Republicans in Congress swore an oath to uphold and defend the Constitution of the United States. That oath requires them to carry out oversight of the Executive and, if necessary, remove from office any president guilty of misconduct including abuse of authority, self-dealing, misuse of assets, dereliction of duty, or treason.
Republicans are in breach of that oath.
President Trump’s transgressions extend beyond incompetence; they are rooted in motivations that are transparently contrary to the values expressed in our nation’s Constitution. Collusion by House Republicans makes a mockery of the system of checks and balances our Founding Fathers envisioned and installed to protect our democracy. Every day Donald Trump remains in office stands as a repudiation of our system of governance and proud heritage of rule of law.
Mike Coffman, Paul Ryan and other Trump allies continue to back Trump at every turn. Even after his district sent a clear message by voting for Hillary Clinton with a 9 margin over Trump, Coffman has supported trump over 93% of the time.
When those we’ve elected betray our trust and their oath of office, it falls to citizens to step into the breach. That’s why I’ve launched an exploratory committee to run against Mike Coffman in 2018 and restore progressive leadership to Colorado’s Sixth Congressional District.
But we don’t have time to wait for a Democratic Congress to hold Trump accountable. Unless and until he is removed from office, Trump will continue to do immense damage to our country. Coffman has proven countless times that he will change his positions to protect his own skin, such as when he vocally supported Republican’s move to take healthcare away from millions of Americans to pay for another tax cut for the 1%, only to vote against it when Paul Ryan said he could.
In general such naked self-interest is not to be applauded. But if Coffman’s true north is survival and if his constituents can convince him that his political survival depends on standing up to Trump before 2018, we certainly should. Anything that keeps more people from being harmed by Trump’s reckless policies is a victory for Americans.
Since Coffman has proven he’s willing to do the right thing so long as he’s not expected to show actual leadership, I’ve worked with a team of legal experts to make it easy for him. We’ve assembled articles of impeachment and easy to follow step-by-step instructions that will allow Coffman and other Republicans to perform their constitutional duty and remove Donald Trump from office.
We’ve done the hard work, all Coffman and other Republicans need to do is uphold their oath to America’s Constitution.
Instructions:
1) Click here to download the Articles of Impeachment [this can be done by an intern or staffer]
2) Print out the PDF [this can also be done by an intern or staffer. If you do not have a printer, I will hand deliver them to you at your district office or arrange to have them printed at a convenient union print shop for you to pick up]
3) Publicly call for Paul Ryan to bring these articles to the House floor for a vote [you need to do this one yourself]
In his conduct while President of the United States, Donald John Trump, in violation of his constitutional oath faithfully to execute the office of President of the United States and, to the best of his ability, preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States, and in violation of his constitutional duty to take care that the laws be faithfully executed, has prevented, obstructed, and impeded the administration of justice, and has to that end engaged personally, and through his subordinates and agents, in a course of conduct or scheme designed to delay, impede, cover up, and conceal the existence of evidence and testimony related to duly instituted investigatory proceedings conducted by authorized government officials, as well as to curtail lawful investigations involving Donald John Trump and government officials affiliated with and reporting to him.
In his conduct while President of the United States, Donald John Trump, in violation of his constitutional oath faithfully to execute the office of President of the United States and, to the best of his ability, preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States, and in violation of his constitutional duty to take care that the laws be faithfully executed, has prevented, obstructed, and impeded the administration of justice, and has to that end engaged personally, and through his subordinates and agents, in a course of conduct or scheme designed to delay, impede, cover up, and conceal the existence of evidence and testimony related to duly instituted investigatory proceedings conducted by authorized government officials.
In his conduct while President of the United States, Donald John Trump, in violation of Article I, Section 9, Clause 8 of the United States Constitution, accepted presents, emoluments, and other transactions of pecuniary value directly benefitting himself.
In his conduct while President of the United States, Donald John Trump, in violation of his constitutional oath faithfully to execute the office of President of the United States and Article II, Section 3 of the United States Constitution intentionally failed to faithfully execute the laws of the United States by knowingly hiring and retaining foreign agents in positions of national security.
