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My colleagues and I have supported the work of Special Counsel Mueller’s examination of Russian interference in our elections. I withheld comment on impeachment out of deference to Mueller’s work and his professionalism. But now we have the report, and it’s shocking.
Mueller found a ton of corruption: 34 guilty pleas or indictments of individuals and companies. Five of Trump’s highest-level associates pleaded guilty to serious felonies, including his campaign chairman, personal lawyer, and national security advisor.
The Trump campaign was willing and eager to work with a foreign adversary to interfere in our elections. This is far more significant wrongdoing even than the Watergate break-in and its subsequent cover-up which led to Nixon’s impeachment and resignation.
The report also details 10 instances of obstruction of justice by the president, while in office. Over 1,000 former federal prosecutors from both political parties said this evidence is enough to support prosecution and conviction on felony obstruction of justice charges.
Mueller himself said he did NOT exonerate the president. He felt he could not prosecute Trump because of a DOJ rule against indicting a sitting president. He made it clear it's up to Congress to take further action. Given the record presented, we are duty-bound to proceed.
The Constitution provides that the president “shall be removed from Office, on Impeachment for, and Conviction of, Treason, Bribery, or other high Crimes and Misdemeanors.” Nobody disputes that felony obstruction of justice is a “high crime” under the Constitution.
Impeachment is not a redo of the election. Voters accepted a lot that I found appalling: mocking the disabled, childish name calling, attacking war heroes and Gold Star families, insulting Muslims and Mexicans. But while this behavior is abhorrent, it is for voters to judge.
We’ve seen terrible policies from Trump: dangerous foreign policy, tariffs that hurt Americans, reckless tax cuts, cruelty toward asylum-seekers, and attempts to rip health care from millions. I disagree with Trump's policies, but they're for elections, not impeachment.
Impeachment is not about the president’s character or policies. It’s about upholding the rule of law and defending the Constitution. It’s about whether he has broken the law. The Mueller Report contains plenty of evidence that he did. Hearings may produce more such evidence.
Some argue impeachment poses a political risk for Democrats. They say Republicans will claim Trump was vindicated regardless of the outcome. That gives Americans too little credit. I trust them to discern which of us did our patriotic duty and who played to political cynicism.
We should never pursue impeachment for political reasons. Nor should we avoid it for political reasons. It’s Congress’ job to determine whether the president broke the law and acted against the interests of the United States.
If we don’t act, we send the message that criminal behavior is normal for presidents. Trump will be more emboldened to ignore Congress. And we will increase cynicism among those who depend on us to uphold the law and the Constitution. None of that is acceptable.
@justinamash is right: “The risk we face in an environment of extreme partisanship is not that Congress will employ [impeachment] as a remedy too often but rather that Congress will employ it so rarely that it cannot deter misconduct..."
@justinamash "Our system of checks and balances relies on each branch jealously guarding its powers and upholding its duties under our Constitution. When loyalty to a political party or to an individual trumps loyalty to the Constitution, the Rule of Law–the foundation of liberty–crumbles.”
@justinamash Democrats are leading on the problems facing Americans: health care, ethics in government, comprehensive immigration reform and border security, gun safety, and civil rights. We must continue to pass groundbreaking legislation, as we have, and as we were elected to do.
@justinamash And now we are assigned another solemn task by the Constitution and by current events. We need to begin impeachment hearings.
