Himes is First Member of CT Delegation to Call for Trump Impeachment

On Monday US Rep Democrat Jim Himes, from Greenwich, became the latest Democrat to call for the launch of impeachment proceedings against  President Donald Trump.

Himes’s announcement makes him one of more than 70 Democrats to come out in support of an impeachment inquiry, breaking ranks with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) who remains resistant to the idea.

Five other members of the House Intelligence panel have also come out in support of an inquiry.

“My motive today is not to pressure the speaker of the House, whose leadership in this Congress has been superb,” Himes said in his speech. “She leads us today in the epic mission of defending our democracy. That mission requires a vigorous debate and competing ideas, but it also requires care, discipline and a measure of deference.”

Himes, a senior member of the House Intelligence Committee, is the only member of the Connecticut congressional delegation to publicly call for impeachment proceedings.

“From the moment of his inauguration, this President has shown contempt for the truth, has attacked our institutions, and has ignored the Constitution he swore to defend,” Himes said. “He has refused the oversight which is Congress’ long-established right and duty. In recent weeks, he has refused to comply with subpoenas, he has ordered administration officials to refuse to testify, and he has asserted executive privilege of unprecedented scope with respect to attempts to alter the census.”

In a Tweet on Monday Himes said, “Pending an impeachment inquiry is not removal of the President. Given the behavior of the Senate, that outcome is probably out of the question.”

He also Tweeted, “There are moments for careful calculation, weighing political expediency & conflicting interests. And there moments for clarity and conviction. This is that moment.”