The House of Representatives is expected to vote on a resolution today that will start an impeachment inquiry into President Donald Trump following his racist tweets directed at four Congresswomen.
The vote would be the first of the new Congress on the issue since the Democrats took control of the house in November and follows months of tactical debate on how to proceed and calls of caution from Speaker Nancy Pelosi.
Although details are still to be determined, the legislative action follows Texas Democratic Representative Al Green’s decision to read into articles of impeachment against the 45th president following his attack on Congresswomen Ilhan Omar, Ayanna Pressley, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Rashida Tlaib.
All four women are US citizens, three of whom were born in the United States, however that didn’t stop President Trump from telling them they should ‘go back’ to the countries they came from in dog whistle tweets.
On Tuesday night (July 16) Al Green read an impeachment resolution, saying President Trump ‘ is unfit to be president, unfit to represent the American values of decency and morality, respectability and civility, honesty and propriety, reputability and integrity.’
The House voted to condemn the president’s tweets targeting the group of four women known in Washington as The Squad 240 to 187.
Democratic leaders have yet to respond on the next steps they will take. The House could vote to table or kill the resolution. It could vote to send it to the Judiciary Committee or allow a straight-up vote on Green’s resolution, leaving the possibility that it could pass.
Each method would highlight a party split in which direction to take action towards the president.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has cautioned members now is not the time to begin impeachment against Trump and Green’s method is not expected to succeed. However dozens of Democrats have come out in support of beginning an impeachment inquiry, the MailOnline reports.
Asked if she supports Green’s resolution on Wednesday, Pelosi said: ‘No I don’t. Does that come as a surprise?’
Rep. Al Green read the following in Congress on Tuesday night:
Unfit to defend the ideals that have made America great, unfit to defend liberty and justice for all as is told in the pledge of allegiance. Is unfit to defend the American ideal of all person’s being created equal as exalted in the declaration of Independence, is unfit to ensure domestic tranquility, promote the general welfare and to ensure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity as lauded in the preamble of the United States Constitution. Is unfit to protect government of the people, by the people, for the people as elucidated in the Gettysburg Address. And impeached for high misdemeanor that the following article of impeachment be exhibited to the Senate. Article of impeachment exhibited by the house of representatives of the United States and the name of itself of the people of the United States against Donald John Trump, President of the United States.
A full transcript of Rep. Green’s impeachment resolution is available via NBC News.
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Tim Horner is a sub-editor at UNILAD. He graduated with a BA Journalism from University College Falmouth before most his colleagues were born. A previous editor of adult mags, he now enjoys bringing the tone down in the viral news sector.