It begins...a call for impeachment in the House

[dixiegrrrrl]

He would not tweet this unless Pelosi had approved. On a Saturday night yet. The number of likes will tell them how strong support is for impeachment, so if you are on twitter, ....

Link to tweet

[CaliforniaPeggy]

1. Most excellent!

Representative Andy Levin!

[canetoad]

2. Current stats

7,141 Retweets
34,514 Likes

[Poiuyt]

3. Is this different from the other people who have called for impeachment?

Or is it just adding to the list?

[EveHammond13]

4. he's not the first...

[N_E_1 for Tennis]

18. Adding...4 in Michigan already...

Levin joins U.S. Reps. Dan Kildee, D-Flint Township, Rashida Tlaib, D-Detroit, and Brenda Lawrence, D-Southfield, in the pro-impeachment stance. U.S. Rep. Justin Amash, R-Cascade Township, is the only House Republican who has voiced support for impeachment proceedings

[triron]

28. I count 5

[yellowdogintexas]

39. Rep AL Green from Texas has been on board since Congress convened in 2016

I am fairly certain there are others we aren't aware of just yet

[The Liberal Lion]

5. Dear Speaker Pelosi

If not by the lawful body constitutionally bound to do so, then it will be left to people

[Laura PourMeADrink]

9. Yes yes yes yes !

[MasterofBiscuits]

14. When

in the Course of human events it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.

[triron]

29. Jefferson?

[Fiendish Thingy]

6. They should open the inquiry on July 1

Just to spoil Trump's "look at me!" Independence Day circus.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

10. Like that

[yellowdogintexas]

40. I like that very much.

Will they be in session?

[myohmy2]

7. Nancy...

...may have a fiduciary duty to the Democratic Party but she has an even greater responsibility to the Constitution, the American people and our nation's future...

"He would not tweet this unless Pelosi had approved."

...I hope you're right...

...

[Laura PourMeADrink]

11. That you even have to say that? JHC why do we

even have to tell these people? You know it from the core if your being.

[Skittles]

12. DAMN STRAIGHT

[Sugarcoated]

8. Why this Rep?

Haven't other congresspeople called for impeachment?

[yellowdogintexas]

41. I think it is a case of one more going public

and making an announcement.

[pnwmom]

13. There's more to that thread here:

https://threadreaderapp.com/thread/1139921792901013505.html

[Hermit-The-Prog]

15. thank you; full text

When I became a member of the 116th Congress, I took an oath to protect and defend the Constitution of the United States. Today, I announce that I have concluded that the House has a duty to open an impeachment inquiry into the conduct of President Donald J. Trump.

Mr. Trump has been violating the Emoluments Clause of the Constitution each and every day since he took office. His intertwining of his business dealings with governance and his profiting off his office are beyond improper.

His refusal to share information about his taxes prevents the public from knowing the nature and extent of his conflicts of interest.

As the Mueller Report makes clear, on 10 or more occasions the President did obstruct justice or sought to obstruct justice, including by firing or attempting to fire people who were investigating him.

His attitude towards foreign interference in our election process, the very heartbeat of our democracy, chills me to the bone, from his invitation to Vladimir Putin to meddle during 2016 to his comments this week about the 2020 election.

Until today, I have maintained the position that we should neither rush to impeach President Trump nor take impeachment off the table.

However, I have watched the Trump administration’s stonewalling of our oversight activities with growing frustration.

I have concluded that, absent an impeachment inquiry, even if our appeals to the courts continue to succeed, they will follow a timeline far too slow to meet the needs of the American people for truth and justice.

After extensive discussion with colleagues on the committees of jurisdiction over various investigations...

I have concluded that the only way to get to the bottom of Mr. Trump’s activities and inform the public about what we learn is to centralize and expedite the process through one select committee with the focus, power and urgency that come with an impeachment inquiry.

I will work to build a consensus in the House Democratic Caucus to begin this process, and I will reach across the aisle to engage Republican colleagues about the urgent need to protect our democracy.

Rep. Andy Levin
https://threadreaderapp.com/thread/1139921792901013505.html

[Scarsdale]

16. Lots of luck convincing ANY

member of the gop to actually join in this effort. They all obey McConnell, they have no independent thoughts. Until their constituents show them that they are concerned about the criminal in the WH, they will do nothing. Fear of losing their positions seems to be the only incentive for them. Lay out all the ways tRump is committing crimes against his office, and let people decided for themselves. Do they want a thug in the WH? The entire world is aware of his criminal activities. WHY is he allowed to get away with breaking laws? Before he has his giant 4th of July takeover, he should pay the overdue bills for his inauguration. This creepy family is depleting the Treasury of the US while lining their own pockets.

