Rep. Maxine Waters Statement on the Formal Impeachment Inquiry of Donald J. Trump

WASHINGTON – Rep. Maxine Waters (CA-43) issued the following statement on the formal impeachment inquiry of Donald J. Trump:

“I am supportive of the leadership of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi who has united the Democratic Caucus and has formalized an impeachment inquiry of the current President of the United States. Donald Trump has admitted to abusing the power of the presidency by asking Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to launch an investigation into his political opponent in order to get dirt that the Trump campaign could exploit in the 2020 U.S. presidential election. This action within itself -- where the president is seeking the cooperation and assistance of a foreign government in uncovering dirt on his opponent -- is unlawful, unconstitutional, and unpatriotic. I am elated that the Congress of the United States will move forward in an expedited manner to investigate and impeach this president.

“When you couple this latest action with all that we know about the president, his history, and the way in which he has conducted himself while in office, there is more than enough evidence for the Congress of the United States to launch an impeachment inquiry into this president. Despite the fact that U.S. intelligence community unequivocally concluded that Russia interfered in the 2016 U.S. presidential election, this president has shown a brazen support and deference for Russian President Vladimir Putin and the Kremlin and has continued to undermine and outright deny the validity of the U.S. intelligence community’s findings. Special Counsel Robert Mueller identified at least 10 instances of obstruction of justice by the president of the United States during the 2016 presidential campaign and through the course of the Russia investigation, and he furthered the scope of what we know about collusion and coordination between the Trump campaign, Trump’s allies, and the Kremlin in their efforts to undermine our election systems on Trump’s behalf. This president orchestrated hush money payments in order to silence his mistresses with the aid of his personal attorney, Michael Cohen, who pled guilty and is serving jail time for these acts, which are potential felony violations of campaign finance laws. He and his children have sought out opportunities to enrich themselves during his tenure as president. He is under investigation for accepting payments from foreign governments and officials that have stayed at his hotels and golf properties in violation of the Constitution’s emoluments clause, which prohibits elected officials from personally profiting from payments from foreign governments and officials that have stayed at his hotels and golf properties. This president has been documented by the Washington Post for having lied more than 12,000 times since taking office. Unlike any other president in modern history, Trump has refused to release his tax returns to the American people. These, and a host of other actions, are further evidence of his disgraceful and contemptible actions as the president of the United States.

“I’m beyond pleased that a strong majority of my Democratic colleagues have joined us in the effort to hold accountable and impeach the most unlawful and unpatriotic man to ever occupy the White House. As I have stated time and time again, Donald Trump is a dangerous and dishonorable man. He has no respect for our democracy, our Constitution, or the rule of law. It is past time that Congress fulfills its Constitutional duty to impeach him. I am elated that it appears that day is upon us.”

John Lewis calls for start of Trump impeachment inquiry

Rep. John Lewis,(D-GA 5th District) , called for the start of an impeachment inquiry into President Donald Trump during an impassioned speech on the House floor. Lewis, who has until now withheld judgment on whether to begin impeachment proceedings, said delaying the inquiry any further “would betray the foundation of our democracy.” “I have been patient while we tried every other path and used every other tool,” Lewis said, but added that lawmakers would “never find the truth” unless the House uses the Constitution to begin an investigation into the president immediately.

Rep. Elijah Cummings Supports Impeachment

Rep. Elijah E. Cummings, the Chairman of the Committee on Oversight and Reform, issued the following statement on the impeachment inquiry:

“As elected Representatives of the American people, we speak not only for those who are here with us now, but for generations yet unborn. Our voices today are messages to a future we may never see.

“When the history books are written about this tumultuous era, I want them to show that I was among those in the House of Representatives who stood up to lawlessness and tyranny. If Senate Republicans choose to close their eyes, put party over country, and forego their duty under the Constitution, the history books will show that too.

“We can now see with our own eyes that the President is jeopardizing our national security. He admitted to personally withholding military security aid that Congress appropriated to help Ukraine counter Russian aggression. He admitted to personally urging a foreign actor to dig up dirt on his political rival. And he personally attacked a whistleblower whose protected information is being withheld from Congress in violation of the law.

“If there is a core lesson President Trump should have learned from the 2016 election, it is this: Pressing a foreign actor to interfere in our national elections is a fundamental corruption of our democracy, an affront to the Constitution, and a grave breach of his oath of office.

“Each member of the House and the Senate must decide whether he or she will stand for the country or cave to this Administration. I pray that each member chooses our country.”

Congressman Al Green statement on impeachment inquiry

On Tuesday, September 24, 2019, Congressman Al Green (D-TX 9th District) , who has tried several times to move articles of impeachment against President Trump released the following statement in response to the announcement of an impeachment inquiry:

“On behalf of people of goodwill, I thank the First 58 who voted to move articles of impeachment on December 6, 2017, the Historic 66 who voted to move articles of impeachment on January 19, 2018, and the Noble 95 who voted to move articles of impeachment on July 17, 2019. For their tireless and progressive efforts, I would also like to thank By The People, Center for Popular Democracy, Citizens Impeachment Coalition, Common Cause, Courage Campaign, CREDO, CREW, DC Action Lab, Democracy for America, Free Speech For People, Indivisible, Lawyers for Good Government, Mainers for Accountable Leadership, March for Truth, March for Truth – Boston, MoveOn, National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), Need to Impeach, NextGen America, Our Revolution, Popular Democracy, Progressive Democrats of America, Revolving Door Project, Social Security Works, StandUp America, and Women’s March.

“With nearly 200 Members of the House of Representatives favoring an impeachment inquiry, we have been

VINDICATED.

“However, as we approach the 218 votes needed to impeach, there is more to be done.”

A Fool's Errand: Creating the National Museum of African American History and Culture in the Age of Bush, Obama, and Trump

Founding Director Lonnie Bunch's deeply personal tale of the triumphs and challenges of bringing the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture to life. His story is by turns inspiring, funny, frustrating, quixotic, bittersweet, and above all, a compelling read.

In its first four months of operation, the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture surpassed one million visits and quickly became a cherished, vital monument to the African American experience. And yet this accomplishment was never assured. In A Fool's Errand, founding director Lonnie Bunch tells his story of bringing his clear vision and leadership to bear to realize this shared dream of many generations of Americans.

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This inside account of how Bunch planned, managed, and executed the museum's mission informs and inspires not only readers working in museums, cultural institutions, and activist groups, but also those in the nonprofit and business worlds who wish to understand how to succeed--and do it spectacularly--in the face of major political, structural, and financial challenges.

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