As House Democrats prepare for a full caucus meeting on impeachment Tuesday afternoon, Democrats in swing and moderate districts are increasingly voicing their support for opening an impeachment inquiry into Donald Trump. On Monday evening, seven freshman Democrats posted a op-ed in the Washington Post arguing that the allegations against Trump, if true, warranted impeachment. Minnesota Rep. Angie Craig from an R+2 district also issued a statement late Monday that was among the strongest of the new converts, using the comments of both Trump and his personal lawyer Rudy Giuliani to call for accountability.
"We have a responsibility to ensure that no one is above the law," Craig wrote, noting that Trump and Giuliani "confessed to asking the Ukrainian government to interfere with a political rival."
"It is clear that the sitting president of the United States placed his own personal interests above the national security of the United States," she said. "And when there is an abuse of power of this magnitude, it is our responsibility to stand up for what is right. This is why I am calling to open impeachment proceedings — immediately, fairly, and impartially."
Another freshman Minnesota Democrat, Rep. Dean Phillips, who sits in a D+1 district, joined Craig in asserting that Trump's alleged behavior was impeachable, saying it's "corrupt at best, treasonous at worst, and puts our rule of law at risk.”
“Our Constitution transcends any person, politician, or political party, and I call on the House Foreign Affairs, Intelligence, and Judiciary Committees to use every legal mechanism possible to obtain all relevant evidence," Phillips said in a statement. "If the reports are corroborated, we must pursue articles of impeachment and report them to the full House of Representatives for immediate consideration.”
The new calls were also joined by Reps. Vincente Gonzalez of Texas (D+7) and John Larson of Connecticut (D+12).
“This is a defining moment," Larson said, explaining that the Director of National Intelligence had failed to disclose the whistleblower complaint concerning Donald Trump to the appropriate congressional committees as is required by law. "If the Director refuses to comply at Thursday’s hearing, the Trump Administration has left Congress with no alternative but for the House to begin impeachment proceedings, which I will support.”
Tuesday may bring more Democrats on board, though it remains to be seen what Democratic leadership will decide to do coming out of Tuesday's caucus meeting. Pelosi, who also plans to huddle with her leadership team, is reportedly “sounding out top allies" on the matter, inquiring as to whether Trump’s personal admission about pressuring the Ukrainian president is a “tipping point.” To date, Pelosi and her leadership team have failed to summon the moral authority to speak with clarity on a path forward regarding impeachment.
In the meantime, Texas Rep. Al Green, who has already introduced articles of impeachment, called the actions of members like Craig and Phillips "righteous."
"Either we will hold the president accountable, or we will be held accountable," Green told MSNBC Monday night. "I commend them for putting principle above politics, for putting the people above our party. They have done the righteous thing."
Indeed.
Click here for more coverage of the whistleblower complaint and the impeachment inquiry.