Rachel Maddow just announced that five Democrats called for impeachment after Robert Mueller’s testimony, including Congresswoman Katherine Clark (CD-5), Democratic Caucus Vice Chair, member of Speaker Pelosi’s leadership team.
July 25, 2019, Washington, D.C. – Today, Vice Chair Congresswoman Katherine Clark issued the below statement:
Throughout his life and presidency, Donald Trump has proven himself unfit to serve. He has no respect for the rule of law, has put kids in cages, regularly tramples on the Constitution, and uses racist words, acts and policies to divide our country. Since the release of the Mueller Report in April, it has been clear that the President has committed impeachable offences by welcoming interference from a hostile foreign power in the 2016 election and then attempted to obstruct the investigation into his unpatriotic actions. Moreover, he said he would do it all over again if given the chance.
I deeply respect the committee work of House Democrats to hold the President accountable, including hearings, subpoenas and lawsuits. All of our efforts to put the facts before the American people, however, have been met with unprecedented stonewalling and obstruction. That is why I believe we need to open an impeachment inquiry that will provide us a more formal way to fully uncover the facts.
An impeachment inquiry is a process, not an outcome, but I fear there is no amount of wrongdoing that we could uncover that would convince Senate Republicans to hold the President accountable. Regardless of the outcome, I believe we have a patriotic duty to uncover the facts for the American people and uphold the rule of law.
Revisiting the President’s obstruction of justice during Special Counsel’s testimony was disturbing. However, the moment that truly stunned me was when Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell blocked a vote on our election security bill the same day Mr. Mueller warned that Russia interfered in our elections and is continuing to do so.
We can’t allow Republican inaction to prop the door open for thieves to steal an election. We must be relentless in exposing the truth, act to protect our national security, and ensure that every eligible American can vote without foreign interference.
################
Christopher says
I like how she ties the testimony directly to McConnell’s shoulder shrug heard ’round the world. If leadership is coming around I’m starting to think that impeachment is Pelosi’s “make me do it” issue.
SomervilleTom says
The bizarre actions of Mr. McConnell make me wonder what kompromat the Russians have on him.
It really does feel as though a hostile power has taken over the entire GOP and nation.
jconway says
This article is especially troubling. All 50 states had election systems hacked in 2016, and while it’s unlikely (though not impossible) they could sway votes, the Russian hackers have only grown more stealthy and sophisticated in the interim.
Why the McConnell is doing nothing on this is beyond me. Richard Burr seems to be the only Republican actually concerned and acting on this in the Senate. Of course, he is not running for re-election.
fredrichlariccia says
‘Moscow Mitch’ has been bought and paid for by the Russians.
thegreenmiles says
Do we really not understand why the GOP is doing this? They want & need Russia’s help to win elections.
terrymcginty says
They’re trying.
fredrichlariccia says
‘Moscow Mitch’ is beholden to past sanctioned Russian oligarch with close ties to Putin,, Oleg Deripaska, who is investing millions into an aluminum manufacturer in Ashland, KY.
Last year, ‘Putin’s Mitch’ supported lifting those sanctions which is exactly what ‘Putin’s Puppet’ did this past January.
I’m SHOCKED that there’s gamblin goin on in this establishment!
terrymcginty says
I do think that this is an FDR, “make me do it” strategy.
I am so proud of Katherine Clark. I have no doubt that she has been advocating for action from the inside all along. This could be a major turning point within the caucus, because it will send a signal that it is very clearly now a ‘conscience vote’, and that the Speaker will not look unfavorably on opening an inquiry.
Malcolm Nance, the former intelligence chief, got it right yesterday:
Open an impeachment inquiry now with the intention of methodically subpoenaing fact witness for the next year,, the plan being not to hold a removal vote in the Senste until 2021, should that still be necessary.
The subtext?
This is the best possible way of making sure such a removal vote will not be necessary in 2021 because it will create the best possible scenario for the Kompromat Interloper to be removed electorally.
SomervilleTom says
That’s my favored timeline as well.
I want Mr. McGahn to be on television under oath during the 2020 campaign season telling Congress and the American people how Mr. Trump ordered him to demand that Mr. Mueller be fired. I want him to then tell the same audience about Mr. Trump’s failed effort force him to create a dishonest paper trail regarding the matter. I want each and every GOP Senate candidate (never mind Mr. Trump) to answer the question — over and over — “Do you think the behavior described by Mr. McGahn is acceptable in a sitting President?”
I remember the Watergate hearings. They were boring. The media drumbeat criticizing the appearance of Mr. Mueller is disgusting. I sat through hours of testimony from H. R. Haldeman and John Ehrlichman — that testimony was anything but “electric”.
The key breakthrough that brought down Richard Nixon was the existence of the now-famous White House tapes. That breakthrough happened on live TV. I watched it. I invite anyone who thinks that Mr. Mueller’s appearance this week was disappointing to watch the clip I just posted. There is nothing “electric” about Mr. Butterfield’s demeanor or testimony. It was the absolutely devastating content of his testimony that was newsworthy.
Historic testimony that changes the world is seldom “electric”.
I want the news cycle during the summer and fall of 2020 to be filled with a parade of fact witnesses, under oath, appearing day after day to describe how Donald Trump ordered them to commit criminal acts. I want there to be dozens of boring, non-electric recitals of facts, calendar entries, and readings of contemporaneous legal notes.
