Let’s face it, our Outlaw Prez, Veep, and half to three-quarters of the cabinet should be impeached, removed from office, and in some cases criminally prosecuted. Safe to say, over the centuries some major malefactors deserving of impeachment have served in those high offices without articles ever being filed. Most of attention right now focuses on Donald Trump himself, who has already been impeached twice by the House of Representatives without a conviction in the Senate.
Only two other presidents have been impeached — Andrew Johnson in 1868 and Bill Clinton in 1998. They too were acquitted, of course. Of the 18 other people the House has impeached, five were acquitted, five had charges dismissed — usually because they had resigned before or during their Senate trial — and eight were judges convicted, removed from office and disqualified from future federal service.
A pretty skimpy record of success.
Given that record and the current composition of both houses of Congress, it’s no surprise that congressional Democrats haven’t been eager to line up to co-sponsor an impeachment of Trump even though it’s a rare day that goes by without his doing something worthy of it. They’re not so reluctant, however, when it comes to the commander of Homeland Security Kristi Noem. In the week since Rep. Robin Kelly of Illinois filed impeachment articles, 100 of her Democratic colleagues have joined as co-sponsors. Read the full text of articles of impeachment here.
Said Kelly said at a press conference Jan. 14, “Secretary Noem has brought her reign of terror to the Chicagoland area, L.A., New Orleans, Charlotte, Durham, and communities north to south to east to west. She needs to be held accountable for her actions. Secretary Noem has called my impeachment effort ‘silly.’ I want to tell her right now: You have violated your oath of office and there will be consequences. I am watching you. The American people are watching you. And most of all, we are not liking what we are seeing. If you believe impeachment is ‘silly,’ then you are not taking your job or our Constitution seriously.”
The three charges: obstruction of justice, violation of public trust, and self-dealing. Much of this alleged impeachable behavior — “high crimes and misdemeanors” — has occurred in public, and on video.
But while the behavior is abhorrent or at least deeply unpopular to most people, according to the polls, some Democratic activists view impeachment as a symbolic waste of time since getting enough Senate votes for conviction is surely beyond reach even if a handful of Republicans decides they too have had enough. However, even an unsuccessful trial could be profoundly revelatory, just as were Trump’s two trials. Not a waste of time even with the disappointing, totally expected outcome.
Getting enough House Republicans to vote for impeachment articles will, of course, need to wait until we get all the Democrats on board, which is no sure thing. That’s where you come in.
Below are the Democrats who have co-sponsored the impeachment resolution. If your Representative is on the list, give their office a ring and tell them thanks. If they aren’t, call to persuade them they should add their name.
Adelita S. Grijalva; Adriano Espaillat; Al Green; Alma Adams; Angie Craig; April McClain Delaney; Becca Balint; Betty McCollum; Bonnie Watson Coleman; Brad Sherman; Brendan F. Boyle; Brittany Pettersen; Chellie Pingree; Chris Deluzio; Dan Goldman; Danny Davis; Dave Min; Diana DeGette; Dina Titus; Doris Matsui; Emily Randall; Eric Sorensen; Eric Swalwell; Gabe Amo; Gabe Vasquez; Greg Casar; Gwen Moore; Ilhan Omar; J. Luis Correa; James P. McGovern; Jan Schakowsky; Jared Huffman; Jasmine Crockett; Jerrold Nadler; Jesús G. "Chuy" García; Jill Tokuda; Jimmy Gomez; Joaquin Castro; John Garamendi; John Larson; Jonathan Jackson; Joyce Beatty; Juan Vargas; Judy Chu; Julia Brownley; Julie Johnson; Kelly Morrison; Kevin Mullin; Kweisi Mfume; LaMonica McIver; Lateefah Simon; Laura Friedman; Linda T. Sanchez; Lloyd Doggett; Lori Trahan; Luz Rivas; Mark DeSaulnier; Mark Pocan; Mark Takano; Maxine Dexter; Maxine Waters; Maxwell Frost; Melanie Stansbury; Mike Quigley; Mike Thompson; Morgan McGarvey; Nanette Barragán; Nikema Williams; Nikki Budzinski; Norma Torres; Nydia M. Velazquez; Paul Tonko; Pramila Jayapal; Raja Krishnamoorthi; Rashida Tlaib; Ritchie Torres; Rob Menendez; Sara Jacobs; Sarah Elfreth; Sarah McBride; Sean Casten; Seth Moulton; Shontel M. Brown; Shri Thanedar; Stephen F. Lynch; Steve Cohen; Suhas Subramanyam; Summer Lee; Suzanne Bonamici; Sydney Kamlager-Dove; Sylvia Garcia; Teresa Leger Fernandez; Tim Kennedy; Val Hoyle; Valerie Foushee; Veronica Escobar; Wesley Bell; William R. Keating; Yassamin Ansari; Yvette Clarke.
Here’s a clickable, easier-to-read list.
Here’s contact information for US House members:
https://www.house.gov/representatives
If you don’t know who your representative is, look here (you’ll need to enter your zip code, and possibly additional information):
https://ziplook.house.gov/htbin/findrep_house?ZIP=
And if you learn that your Congressperson has changed their mind and has joined the list, let us know.
