Personally attacking members of the press including a tweet that then-Fox News anchor Megyn Kelly had, “blood coming out of her whatever,” and a tweet that MSNBC anchor Mika Brzezinsk, “was badly bleeding from a face-lift.”
Members Introduce Articles of Impeachment
Donald J. Trump, in violation of his constitutional oath and obligations, has engaged personally, and through his subordinates and agents, in a course of conduct designed to delay and impede an
investigation and to conceal information sought by the Federal Bureau of Investigation in the course of its investigation into Russian interference with the 2016 United States presidential election, including any possible collusion between Russia and Donald J. Trump.
• National Security Advisor Michael Flynn misled Vice President Pence about his discussions with the Russian Ambassador to the United States.
• Donald J. Trump demanded F.B.I. Director James Comey’s loyalty, and asked Comey to let Flynn go.
• Donald J. Trump fired F.B.I. Director James Comey while the F.B.I. was investigating Russian interference with the 2016 presidential election including possible collusion with the Trump campaign.
• Donald J. Trump admitted in a television interview that he had the Russia investigation on his mind when he fired F.B.I. Director Comey.
• Donald J. Trump told the Russian Foreign Minister and Russian Ambassador to the United States,
“I just fired the head of the F.B.I. He was crazy, a real nut job . . . I faced great pressure because of Russia. That’s taken off.”
• Donald J. Trump personally dictated a misleading statement for his son and former Trump campaign operative Donald Trump, Jr. to use to explain Trump Jr.’s meeting with a Russian attorney who had invited Trump Jr. to meet in order to give him damaging information about Hillary Clinton as part of the Russian government’s efforts to help his father’s campaign.
-Article I, Section 9
Donald J. Trump has accepted, without the consent of Congress, emoluments from foreign states.
• Donald J. Trump refused to divest or place his assets into a blind trust.
• Donald J. Trump refused to release his tax returns.
• Donald J. Trump’s attorney has acknowledged his businesses receive funds from foreign governments.
• Donald J. Trump owns 77 percent of Trump International Hotel in Washington, D.C., owns the Trump Tower in New York City, and owns the Trump World Tower in New York City. Foreign
payments received by Trump owned businesses, so far, include:
An event estimated to cost $40,000 – $60,000 held by the Embassy of Kuwait at the Trump International Hotel.
$270,000 in payments from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for rooms, catering and parking as part of a lobbying effort at the Trump International Hotel.
$30,000 from groups promoting Turkish American relations as part of a convention at the Trump International Hotel.
Rents from tenants at Trump Tower owned by foreign states including the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China and the Abu Dhabi Tourism and Culture Authority.
“The President shall, at stated Times, receive for his Services, a Compensation, which shall neither be increased nor diminished during the Period for which he shall have been elected, and he shall
not receive within that Period any other Emolument from the United States, or any of them.”
-Article II, Section 1
Donald J. Trump has accepted emoluments from the United States other than this presidential salary.
• Donald J. Trump refused to divest or place his assets into a blind trust.
• Donald J. Trump refused to release his tax returns.
• Donald J. Trump has caused the U.S. government to spend money at businesses in which Donald J. Trump has an ownership interest including:
$73,000 by the Secret Service for golf carts
$1,092 by the National Security Council for lodging at Mar-a-Lago
• As of September 25, 2017, Donald J. Trump had visited at least one Trump-branded property on 85 days of his presidency, as compared to 164 days in which had not.
Donald J. Trump, in violation of his constitutional oath and obligations, has engaged in a pattern of conduct designed to undermine the authority of the federal judiciary to carry out its constitutional responsibilities including:
• Calling a U.S. District Court judge a “so-called judge.”
• Pardoning former Sheriff Joe Arpaio for criminal contempt of court.
Donald J. Trump, in violation of his constitutional oath and obligations, has engaged in a pattern of conduct designed to undermine the freedom of the press guaranteed by the First Amendment to the United States Constitution, including:
• Repeatedly calling press organizations “fake news.”
• Circulating a video of himself violently wrestling a man covered by the CNN logo.
• Personally attacking members of the press including a tweet that then-Fox News anchor Megyn Kelly had, “blood coming out of her whatever,” and a tweet that MSNBC anchor Mika Brzezinsk, “was badly bleeding from a face-lift.”
WASHINGTON – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09), the ranking member of the House Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution and Civil Justice, and colleagues, today introduced five Articles of Impeachment against President Donald J. Trump. See the articles here.
Congressman Cohen made the following statement:
“The time has come to make clear to the American people and to this President that his train of injuries to our Constitution must be brought to an end through impeachment. I believe there is evidence that he attempted to obstruct an investigation into Russia’s interference with the U.S. presidential election and links between between Russia and the Trump campaign, most notably the firing of FBI Director James Comey. The president’s blatant refusal to separate himself from his businesses has led to clear instances of conflict of interest that appear to violate both the domestic and foreign emoluments clauses. And his attacks on ‘so-called’ judges and ‘fake news’ have undermined public confidence in the judiciary and the press. It’s time for Congress to take action to stop this reckless and harmful behavior by removing Mr. Trump from office and to defend and uphold the Constitution of the United States.”
Congressman Luis Gutierrez (IL-04) made the following statement:
“Congress has the power of impeachment when behavior by the President puts the nation and our laws at risk and I think we are at that point, despite the ongoing, important investigations. Congress needs to step in when there is evidence that the President is interfering with the judicial branch, obstructing or disrupting investigations, or if the President is profiting improperly from his office. This is the start of a long process and it needs to get started now because as a Member of Congress and as a member of the Judiciary Committee, it is my job.”
Congressman Al Green (TX-09) made the following statement:
“This brings us another step closer to impeachment.”
Congresswoman Marcia Fudge (OH-11) made the following statement:
“In the nearly 300 days since he was sworn in, it has become evident that President Trump is a clear and present danger to our democracy. It is high time that Congress take a serious look at the President’s actions,” said Congresswoman Marcia Fudge, (OH-11). “If those actions are found to be in violation of the Constitution, then the Congress of the United States needs to do the job the American people elected us to do.”
Congressman Adriano Espaillat (NY13) made the following statement:
“Donald Trump is a threat to our national security and to our justice, and once and for all, we are taking a stand to formally call for his impeachment in the name of our constituents, in support of our Constitution, and for the protection of our Democracy,” said Rep. Adriano Espaillat (NY-13). “Trump is dangerous and nearly every month that he has served in office, Americans have witnessed some violation of our values, civil liberties, and access to opportunities that represent who we are at home and to our allies around the world. Mr. Trump is failing and has turned back the clock on the more than 50 years of progress our country has made in civil rights and equality. He has obstructed justice, violated the Constitution, and undermined the independence of our judicial system and the freedom of the press. The evidence is there, and the course of action is clear. It’s time to impeach Trump now.”
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