Mike the Mad Biologist

A couple of weeks ago, Democratic congressman John Larson introduced an impeachment resolution. It is worth noting that Larson is a ‘member in good standing’: he is not a backbencher or loose cannon, and at one point, leader of the Democratic House caucus. So primaries do work!

Before we get to the articles themselves, the key point is that the claimed high crimes and misdemeanors really are not debatable–there is very little grounds for interpreting events differently. In other words, Trump did these things and should be impeached for them. On to my summary of the thirteen articles of impeachment:

1. Article I: War Power-Murder-Piracy. If you thought this just referred to Venezuela, you would be wrong. It also discusses other violations of Congress’ sole authority to declare war.
2. Article II: Militarization Of Domestic Law Enforcement. This refers to Trump’s illegal declarations of national emergencies and deployments of the National Guard. Note the illegitimacy of the emergency declarations, so it does cover D.C. (which is mentioned in the text).
3. Article III: Serial Unconstitutional Detentions And Deportations. This includes both attempted and successful deportation of citizens and immigrants “based significantly on race or ethnicity or political opposition to Mr. Trump.” It also refers to Trump’s racist demonization of immigrants and the deportations to El Salvador’s CECOT.
4. Article IV: Retaliation Against Constitutionally Protected Speech Or Association. This refers to firing of various government employees, including those who worked on the January 6 insurrection investigation, as well as an executive order “Ending Radical Indoctrination in K–12 Schooling in order to propagandize students into believing Americans are God’s new chosen people.” Truth be told, the second part is not good, but I am uncertain why it is mentioned.
5. Article V: Abuse Of The Pardon Power–Sabotaging The Rule Of Law. This includes both the pardons of the January 6 insurrectionists, the pardon of former narcotrafficker and president of Honduras, and pardons of multiple people who contributed to his campaign. Interestingly, it also refers to Trump publicly stating in 2019 that he would pardon an administration official who broke the law for him.
6. Article VI: Illegally Crippling or Defunding Programs to Protect Consumers, the Needy, Workers, and the Environment. This includes harming federal enforcement by withholding funds in violation of the Impoundment Control Act and the Administrative Procedure Act.
7. Article VII: Usurpation Of The Congressional Power Of The Purse. Really do not think this needs explanation, other than to note this also includes spending private money on public purposes (e.g., his fucking ballroom).
8. Article VIII: Contempt Of Congress—Secret Government. Interestingly, this also refers to the Epstein file releases.
9. Article IX: Perverting Law Enforcement To Persecute Political Opponents And Benefit Friends. Again, all of the politically motivated investigations and prosecutions are daily news.
10. Article X: Suspending Or Dispensing With Laws. This describes two things: the firing of inspectors general, preventing oversight, and “[eschewing] any limiting principle that would prevent the President from refusing to enforce any law enacted by Congress thereby making its legislative power a dead letter and rendering the entire United States Code advisory only.”
11. Article XI: Flouting Section 1 Of The Fourteenth Amendment. This refers to Trump’s executive order, “Protecting the Meaning and Value of American Citizenship”, which would strip certain native-born citizens of their citizenship.
12. Article XII: Specious National Emergency—Foreign Terrorist Organization Declarations. This lists multiple unwarranted declarations of national emergencies.
13. Article XIII: Domestic And Foreign Emoluments Clauses. Trump has been committing violations of the Emoluments clauses since his first term. Nuff said.

These are all pretty good, but I wish Larson had lead with the corruption-related charges (emoluments and the pardons). Those are easier to understand, and they should be upfront, not at the end. The other issue is that, at times, the writing is a bit tame. In certain places, they really need to lay it on thick. I really would like to see more like this from Article XIII: “In so doing, President Trump has cast doubt on his loyalty to the United States and the rule of law.” Americans are not a subtle people.

That said, it is a good starting point, and there is no reason for any Democrat to avoid supporting these–and, if Republicans valued country over party, no reason for Republicans either.