Democrats fume at "unserious" Trump impeachment vote
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Rep. Al Green attends a press conference held by House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries at the U.S. Capitol on March 5. Photo: Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images
House Democrats privately vented their fury Tuesday about what they said is a "premature" and "unhelpful" vote on impeaching President Trump for his strikes on Iran.
Why it matters: Impeachment has dogged Democrats since Trump came back into office, with Tuesday's vote finally forcing them to go on the record after half a year of internal turmoil.
- The outcome: 128 Democrats sided with House Republicans to block Rep. Al Green (D-Texas) from bringing a Trump impeachment vote, including most of Democratic leadership.
- Just 79 House Democrats — mostly progressives in safe districts — stood with Green on trying to force the vote.
What we're hearing: "A completely unserious and selfish move," one House Democrat told Axios on the condition of anonymity to speak candidly about a colleague.
- Another House Democrat said there is "a lot" of anger about the vote — adding, "I think you heard it from leadership today, they're frustrated."
- "Most people think it's unhelpful," a third House Democrat told Axios.
- Several lawmakers noted that House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) voted against the resolution, as did House Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.).
State of play: Green forced a sudden vote on impeaching Trump for ordering strikes on nuclear facilities in Iran over the weekend without getting authorization from Congress.
- The unilateral strikes have been a major source of tension between congressional Democrats and the administration, though only a handful — including Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) — have said they constitute grounds for impeachment.
- Green's five-page measure argued that Trump "disregarded the doctrine of separation of powers by usurping Congress's power to declare war."
The other side: Green told Axios in an interview he doesn't have "one scintilla of regret" about forcing the vote, adding that it "does not in any way cause me any degree of consternation to be criticized."
- "I respect people have opinions that differ with my opinion," he added.
- Green said the vote was a matter of "conscience," adding, "Do we really want to give this president the power to take over 300 million people to war without consulting with Congress?"
Between the lines: Many Democrats groaned that the vote forces them to choose between grassroots activists clamoring for impeachment and the broader, more moderate electorate.
- "It puts people in a difficult situation," a fourth House Democrat told Axios.
- A fifth fumed: "There are a lot of other things we should be focused on right now."
Zoom in: Many lawmakers also argued that Green's measure was weak on its merits — even more so than the articles of impeachment Rep. Shri Thanedar (D-Mich.) nearly forced to a vote in May, to the fury of his colleagues.
- "What a message to China and Russia — after we take military action, we try to impeach the president," said Rep. Jared Moskowitz (D-Fla.).
- A sixth House Democrat said they were "not even clear the courts would uphold" the impeachment, noting that the debate over constitutional war powers is "fiercely contested."
- "This kind of motion is premature ... I just don't think it's ripe," said a seventh.
Yes, but: Others said it was easy for them to vote with Green to force an impeachment vote.
- "My constituents have been calling for articles of impeachment knowing we don't have the votes to pass them," said Rep. Emily Randall (D-Wash.), adding that "part of our job is to put things on the record."
- Thanedar said simply: "This president should be impeached."
