JAYAPAL STATEMENT ON INTRODUCTION OF IMPEACHMENT ARTICLES

WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Representative Pramila Jayapal (WA-07), a member of the House Judiciary Committee and Co-Chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, today issued the following statement after House Judiciary Chairman Jerrold Nadler (D-NY) announced the introduction of two Articles of Impeachment—abuse of power and obstruction of congress—against President Donald J. Trump:

“Impeachment is a rarely used remedy, designed to guard against the most egregious abuses of power. Donald Trump’s abuse of power and obstruction of Congress warrants its use.

I did not come to Congress to impeach the President of the United States, but Donald Trump—and the facts—leave us no choice. President Trump endangered the sanctity of our elections by inviting foreign interference in our most sacred democratic institution. He betrayed our national security, violated the sacred trust of the American people, and threatened the very future of our democracy. At every turn, the President and his Administration have obstructed the House—the people’s representatives—from doing our job and serving as a check against the Executive Branch.

For the sake of our democracy, we cannot afford to stand by and do nothing. If the American people cannot trust the fairness of our elections and cannot trust the President to do their business and not his own, then the foundation of our Republic is threatened. It is a grave threat to our Constitution and democracy. We must act and stay true to the oath we all swore to defend and uphold the Constitution.

I look forward to working with Chairman Nadler and my colleagues on the House Judiciary Committee to move these articles forward. I hope my Republican colleagues will quickly come to terms with the gravity of this moment, as well as the overwhelming and uncontested facts on the table. Throughout history, brave patriots have stood up for the ideas that make America exceptional—self-governance, self-determination, and the principle that no one, not even the President of the United States, is above the law. This is not a game—it is a serious and sober moment in our nation’s history, and the American people are watching what we do. I hope my Republican colleagues will have the courage to put the country and the Constitution over party and the President. Our democracy is at stake.”

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