Four House Democrats have withdrawn their support from a resolution seeking to impeach President Donald Trump.
According to the Washington Examiner, Representatives Robin Kelly, Kweisi Mfume, Jan Schakowsky, and Jerry Nadler removed their names as co-sponsors of the impeachment resolution after discovering it had not received proper approval through Democratic leadership channels.
The resolution, introduced by Representative Shri Thanedar on Monday, contained seven articles of impeachment against Trump, citing allegations of abuse of power, constitutional violations, and tyranny. By Thursday, all four co-sponsors had withdrawn their support, with some claiming they were either mistakenly added or unaware that the measure lacked leadership approval.
A spokesperson for Representative Mfume explained the decision to withdraw support, emphasizing the importance of proper vetting and leadership approval. Kelly's office similarly cited the lack of consultation with the House Judiciary Committee as the primary reason for removing her name from the resolution.
The confusion surrounding the co-sponsorship led to an internal communication from Nadler's legislative director, Andrew Heineman. He urged Democratic staffers to improve communication regarding bill sponsorships to prevent similar misunderstandings in the future.
Democratic leadership has expressed reluctance to pursue impeachment proceedings against Trump during his second term despite previous successful impeachment efforts during his first administration.
House Democratic Caucus Chairman Pete Aguilar addressed the situation, acknowledging impeachment as a potential tool while expressing skepticism about Republican support. He said:
Impeachment is, at times, a tool that can be used. This president is no stranger to that; he's been impeached twice. But we don't have any confidence that House and Senate Republicans would do their jobs. And so this is not an exercise that we're willing to undertake.
Representative Becca Balint highlighted the challenges of pursuing impeachment without Republican support, pointing to the limited number of GOP members willing to oppose Trump's administration. She noted:
Republicans didn't do anything when there was an insurrection, when people were fearing for their lives, and they wouldn't vote to convict. The folks in those seats haven't changed.
Several Democratic representatives have privately acknowledged their belief that Trump has committed impeachable offenses. However, they consider the timing inappropriate due to insufficient votes and a perceived lack of Republican courage to support such measures.
The situation has highlighted the complex dynamics within the Democratic Party regarding Trump-related initiatives. Leadership appears focused on more strategic approaches rather than pursuing impeachment without adequate support.
The incident has also sparked discussions about improving internal communication processes among Democratic offices to prevent similar confusion in the future.
The recent impeachment resolution withdrawal marks a significant moment in Democratic Party strategy regarding Trump's presidency. Representative Thanedar became the first Democrat to introduce impeachment articles against Trump in his second term, following two previous impeachment attempts during his first administration.
While Democrats maintain their concerns about Trump's actions, they have chosen to prioritize practical considerations over symbolic gestures, acknowledging the current political landscape's constraints on successful impeachment proceedings.
