US Democrats enter new articles to impeach Trump

By Michael Hernandez

WASHINGTON (AA) - Half a dozen Democrats in the House of Representatives entered five new articles of impeachment Wednesday that seeks President Donald Trump's ouster for alleged violations of the Constitution.

Deputies Steve Cohen led fellow lawmakers Adriano Espaillat, Marcia Fudge, Al Green, Luis Gutiérrez, and John Yarmuth in introducing the articles.

They address a wide range of activities ranging from Trump's alleged obstruction of justice related to his handling of an FBI probe of Russia interference in last year's race for the White House, specifically his firing of former director James Comey, to Trump's attempts to undermine the media.

The FBI probe is also seeking to determine whether the Trump campaign participated in the Russian activities, upping the scrutiny surrounding Comey's dismissal.

"The time has come to make clear to the American people and to this President that his train of injuries to our Constitution must be brought to an end through impeachment," Cohen said in a statement.

The articles point to alleged violations of the emoluments clause of the Constitution that prohibits public officials from receiving gifts from foreign governments without Congress' consent. Notably, the articles cite payments from a number of foreign governments to Trump-owned properties in Washington DC and New York.

They also cite Trump's refusal to place his assets into a blind trust, as past presidents have done, and his visits to his properties that were paid for by the federal government.

Presidents are not allowed to receive payments while in office beyond their salaries from the government.

“Congress needs to step in when there is evidence that the President is interfering with the judicial branch, obstructing or disrupting investigations, or if the President is profiting improperly from his office," Gutierrez said.

The articles introduced Wednesday are just the latest efforts to move Congress toward impeachment. Green and congressman Brad Sherman previously introduced articles.

For now, at least, their efforts are unlikely to gain traction.

Despite Trump's historically-low approval ratings, Republicans are certain to reject any effort to impeach him in a chamber they firmly control. And the Democratic leadership has been reticent to back impeachment, citing the need to allow the FBI's Russia probe to conclude.