House Dem drafting articles of impeachment for Trump

[L. Coyote]

Source: The Hill - Mike Lillis - 06/06/17 09:51 PM EDT

A House Democrat will soon launch an official attempt to impeach President Trump.

Rep. Al Green, a Texas Democrat and member of the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC), is readying the articles of impeachment that mark the first official step in any congressional bid to remove a sitting president.

..... Green’s criticisms focus on Trump’s firing of former FBI Director James Comey, who was leading the administration’s probe into Russia’s meddling in the 2016 elections. Trump had reportedly pressured Comey earlier in the year to drop the investigation into Michael Flynn, Trump’s former national security advisor, who was fired after lying about the nature of his conversations with a Russian ambassador.

Comey’s firing brought accusations, primarily from Democrats, that Trump may have obstructed an ongoing Justice Department investigation — an impeachable offense

Read more: http://thehill.com/homenews/house/336677-house-dem-drafting-articles-of-impeachment-for-trump

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Trump's New Impeachable Offenses: Obstruction of Justice, Conspiracy, Abuse of Power

[TomSlick]

1. What is need is less haste and more speed.

The facts need to be unquestionably established as quickly as possible. However, until those facts are full locked down, the Democrats need to stay quiet about impeachment. To talk about impeachment before Trump's goose is well and truly cooked will be seen as partisan and the impression will continue long after the goose is burned to a crisp.

Patience is not easy but necessary in this case.

[7962]

2. Apparently you have more common sense than the Congressman.

Which isnt really a surprise, right?

You are correct. Like it or not, and regardless of all the protests and screaming, there is no actual activity that is impeachable at this moment. They need to shut up about it and gather FACTUAL EVIDENCE before bringing it up.

[TomSlick]

4. I didn't mean to attack the Congressman.

I simply what us to make sure we need to avoid "ready, fire, aim."

I just want a clear sight picture in the sights before squeezing the trigger so that we don't shoot ourselves in the foot. There's no hurry. There will be no impeachment vote until either the Democrats take control of the House or enough Repubs conclude that Trump is a danger to their re-election prospects.

[LanternWaste]

15. it can be difficult to recognize the relevant difference between merely drafting articles

It can be difficult to recognize the relevant difference between merely drafting articles, legislation, et. al. versus acting on the actual subject of the articles.

Though the wreck of the Valdez happened on March 24, drafts of complaints, pleadings and other interrogatories had already been submitted by the 30th of March; but I imagine many dullards instructed them to "shut up..."

I pretend I know who needs to SHUT UP as well... we can pretend to know what we're bleating about as such.

[7962]

18. I.E., superfluous drivel.

Your Valdez example illustrates my point & you dont even realize it.

[Kaleva]

20. An impeachable offense is whatever the House decides it to be.

One of the charges against President Andrew Johnson was that he spoke ill of Congress in a loud voice.

[7962]

21. Wow, can you see that being brought up today?

Of course, if it was, he'd be guilty 100 times over!!

[Shell_Seas]

13. I had to re-read this...

IMO, watching the daily train wrecks and scandal after scandal, I was thinking his goose is cooked. But you are right, those facts aren't fully locked down. Frustrating.

[Demsrule86]

24. consider what happened to the GOP when they impeached Clinton...and

what happened to us in Wisconsin...there is no point in bringing this up...Democrats can't impeach Trump...probably not even if we take the house and senate in 18.

[AntiFascist]

27. What Congress needs is an independent, bipartisan commission...

which is what Clinton and others have called for. Even though we now have an independent FBI investigation, that is not the same thing since it's only aim is to investigate criminal misconduct, not impeachable offenses determined by our representatives who answer to their constituents.

http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/hillary-clinton-wants-an-independent-commission-to-investigate-russia/article/2619591

[cstanleytech]

3. With a Repugnant majority in control of the Senate and the House? Good luck as there is

no way in hell that they will impeach him while they have they any power whatsoever to block it.

[L. Coyote]

5. It is important that impeachment proceedings begin. It blocks pardons of co-conspirators.

Trump has admitted obstruction of justice. That's enough to proceed now.

[murielm99]

6. Does it really block pardons of co-conspirators?

How do you know this?

[cstanleytech]

8. But that's just it, if he is guilty and they try it now when there is zero chance they

might very well weaken an impeachment attempt down the road when they have stronger evidence.

[FBaggins]

10. You need to stop assuming that Louise Mensch knows what she's talking about

All the constitution says is that a pardon can't block or undo an impeachment. No claimed co-conspirators are subject to impeachment. They would be subject to criminal charges (which he could pardon right up until the time he was removed).

More importantly, some congressman writing a list of claims for impeachment does not start some formal process that means impeachment has begun.

For the record... every president since at least Reagan has had congressmen draft impeachment charges (including numerous committee hearings). Until there's a majority vote to advance impeachment at the committee level, no "impeachment proceedings" have begun.

[Demsrule86]

23. It will never reach the floor ...waste of time...health care is way more important.

[jmowreader]

7. Nor do they NEED to impeach him

Once they realize their seats are in danger with Trump in the White House, they'll have a nice little chat with the boy and show him photos of the prison cells he'll live out the rest of his days in if he doesn't resign and get out of the country for a few years until the heat dies down.

[7962]

19. Exactly. Give them enough rope..... nt

[Shell_Seas]

14. Wouldn't the Repubes prefer Pence?

They could get what they wanted from him and he wouldn't embarrass them daily.

[cstanleytech]

28. Probably but supporting removal of Trump is still risky for the Repugnants in office as

as the Trump supporters would likely turn on anyone that voted to remove him from office.

[OliverQ]

9. I keep hearing people say there is only one chance to do this

Can you only bring up articles of impeachment one time, and then never again?


Is this Congressman risking destroying any chance of getting Trump out by doing this too early?

[L. Coyote]

12. I keep hearing people say lots of hearsay.

[Calista241]

11. I think the Repubs will go with a 25th amendment solution well before

Impeachment becomes an unstoppable movement.

And I'm not sure that's a good thing. Pence will be seen as a "voice or reason" and he won't tweet. And you'll have someone sane in charge of the Repub agenda.

[onenote]

17. Much harder than impeachment. Will never happen.

[Gothmog]

16. Yeah for Congressman Green

[Demsrule86]

22. This is a big waste of time. We don't have the votes in the House or in the

Senate to convict...better to spend our time fighting Trump on healthcare , taxes and infrastructure.

[sarisataka]

25. The house Judiciary Committee is

Comprised of 26 Republicans and 17 Democrats iirc
Want to place any bets on the over under vote in favor of the Articles of impeachment?

[AntiFascist]

26. K&R (sorry for my duplicate posting, I didn't notice this one) n/t