Mayorkas ending his trial Thanedar who s from India has announced he came to the United States without numerous support He revealed he loves the U S and wants to defend its Constitution and institutions When he took over the Detroit congressional district it was the first time in decades the city was left without a Black lawmaker in Congress Staff writer Kevin Freking contributed to this overview
