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DeLauro: An “abuse of power.”
New Haven U.S. Rep. Rosa DeLauro came out in support of two draft articles of impeachment Democratic leaders released Tuesday charging Donald Trump with abuse of power and obstruction of Congress.
“While I was reluctant to pursue impeachment about the 2016 election, President Trump’s unchecked efforts to get foreign powers to intervene in the next presidential election and unchecked attempts to block any investigation by the United States Congress left me with no choice. What would the founders have thought, if Congress did nothing? How could they have upheld their oath of office, if Congress did nothing?” DeLauro is quoted in a statement released by her office.
“Over the last few months, brave public servants have come forward to testify that the President withheld Congressionally-appropriated aid to Ukraine in order to leverage an investigation into a political opponent for his own personal and political gain. Witness after witness confirmed this abuse of the power. At the same time, the President has refused to comply with lawful Congressional requests and subpoenas, and directed others in the executive branch to defy these lawful requests. In doing so, he has obstructed Congress’s investigation. The President’s actions are a dangerous departure from his oath of office and his duty to uphold the Constitution. That is why I support the articles of impeachment against President Trump.
“Congress must uphold its duty to protect the Constitution. Our founders set up a system of checks and balances, separation of powers, and rule of law so that no person would be above the law — including the President. As with many of my colleagues, I have been reluctant to call for impeachment because I feared it would further divide the country, be perceived as overturning the 2016 election, and go to the United States Senate where Republicans would acquit President Trump regardless of the evidence. But the President’s unchecked actions mean Congress had to act to stop his abuse of power and obstruction of Congress.”
Like House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, DeLauro at first opposed the idea of seeking to impeach the president, then came around to the idea after revelations about Trump’s efforts to use military aid and a White House meeting to influence the Ukrainian government to investigate political rival Joe Biden. Click here and here for previous stories in which DeLauro described her process of wrestling with the impeachment question.