Rep. Al Green Submits Articles of Impeachment Against Trump
Rep. Al Green, a Democrat from Texas, filed articles of impeachment against President Trump on Tuesday. He accused the President of bypassing Congress by launching strikes on three Iranian nuclear sites without prior notice or approval.
The resolution claims, “The president’s abuse of power by ignoring separation of powers innovates authoritarianism by undermining the authority to declare war, which is vital to American democracy.”
Green emphasized that Trump’s unilateral military actions represent an abuse of power, particularly since there wasn’t an imminent threat to the United States at that time.
According to the US Constitution, only Congress has the authority to “declare war.” Historically, though, presidents from both political parties have engaged in military actions without Congressional consent.
In his resolution, Green described Trump as an “authoritarian president” posing a “threat to American democracy.” He also highlighted the Capitol attacks, Trump’s divisive immigration policies, and critical remarks towards federal judges during the January 6 events as part of his rationale.
Despite the US’s military actions near Tehran, Trump has maintained that his administration is not looking to engage in a prolonged conflict. He has urged both sides to make genuine efforts towards peace, pushing Iran to return to negotiations.
On Monday, Trump announced that a ceasefire had been established between countries involved in a recent 12-day conflict. However, Israel accused Iran of breaching this temporary ceasefire and vowed to retaliate. Trump noted that the Israeli military has agreed not to attack Tehran, maintaining that the ceasefire conditions still stand.
This military strike has highlighted divisions within Congress, with some GOP members and certain Democrats praising Trump’s actions, while others express concerns over his failure to seek Congressional approval. Many lawmakers believe this could be grounds for impeachment.
Green is one of Trump’s most vocal critics in Congress, submitting multiple articles of impeachment previously. Earlier this year, he faced backlash after interrupting Trump during a joint session of Congress.
In a statement on Tuesday, Green remarked, “I didn’t come to Congress to be a bystander. The president is abusing power and leading American democracy toward authoritarianism. His bombings of Iran can be seen as a de facto declaration of war. The president doesn’t have the right to involve this country in war without the people’s representatives’ consent.”
He added that “this authoritarian behavior is a warning we cannot ignore,” highlighting the need to protect the Constitution from being undermined by a president seeking unchecked power.
Attempts to reach the White House for comments were made.
