The recent push to impeach President Donald Trump, led by Rep. Al Green (D-Texas), stumbled to a halt on Thursday. This effort saw nearly two dozen Democrats siding with House Republicans to block it.
Green had initiated a vote on two articles of impeachment the previous night through a privileged resolution, which allows Congress members to expedite legislation within two days. However, Republicans promptly called for a vote to pause this resolution, essentially preventing any discussion of the articles.
A total of 23 Democrats joined their Republican colleagues in sidelining the impeachment attempt. Notably, several prominent Democrats, including House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) and Minority Leader Katherine Clark (D-Mass.), opted to vote “present.”
Green has repeatedly filed impeachment charges against Trump over the past year. A notable attempt occurred in March when he disrupted the president’s joint address to Congress, leading to his exclusion from the event.
The latest articles accuse Trump of abuse of power. The first charge stems from Trump allegedly calling for the “execution” of six Democratic Congress members, which arose after he labeled them as guilty of “sedition” for a video suggesting military personnel defy unlawful orders from the government.
This video ignited significant backlash, prompting an FBI investigation into the implicated Democrats, all of whom maintained that their comments were taken out of context.
The second article charges Trump with fostering an environment where lawmakers and judges face threats of violence and intimidation, claiming this undermines the judiciary’s independence.
Despite widespread criticism of Trump among Democrats, many appear hesitant to endorse impeachment as a symbolic act. Rep. Jeffries has, on multiple occasions, dodged inquiries regarding his support for impeachment. He expressed skepticism on Dec. 1, citing that Republican leadership would prevent any articles from reaching the House floor, emphasizing instead the need for a serious, bipartisan investigation.
Even if impeachment proceedings were to move forward, it seems likely that the Republican-controlled Senate would swiftly dismiss them.
