The U.S. House of Representatives cast a decisive vote on Tuesday to set aside an impeachment motion against President Donald Trump concerning his military actions in Iran, specifically citing abuse of power for not seeking Congressional authorization prior to launching strikes.
This unexpected development, initiated by U.S. Representative Al Green from Houston, prompted minimal debate within the chamber and revealed a rift among Democrats.
While the Republican majority facilitated the tabling of the impeachment charge, a notable faction of Democrats rallied behind Green’s initiative, demonstrating a divergence of opinions within the party.
The final tally was heavily in favor of tabling the motion, with a vote count of 344 to 79.
In the lead-up to the vote, Green expressed his reluctance to pursue this avenue but felt compelled to act, stating, “I take no delight in what I’m doing… No one person should have the power to take over 300 million people to war without consulting with the Congress of the United States of America.”
He further emphasized the importance of the Constitution, asserting that its relevance hinges on accountability and checks on executive power.
This impeachment motion adds to the ongoing concerns many Democrats harbor regarding Trump’s administration, especially following the abrupt military engagement in the Middle East.
Earlier the same day, President Trump took to social media to lambast another Democrat, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, for labeling his military strategy against Iran as grounds for impeachment.
House Democratic leaders were cautious in their response to Green’s motion.
While they refrained from overt criticism, they made it clear that their legislative priorities lie elsewhere, particularly with a significant tax reform proposal backed by Trump that is progressing through Congress.
Rep. Pete Aguilar, chair of the House Democratic Caucus, stated, “At this time, at this moment, we are focusing on what this big, ugly bill is going to do… Anything outside of that is a distraction because this is the most important thing that we can focus on.”
President Trump faced impeachment twice during his previous term in office; first in 2019 for withholding military aid to Ukraine amid its conflict with Russia, and again in 2021 for inciting an insurrection during the January 6 Capitol attack.
In both instances, the Senate acquitted him, which ultimately allowed him to return to the presidency this year.
Green, who had previously attempted to initiate impeachment articles against Trump early in this year, has continuously voiced his concerns regarding Trump’s actions.
He argues that such actions are veering the U.S. toward authoritarianism, stressing the necessity for Congress to hold the executive branch accountable.
In a statement to The Associated Press, Green reiterated his motivation to push for the vote, aiming to underscore that at least one member of Congress is vigilant about the President’s decisions and working to ensure checks on presidential power.
image source from：houstonpublicmedia
