Democrats introduce articles of impeachment against Trump

Six House Democrats led by Rep. Steve Cohen (TN) introduced Wednesday five articles of impeachment against President Donald Trump.

“We believe that President Trump has violated the Constitution and we’ve introduced five articles of impeachment,” Cohen told reporters Wednesday.

Cohen is joined by Reps. Luis Gutierrez (IL), Adriano Espaillat (NY), Al Green (TX), Marcia Fudge (OH) and John Yarmuth (KY).

House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi said on “Meet the Press” that she didn’t think that impeachment “is where the party should go.”

The five articles include:

1. Obstruction of Justice – centers on the firing of former FBI Director James Comey
2. Violation of the Foreign Emoluments Clause – citing Trump continuing to make money from his global businesses
3. Violation of the Domestic Emoluments Clause – citing Trump continuing to make money from his domestic businesses
4. Abuse of Power: Undermining the Judiciary – cites Trump’s public comments against a Federal Judge who blocked his immigration order
5. Undermining Freedom of the Press – cites Trump calling CNN, MSNBC “unwatchable” and “fake news”

Impeachment could put Democrats in uncomfortable positions as the country moves towards the 2018 mid-term elections. If the House moves to impeach, which requires a simple majority, on all five or any single count, it will then go to the Senate for trial where a 2/3rds majority is required for conviction. The likelihood of the charges leaving the House is tiny and the chance of conviction in the Senate is non-existent. Failing to remove Trump from office could ignite his base and sour voters on the left.

Read: Articles of Impeachment against President Donald Trump [full text]