A leading Democrat has rejected his colleagues’ efforts to impeach Republican President Donald Trump.
“Impeachment is, at times, a tool that can be used. This president is no stranger to that; he’s been impeached twice,” Representative Pete Aguilar, the chair of the House Democratic Caucus, told reporters in the Capitol on Tuesday.
“But we don’t have any confidence that House and Senate Republicans would do their jobs, and so this is not an exercise that we’re willing to undertake.”
Newsweek has contacted Aguilar’s office for further comment via email.
Why It Matters
Trump was impeached twice during his first term as president, but acquitted by the Senate in both cases.
But Democrats appear divided over how to combat Trump in his second term. Representative Shri Thanedar, a Michigan Democrat, introduced seven articles of impeachment against Trump on Monday. And Representative Al Green of Texas has said he is planning articles of impeachment as well.
However, few Democrats have voiced support for impeaching Trump since measures are unlikely to go anywhere with Republicans in control of both the House and Senate.
What To Know
Thanedar filed seven articles of impeachment against Trump on Monday.
They accuse the president of obstruction of justice, abuse of executive power, usurpation of appropriations power, abuse of trade powers and international aggression, violation of First Amendment Rights, creation of an unlawful office, bribery and corruption, and tyrannical overreach.
Three House Democrats—Representatives Robin Kelly of Illinois, Kweisi Mfume of Maryland and Jerry Nadler of New York—asked to be removed as cosponsors of the impeachment resolution on Tuesday.
Kelly and Mfume did so after learning the effort had not been reviewed by party leadership, The Hill reported. Only Representative Jan Schakowsky of Illinois remained a cosponsor as of Wednesday afternoon.
Thanedar told Newsweek on Wednesday that he “cannot speak for the actions of other members.”
But he said he was pursuing impeachment “because Trump has blatantly violated the constitution.”
Meanwhile, Thanedar this week gained a second primary challenger.
Donavan McKinney, a 32-year-old state representative, launched a Democratic campaign in Michigan’s 13th Congressional District on Monday. McKinney and former state Senator Adam Hollier are aiming to unseat second-term Thanedar in next year’s primary.
What People Are Saying
Trump responded to the impeachment articles during a rally on Tuesday, saying: “Today they did it again. Some guy that I’ve never heard of … is he a congressman? This guy, he said …’Ladies and gentlemen, I am going to start the impeachment of Donald Trump.’ What the hell did I do? Here we go again.”
Thanedar said in a statement on Monday: “Donald Trump has repeatedly demonstrated that he is unfit to serve as President and represents a clear and present danger to our nation’s constitution and our democracy. His unlawful actions have subverted the justice system, violated the separation of powers, and placed personal power and self-interest above public service. We cannot wait for more damage to be done. Congress must act.”
Asked if he was discouraging Democrats from introducing articles of impeachment, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries told reporters on Monday: “I haven’t evaluated the articles that were introduced. I haven’t even had an opportunity to talk with [Thanedar] about it.”
What Happens Next
Thanedar’s effort to impeach Trump is unlikely to go anywhere while Republicans have a majority in the House and Senate.
Democratic leaders have not said whether they would move to impeach Trump if they win back the House and Senate in next year’s midterm elections.
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