I want a lengthy, compelling, and irrefutable body of evidence to be laboriously created in the public record on live TV all summer and fall, culminating in a vote to impeach in, say, September or October of 2020.
I want each and every GOP candidate for any office — from President to local dog catcher — to have to answer or duck the same question over and over: “Do you think this evidence against Donald Trump should be ignored?”
fredrichlariccia says
Right on, Tom. Get every Republican running for office in 2020 – ON THE RECORD – vis a vis impeachment!
SomervilleTom says
Sadly, it seems that we also need to get some Massachusetts Democrats to either change their position or be replaced.
I’m already supporting Brianna Wu in her campaign to unseat Mr. Lynch. The other two need to go as well.
thegreenmiles says
My letter in today’s New Bedford Standard-Times expressing disappointment with Rep. Keating for failing to support impeachment:
https://www.southcoasttoday.com/opinion/20190725/letter-keating-vote-against-impeachment-disappointing
fredrichlariccia says
Call your Congressman to impeach. Of the all Democratic nine member MA House delegation, three are still undecided or opposed to impeachment. Call them today in their district office :
1. Stephen Lynch (CD-8) (617) 428-2000
2. William Keating (CD-9) (508) 999-6462
3. Richard Neal (CD-1) (413) 785-0325
fredrichlariccia says
Great letter, Miles! Thank you for sharing.
fredrichlariccia says
Call ‘Moscow Mitch’ Senate Majority Leader McConnell @ (202) 224-2541 and tell him to allow a vote on voter protection.
fredrichlariccia says
If I had a crystal ball, here’s how the takedown of the ‘Chief Creep’ would unfold :
1. Democrats call for impeachment inquiry to begin in the fall of 2019 and force a House vote just BEFORE the 2020 November election.
2. Democrats will nominate our strongest candidate to challenge the Bone Spur Draft Dodger ( I support Joe Biden) in the summer of 2020 and we ALL unite behind our nominee as we head into the general election.
3. If Democrats win the White House, ‘Ol’ Weehands McNodick’ will face criminal prosecution on January 20, 2021 when he’s thrown out into the gutter.
4. If, on the other hand, the ‘Malignant Tinhorn Caligula’ steals another election, Democrats force an impeachment trial in a newly reconstituted– hopefully majority Senate — and get the 2/3 vote necessary to convict and remove ‘Putin’s Puppet’ from office.
fredrichlariccia says
PUTIN’S MITCH billboards are springing up on Kentucky highways sponsored by Mad Dog PAC. Luv it. 🙂
Christopher says
House Judiciary may be more moves ahead than we thought.
SomervilleTom says
It looks to me as though Mr. Nadler is sidestepping Ms. Pelosi.
I’ve had the sense for the past week or so that Mr. Nadler has decided to push ahead with or without her blessing.
Christopher says
Per the article she DID sign off on the language invoking the specter of impeachment.
SomervilleTom says
No doubt.
I wish she would lead, rather than impede, this vital investigation.
I’m glad that Mr. Nadler seems to be pushing ahead. I have the distinct impression that he gave her no choice.
Christopher says
I guess my point is by signing off on the language she is slowly cracking the door to impeachment and is not in fact impeding it. We are getting to where we need to be substantively without a big floor vote to officially open an inquiry which some might find tough politically. Maybe one of these days we’ll all (myself included) learn to trust Pelosi’s political instincts.
jconway says
Fairly certain Carl Albert also had a hands off approach to impeachment at first. I think the Speaker should stay somewhat neutral and above the fray, I’ve just been getting the sense she’s actually just against impeachment and trying to keep a lid on her most popular members which doesn’t seem strategically sound. Maybe there’s a question of maximizing timing, but Nadler and Clark seem to be making the better moves right now.
SomervilleTom says
A huge difference between then and now is that the Senate had already convened the Senate Watergate Committee (in May of 1973) a full year before the House Judiciary Committee began its proceedings (in May of 1974). The key evidence against Mr. Nixon was first brought forward by the Senate committee.
Since the GOP controls the Senate and the highest priority of Mr. McConnell is to protect Donald Trump, we lack that resource today.
It appears to me that Mr. Nadler is forcing the hand of Ms. Pelosi. I think she opposes impeachment.
One way or another, Mr. Trump’s criminal behavior must be prosecuted. I really do wonder how far into the GOP the tentacles of Russian influence extend.
Is there a Constitutional mechanism for even investigating the possibility the GOP has been effectively taken over by Russia? Is there any precedent at all?
SomervilleTom says
It appears to me that Ms. Pelosi is begrudgingly succumbing to the repeated hits of a battering ram by Mr. Nadler and his committee.
It isn’t Ms. Pelosi’s political instincts that I distrust, it is her fundamental moral and ethical values. I expect any elected official to use whatever political skills and instincts they have to do the right thing.
It appears to me that Ms. Pelosi does whatever is politically expedient. In that regard she reminds me of Mr. DeLeo — and we see where that has gotten Massachusetts.
fredrichlariccia says
Majority of House Dems (118) now support impeachment.
Christopher says
So that triggers the Hastert Rule, right?
fredrichlariccia says
Hastert Rule only applies when pukes are in majority, right?