In his conduct while President of the United States, Donald John Trump, in violation of his constitutional oath faithfully to execute the office of President of the United States and Article II, Section 3 of the United States Constitution intentionally failed to faithfully execute the laws of the United States by knowing and intentionally divulging national security intelligence to the foreign agents and foreign officials of adversaries.
A simple majority vote by the House will initiate a trial.
President Trump is operating outside the boundaries of ethics and law. His conspiracy-addled civic nihilism is at odds with the sober bedrock of idealism and progress, upon which our country was founded. Any clear eyed citizen committed to seeing the world as it is rather than through the warped lens of partisan ideology must admit: Trump’s actions and associations during the campaign have breached innumerable ethical norms, traditional standards and laws; the barriers erected by our forebearers to preserve civility, decency and the democratic order in our republic.
Fortunately, Trump does not represent the collective will of the American people. Three million more people voted for Hillary Clinton than Donald Trump in the 2016 election. No doubt, Trump would lose election today in a crushing defeat. But that is cold comfort. Instead, he must be removed from office.
Fealty to the law and to public decency demands his removal. By providing the necessary documents, we’re making it easy. The crimes are clear. The public is disgusted. The articles of impeachment are written.
The only missing ingredient is leadership.
Resolution Impeaching Donald John
Trump, President Of The United States, For High Crimes And Misdemeanors
High Crimes in Plain English: The charge of high crimes does not refer to violation of specific laws, instead it indicates misconduct that officials can commit only because of the office they hold, such as violating their oath of office, abuse of authority, intimidation, misuse of assets, dereliction of duty, or unbecoming conduct
Resolved, That Donald John Trump, President of the United States, is
impeached for high crimes and misdemeanors and that the following articles of
impeachment be exhibited to the United States Senate:
Articles of
impeachment exhibited by the House of Representatives of the United States of
America in the name of itself and of the people of the United States of
America, against Donald John Trump, President of the United States of America,
in maintenance and support of its impeachment against him for high crimes and
misdemeanors.
Article I
Article I in Plain English: The President is obstructing justice and impeding federal
investigations through intimidation, coercion, and firing key officials
In his conduct while President of the United States, Donald John Trump, in violation of his constitutional oath faithfully to execute the office of President of the United States and, to the best of his ability, preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States, and in violation of his constitutional duty to take care that the laws be faithfully executed, has prevented, obstructed, and impeded the administration of justice, and has to that end engaged personally, and through his subordinates and agents, in a course of conduct or scheme designed to delay, impede, cover up, and conceal the existence of evidence and testimony related to duly instituted investigatory proceedings conducted by authorized government officials, as well as to curtail lawful investigations involving Donald John Trump and government officials affiliated with and reporting to him.
(A) On January 30, 2017, Donald John Trump
terminated acting United States Attorney General Sally Caroline Yates. Donald John Trump terminated Sally Caroline
Yates’s position in order to delay, impede, cover up, and conceal
investigations of government officials affiliated with and reporting to Donald
John Trump.
(B) On
February 14, 2017, Donald John Trump directly asked Director of the Federal
Bureau of Investigation (FBI) James Brian Comey Jr. to end an active and lawful
investigation of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Donald John Trump made this request in order
to delay, impede, cover up, and conceal investigations into government
officials affiliated with and reporting to him.
Donald John Trump made this request to benefit himself and to benefit
government officials affiliated with and reporting to him.
(C) On
March 11, 2017, Donald John Trump terminated U.S. Attorney for the Southern
District of New York Preetinder Singh Bharara.
Donald John Trump terminated Preetinder Singh Bharara’s position in
order to delay, impede, cover up, and conceal investigations of government
officials affiliated with and reporting to him.
(D) On May 9, 2017, Donald John Trump
terminated Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation James Brian Comey
Jr. Donald John Trump terminated James
Brian Comey Jr.’s position in order to delay, impede, cover up, and conceal
investigations of government officials affiliated with and reporting to Donald
John Trump. Donald John Trump also terminated James Brian Comey Jr.’s position
because James Brian Comey Jr. refused to end the FBI’s investigation of
government officials affiliated with and reporting to Donald John Trump.
