A bid by a single left-wing lawmaker to impeach President Donald Trump again failed on Thursday, as nearly two dozen Democrats joined Republicans in voting to block the effort.
Rep. Al Green (D-Texas) triggered action on two articles of impeachment late Wednesday by introducing a privileged resolution, a procedural tool that requires the House to take up a measure within two legislative days.
On Thursday, Republicans moved to table the resolution — a step that effectively halts consideration of the impeachment articles. The motion succeeded with bipartisan support, ending the effort, Fox News reported.
Twenty-three Democrats joined Republicans in voting to set aside the impeachment measure. A substantial bloc of Democrats also voted “present,” including all three members of the party’s leadership team: House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.), Minority Whip Katherine Clark (D-Mass.), and Democratic Caucus Chairman Pete Aguilar (D-Calif.).
“Impeachment is a sacred constitutional vehicle designed to hold a corrupt executive accountable for abuse of power, breaking the law and violating the public trust. The effort traditionally requires a comprehensive investigative process, the collection and review of thousands of documents, an exacting scrutiny of the facts, the examination of dozens of key witnesses, Congressional hearings, sustained public organizing and the marshaling of the forces of democracy to build a broad national consensus,” the trio said in a statement explaining their vote.
“None of that serious work has been done, with the Republican majority focused solely on rubber stamping Donald Trump’s extreme agenda. Accordingly, we will be voting ‘present’ on today’s motion to table the impeachment resolution as we continue our fight to make life more affordable for everyday Americans.”
The final vote fell 237 to 140, with 47 “present” votes, Fox noted.
Among the Democrats who voted to table the measure are Reps. Tom Suozzi, D-N.Y., Josh Riley, D-N.Y., Jared Golden, D-Maine, Jimmy Panetta, D-Calif., Chrissy Houlahan, D-Pa., Maggie Goodlander, D-N.H., Sharice Davids, D-Kan., Don Davis, D-N.C., Shomari Figures, D-Ala., and others, said the outlet.
Green has introduced articles of impeachment against President Trump multiple times over the past year and was removed from the chamber during Trump’s joint address to Congress in March after repeatedly interrupting the speech. The latest effort contains two articles alleging abuse of power, according to legislative text reviewed by Fox News Digital.
The first article centers on Trump’s accusation that six Democratic lawmakers engaged in “seditious behavior,” which he said was “punishable by death,” after they appeared in a video urging military personnel to refuse unlawful orders. Green’s filing characterizes Trump’s response as a call for their “execution.”
The lawmakers’ video drew sharp criticism from conservatives, and the FBI opened an inquiry into the group’s remarks. The Democrats involved defended their statements, saying they were reiterating long-standing obligations within the military to reject unlawful commands.
Green’s second charge accuses Trump with having “fostered a political climate in which lawmakers and judges face threats of political violence and physical assault; and in this climate has made threats and vituperative comments against federal judges, putting at risk their safety and well-being, and undermining the independence of our judiciary.”
The second charge is particularly hypocritical given that the vast majority of politically charged violence has been egged on by Green’s party and directed at conservatives and federal agents trying to enforce the laws.
“But while the vast majority of Democrats have made no secret of their disdain and disagreements with Trump, it appears that few have the appetite to make a largely symbolic gesture toward impeachment,” Fox reported.
Even House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., has repeatedly declined to say whether he would support impeachment efforts this year. Most recently, on Dec. 1, Jeffries sidestepped questions after reporters asked him whether the military’s September “double-tap” strikes on an alleged Venezuelan drug vessel affected his view on the issue.