[dixiegrrrrl]

27. Problem with blanket statements is there are usually exceptions.

U.S. Rep. Justin Amash, R-Cascade Township, is the only House Republican who has voiced support for impeachment proceedings

[triron]

31. Why would they necessarily obey McConnell? He is in a different chamber (Senate).

[Scarsdale]

38. NOTHING comes up for a hearing,

unless McConnell deems it necessary. The gop in the House and Senate are all in line behind McConnell. He rules with an iron fist, even though he is the most corrupt of all. Impeachment will never be brought up in the Senate as long as ol' Mitch is there. Get rid of him, and it would be smooth sailing once the gop realizes their days in office are numbered because of tRump.

[malaise]

17. Justice is coming

Rec

[mopinko]

19. tic toc motherfucker.

https://www.democraticunderground.com/100212188258

[fescuerescue]

20. Is there a difference between an "Impeachment inquiry" and an "impeachment"

Ask because I truly don't know.

[StarfishSaver]

22. They're two different things, but the terms are often used interchangeably

Impeachment = a vote by a simple majority of the House of Representatives agreeing there are sufficient grounds to determine that a federal officer's actions warrant trial and removal from office for the commission of high crimes and misdemeanors. An impeachment does not remove the official from office. Only the Senate can remove and only after a trial and vote of 2/3 of the body.

Impeachment Inquiry = a process used to determine whether a federal officer should be impeached.

Impeachment Investigation = a part of the inquiry that gathers evidence to be used as part of the determination of whether a a federal officer should be impeached.

Impeachment Hearings = proceedings in which the committee conducting the impeachment inquiry takes testimony from witnesses. The witness can be fact witnesses, legal and constitutional experts, special interest representatives (civil rights groups, etc.), and others with information or advice relevant to the inquiry. Hearings can be conducted in public or in private.

Although the terms are often (and inaccurately) used interchangeably, impeachment, impeachment inquiries, impeachment investigations, and impeachment hearings are not synonymous. Hearings can be part of an investigation, but investigations do not require hearings. Investigations and hearings can be components of the inquiry but an inquiry can be conducted without them. In other words, investigations and hearings are specific subsets of an inquiry.

Impeachment is the actual vote that a federal officer's actions warrant trial and removal from office.

There is no such thing as "starting impeachment." At this point in time, Congress is considering whether to open an impeachment inquiry that will likely include an investigation and hearings and could lead to impeachment

https://www.democraticunderground.com/100212150822

[Ligyron]

36. Thanks for that.

[FailureToCommunicate]

48. Helpful. Thanks.

[napi21]

50. Great explanation. Do you have a guerss at how long an impeachment would take? I ask

because I've heard several people say that there isn't enough time left before the 2020 campaign. Do you think that's true?

[StarfishSaver]

53. The impeachment process takes however long Congress wants

Last edited Mon Jun 17, 2019, 11:31 AM - Edit history (1)

In the Clinton impeachment, the House moved very quickly. The Starr Report was delivered to the House on September 9, 1998. The House voted to authorize the Judiciary Committee to open an impeachment inquiry on October 8. The Judiciary Committee voted out Articles of Impeachment on December 11 and 12, and the full House impeached President Clinton on December 19.

In the Nixon impeachment, the House authorized the Judiciary Committee to begin an inquiry in February 1974. The first hearing was held on May 9 and the Judiciary Committee approved Articles of Impeachment in late July.

No, I don't think it's too late and it will be quite a while before it is. If there is an impeachment inquiry, I certainly don't think it should be rushed through like Republicans did with Clinton, but if the right groundwork is laid in advance and the Committee doesn't have to do a full blown investigation, an impeachment inquiry can move fairly quickly. Ideally, the Committee wouldn't be doing a lot of original investigation - that should have been done by the various committees currently investigating Trump - but could focus primarily in the question of whether the wrongdoing uncovered constitutes high crimes and misdemeanors, what should be included in the Articles of Impeachment and how they should be drafted.

[StarfishSaver]

21. Dozens of other Members have already called for impeachment. Is there something different or special

about this one?

On Edit: I do like that he's not just demanding impeachment but is acknowledging that it needs consensus and offering to help build it.

[Hortensis]

26. "I have concluded." Yes, just a statement. On the plus side,

newest poll says support for impeachment hearings has risen overall to 27% and that it is now 10 points higher than just a month ago among Democrats at 48%.

The movement is up.

[dixiegrrrrl]

32. Exactly what Pelosi is waiiting for...increasing support.

Impeachment is being talked about now on many fronts, polls keep showing increased support. exactly what is needed.

[Hortensis]

35. Itm, the investigations and cases in court continue.

[dalton99a]

23. Kick

[CrispyQ]

24. I hardly ever go to twitter but I did for this.

Thanks DG.

