Rep. Brad Sherman, a Democratic representative from California, yesterday informed House members, according to an article in the Nation today, that he will “soon file [an] Article of Impeachment regarding President Donald J. Trump.”
Sherman said, “As the investigations move forward, additional evidence supporting additional Articles of Impeachment may emerge. However, as to Obstruction of Justice and 18 USC § 1512 (b)(3), the evidence we have is sufficient to move forward now. And the national interest requires that we do so.”
He explained to Democrats and Republicans in the House that he is hoping for quick consideration of the matter by the House Judiciary Committee but that if such consideration does not happen he will make a “privileged motion” that the House immediately debate his Article. A motion to table would be the likely outcome of that, but it would constitute the first impeachment-related vote.
Sherman said that given GOP control he knows an Article of Impeachment would not pass the House any time soon, but is quoted in the Nation as saying, “But given the risk posed to the Republic, we should move things forward as quickly as possible.”
Many in Congress who are fierce opponents of the Trump agenda, however, remain skeptical of pushing too hard and too fast on impeachment.
The reasons they give vary. Some say impeachment would yield the presidency to Mike Pence who they see as an extreme right wing ideologue who could be worse than Trump.
Others want to go slowly until there is more of a shift, as they see it in Trump’s hardcore base of support. The latest Gallup poll, however, has the president’s approval rating down to only 34 percent, an historic low for any president in the history of polling.
Sherman himself is reported in the Nation article to have said: “I act not for partisan advantage. Having served with Mike Pence in the House for 12 years, I disagree with him on most issues of public policy. But we must move forward as quickly as possible to ensure a competent government that respects the Constitution and the rule of law, even if we end up with a president who is effective and dedicated to regressive policies.”
Republicans thus far have been fearful of the president but can probably be expected to scuttle their support for him if his poll numbers continue to sink. A seemingly desperate Trump televised pledges of loyalty yesterday from all of his cabinet members with Rence Preibus, chief of staff, probably winning the bowing and scraping contest by thanking Mr. Trump for “blessing” him with the “privilege of serving” the Trump agenda.
Rep. Sherman does not stand alone in his call for impeachment. Rep. Maxine Waters, another outspoken U.S. representative form California, has been calling for impeachment for weeks now, saying essentially that there is already more than enough on which to impeach the president.
James Clapper, the former director of national intelligence, said in Australia last week that “Watergate pales in my view compared to what is happening now.”
Most observers think that the testimony last week by fired FBI director James Comey provides clear and compelling evidence of obstruction of justice by President Trump.
When Richard Nixon was impeached articles of impeachment drawn up against him included charges of both criminal conduct and obstruction of justice.
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