(E) On May 10, 2017, Donald John Trump
admitted in the presence of witnesses that he terminated James Brian Comey Jr.
on May 9, 2017 in order to relieve the “great pressure” associated with the
above-described lawful investigations into Donald John Trump and government
officials affiliated with and reporting to Donald John Trump.
Article II
Article II in Plain English: The President is intimidating witnesses
In his conduct while President of the United States, Donald John Trump, in violation of his constitutional oath faithfully to execute the office of President of the United States and, to the best of his ability, preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States, and in violation of his constitutional duty to take care that the laws be faithfully executed, has prevented, obstructed, and impeded the administration of justice, and has to that end engaged personally, and through his subordinates and agents, in a course of conduct or scheme designed to delay, impede, cover up, and conceal the existence of evidence and testimony related to duly instituted investigatory proceedings conducted by authorized government officials.
On May 12, 2017, Donald John Trump directly
issued or caused to be issued a publicly-viewable online message intended to
intimidate, threaten, and corruptly persuade James Brian Comey Jr. and other
individuals from testifying or producing evidence with respect to
investigations of government officials affiliated with and reporting to Donald
John Trump.
Article III
Article III in Plain English: Despite an explicit constitutional prohibition, the President is making money from foreign governments
while in office
In his conduct while President of the United States, Donald John Trump, in violation of Article I, Section 9, Clause 8 of the United States Constitution, accepted presents, emoluments, and other transactions of pecuniary value directly benefitting himself.
(A) Donald John Trump and entities from which
Donald John Trump directly benefits knowingly and intentionally accepted and
continue to accept money and other payments and gifts from entities owned and/or
controlled by the government of the People’s Republic of China, among others.
(B) Donald John Trump has repeatedly and does
continue to arrange official travel for both United States government officials
and foreign government officials intended to benefit Donald John Trump and
entities owned or controlled by him.
(C) Donald John Trump and entities owned or
controlled by him have accepted permits, approvals, and other similar
emoluments from foreign governments, foreign officials, and foreign
states. These permits, approvals, and
other similar emoluments from foreign governments, foreign officials, and
foreign states financially benefit Donald John Trump and entities owned or
controlled by him.
Article IV
Article IV in Plain English: The President knowingly appointed and retained a foreign agent as National
Security Advisor
In his conduct while President of the United States, Donald John Trump, in violation of his constitutional oath faithfully to execute the office of President of the United States and Article II, Section 3 of the United States Constitution intentionally failed to faithfully execute the laws of the United States by knowingly hiring and retaining foreign agents in positions of national security.
Article V
Article V in Plain English: The President recklessly disclosed intelligence to hostile foreign governments and/or agents
In his conduct while President of the United States, Donald John Trump, in violation of his constitutional oath faithfully to execute the office of President of the United States and Article II, Section 3 of the United States Constitution intentionally failed to faithfully execute the laws of the United States by knowing and intentionally divulging national security intelligence to the foreign agents and foreign officials of adversaries.
[Placeholder: Misconduct from before Presidency, including
inducement of foreign agents to conduct cyberespionage during the campaign and
illegal misconduct in business conduct and/or tax filings]
[Likely future placeholder: Failing to adhere to the Take
Care Clause of the Constitution by refusing to implement (or recklessly or
purposely sabotaging) federal statutes, including the Affordable Care Act]
[Likely future placeholder: Other forms of direct obstruction
of justice, including by impeding the work of Special Counsel Robert Mueller]
[Likely future placeholder: Other forms of indirect
obstruction of justice, including by instructing subordinates to refuse to
answer subpoenas, hand over tapes or documents, or otherwise provide accurate,
relevant, and timely information to federal investigators]
[Likely future placeholder: Making false statements to a
federal investigator]
[Other suggestions welcome: Please contact -- impeach@leviforcolorado.com]
In all of
this, Donald John Trump has undermined the integrity of his office, has brought
disrepute on the Presidency, has betrayed his trust as President, and has acted
in a manner subversive of the rule of law and justice, to the manifest injury
of the people of the United States.
Wherefore,
Donald John Trump, by such conduct, warrants impeachment and trial, and removal
from office and disqualification to hold and enjoy any office of honor, trust,
or profit under the United States.