[Lotus54]

25. Impeachment Inquiry??

Below is Andy Levin's last 3 tweets ( 3 of his long tweets) which seem to give an indication on some movement in the House Judicial Committee:

Just a side note:

House Judicial Committee now have the majority in favor of Impeachment Inquiry. ( Whether it goes forward to the proceedings, still remains to be seen)

Levin's Tweets:
"I have concluded that, absent an impeachment inquiry, even if our appeals to the courts continue to succeed, they will follow a timeline far too slow to meet the needs of the American people for truth and justice."

"After extensive discussion with colleagues on the committees of jurisdiction over various investigations..."

"I have concluded that the only way to get to the bottom of Mr. Trump’s activities and inform the public about what we learn is to centralize and expedite the process through one select committee with the focus, power and urgency that come with an impeachment inquiry."

"I will work to build a consensus in the House Democratic Caucus to begin this process, and I will reach across the aisle to engage Republican colleagues about the urgent need to protect our democracy."

Below is the List of the House Member for Impeachment from the New York Times:

https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2019/05/31/us/politics/trump-impeachment-congress-list.html?module=inline

[spanone]

30. Amen, Andy.

[Smackdown2019]

33. History

We must remember that history does repeat itself if the lessons are not learned. 

History had a nazi dictator, by the name of Hitler who spoke of politics of Hate, prison camps of children and being a constant liar. 

History had a US President who fired everyone who was prosecuting him, Nixon. 

History had brutal dictatorships that destroyed governments, destroyed people and relationships. 

Our forefathers envision such atrocities to have protections wrote in our living document, the US Constitution. Not because it could happen, it happened during their lifetime under the rule of King George.

The escaped the brutal rule of a king who had no checks or balances. 

That escape was paid in patriot BLOOD for us to live in FREEDOM. 

Yet, the oaths that every congressional and judicial servant of the PEOPLE has been given, must be held to ensure history does NOT REPEAT! 

Check and Balances. 

[FBaggins]

34. How is this "beginning" any different from the last several?

Some members have actually brought impeachment resolutions for consideration...

If he was in leadership there might be a rationale for claiming that he wouldn't tweet that without Pelosi's approval... but he's one of the newest members.

[Ligyron]

37. Yeah, what makes him so special?

Not that this isn't good news, but...

[Honeycombe8]

44. Yes, I think the OP doesn't know this has been going on for over a month.

Ever since the Mueller Report, hasn't it?

[FBaggins]

46. Well over... In fact, over two years

I think the first articles of impeachment were proposed by Nadler about two weeks after Trump took office.

[StarfishSaver]

47. Reps. Cohen, Sherman and Green introduced impeachment resolutions beginning in July 2017

I don't think Nadler introduced or co-sponsored any impeachment resolutions at all.

https://www.congress.gov/quick-search/legislation?wordsPhrases=impeachment&wordVariants=on&congresses%5B%5D=115&legislationNumbers=&legislativeAction=&sponsor=on&representative=&senator=&searchResultViewType=compact

[FBaggins]

51. Here's the first mention I found

The Google hit says 2/9/2017

Preliminary Impeachment Papers Filed Against Donald Trump

The people frustrated with this Trump Administration might be getting what they want, as a top Democrat on the House Judiciary Committee has filed an “Articles of Inquiry” into the president. For those unaware of what that means, this is the first step in the process of attempting to impeach a federal official.

Yes, someone, namely Congressman Jerrold Nadler, (D-NY), is attempting to impeach Donald Trump.

https://www.okayplayer.com/news/preliminary-impeachment-papers-filed-against-donald-trump.html

[StarfishSaver]

54. I'm not familiar with this source, but this is all made up

First of all, there's no such thing as an "article of inquiry" in congressional procedure.

I looked at the legislation introduced during that period - I linked to my source in my previous post - and Jerry Nadler didn't introduce any impeachment bills.

And they also said the Clinton impeachment was begun with an "article of inquiry" in 1995 - which was three years before the Lewinsky scandal surfaced and before Clinton even met Monica.

As I said - it's made up.

[Honeycombe8]

52. +1. nt

[LiberalLovinLug]

42. "It begins" my ass

It doesn't "begin" until it begins. Period.

[fescuerescue]

55. It's the beginning of the beginning

Not the end of the beginning

It could be the beginning of the end, but I really think it's just the beginning of the beginning.

[Honeycombe8]

43. What makes you think he wouldn't tweet that w/o Pelosi's approval? This is not the first such tweet.

I think there have been other statements like this by House reps.

[BlueJac]

45. K&R

[brooklynite]

49. This means nothing...

Levin isn't part of leadership and plenty of other Democratic House members have called for Impeachment.