(WTVF) — Amid growing calls, U.S. Representative Jim Cooper (D-Tennessee) says it's time for the House of Representatives to begin the impeachment process against President Trump.
It’s time for the House of Representatives to begin the impeachment process against President Trump. The President’s invitation to yet another foreign power—this time Ukraine—to undermine U.S. elections requires that Congress begin the process in our
— Jim Cooper (@repjimcooper) September 24, 2019
"This is a very serious step," Cooper said in a statement, "but the President’s continuing misconduct requires that Congress uphold our Constitution and the laws of the land. No one, not even the President, is above the law.”
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is planning to put a resolution on the House floor Wednesday to address the Ukraine scandal. Speaker Pelsoi announced Tuesday a formal impeachment inquiry into President Donald Trump. President Trump said on Monday that he delayed aid to Ukraine ahead of a call to the Ukrainian President when he pushed the leader to look into potential rival Joe Biden and his son's work, but says there was "never any quid pro quo."
In a tweet, President Trump says he's authorized full release of the transcript of his call with Ukraine's president.
I am currently at the United Nations representing our Country, but have authorized the release tomorrow of the complete, fully declassified and unredacted transcript of my phone conversation with President Zelensky of Ukraine....
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 24, 2019
Rep. Steve Cohen (D-TN), Rep. Scott DesJarlais and Rep. Mark Green (R-TN) have each responded to Pelsoi's announcement.
“Today is a historic day for our nation. The President has breached his oath, violated the law and risked our national security. This week we learned that the President has abused his power and broken the law by pressuring a foreign government to investigate a political opponent. Further, he has moved to block the whistleblower report of that action being forwarded to Congress. These are but the latest in the long list of abuses of power by this President. As Members of Congress, we took an oath to defend the Constitution and protect our country. That includes the Congressional responsibility of oversight of the Executive which includes impeachment. We will thoroughly investigate the President’s conduct and pursue the facts. We are a nation of laws and no one is above the law.”
"Before and after last year’s midterm elections, a few of us predicted Democrat leadership would fall prey to their most strident members and move to impeach President Trump. Sadly, having accomplished nothing but fruitless investigations in this Congress, Speaker Pelosi has allowed this radical element to dictate another partisan investigation.
An overwhelming majority of the American public rejects impeachment. However, some individuals, who still cannot accept that their candidate lost the 2016 presidential election, are pursuing a purely political agenda. Congress must reject it."
“Over the past nine months, Speaker Pelosi and her Democrat committee chairs have turned every committee they could into an investigations committee. Ways and Means, Financial Services, Intelligence, Oversight, Judiciary—nearly every Democrat committee chairman is investigating some aspect of the President.
Democrats failed to make the case for impeachment with the Mueller investigation, and Democrats failed to make the case for impeachment with each of their other investigations. They've been in charge for nearly a year and have nothing to show for it. Instead of trying to impeach the President, let’s get to work for the American people.”
