“Today, I am asking our chairman to proceed with articles of impeachment,” said House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) during a live, televised address on Thursday morning shortly after 9 a.m. ET.
“Impeachment in the House is a go,” noted the Fox News Channel immediately after her comments.
Pelosi, in her brief statement, indicated she is asking Chairman Jerry Nadler (D-N.Y.) of the House Judiciary Committee to move forward on impeachment against President Donald Trump.
Pelosi also said, “If we allow the president to be above the law, it will be at the peril of the country.”
Republicans immediately called this a political and partisan move — something Pelosi herself said impeachment should never be.
There may be an additional House hearing, by the way.
Said Rep. Andy Biggs (R-Ariz.) to Fox News regarding the possible calling of witnesses by the GOP to such a future hearing, “They will not let us do that … They have control over who we call as witnesses.”
At the heart of the Democrats’ case against Trump is their allegation that the president pressured Ukraine to investigate former Vice President Joe Biden and Hunter Biden for his own political gain — and using U.S. military aid as leverage to do so.
Trump released a transcript of the July 25 phone call in question.
Aid was never mentioned during that call and the Ukraine president himself, Volodmyr Zelensky, has said repeatedly he was never pressured to do anything.
Witnesses also have not directly linked Trump to any quid pro quo.
Pelosi on Thursday maintained that impeachment investigators have found enough evidence to show Trump abused his office for political gain. Democrats are considering multiple articles of impeachment against Trump including abuse of power, obstruction of justice and obstruction of Congress, as Politico and others noted.
See these tweets and share your reactions.
.@SpeakerPelosi & the Democrats should be ashamed. @realDonaldTrump has done nothing but lead our country – resulting in a booming economy, more jobs & a stronger military, to name just a few of his major accomplishments. ?? We look forward to a fair trial in the Senate.
— Stephanie Grisham (@PressSec) December 5, 2019
House Speaker Pelosi announces President Trump to be impeached pic.twitter.com/eJWgcr8CIY
— Reuters (@Reuters) December 5, 2019
Congressional Democrats’ newfound reverence for the founders and the Constitution is so hilariously disingenuous and opportunistic, especially “prayerful” Pelosi
— Buck Sexton (@BuckSexton) December 5, 2019
Join the Discussion
COMMENTS POLICY: We have no tolerance for messages of violence, racism, vulgarity, obscenity or other such discourteous behavior. Thank you for contributing to a respectful and useful online dialogue.