Local Reaction To Impeachment Investigation
Oregon and Washington lawmakers are reacting to Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi announcing an impeachment inquiry against President Donald Trump Tuesday afternoon, as more and more members of her party come out in support of the action.
Both of Oregon’s Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley, who are both democrats, support the impeachment inquiry against President Trump.
“Beginning impeachment proceedings is not an action to be taken lightly,” Sen. Merkley said Tuesday in a statement.
“Unfortunately, the gravity and extent of President Trump’s corrupt actions makes it absolutely clear that Congress must do so. President Trump has repeatedly and flagrantly violated his oath of office and disgraced the office of the presidency. Holding foreign aid hostage until a foreign leader agrees to smear a political opponent is textbook corruption, plain and simple…. It is time for Congress, as a co-equal branch of government, to fulfill its constitutional role and hold the President accountable. Now that the House is moving forward with impeachment proceedings, I urge it to move swiftly to complete its investigation and to bring these proceedings to the floor of the House for a vote.”
Wyden tweeted this out:
What the House of Representatives did by opening an impeachment inquiry is essential to protecting the well-being of the country.
— Ron Wyden (@RonWyden) September 24, 2019
One of the first U.S. lawmakers to call for President Trump to be impeached over previous issues was Oregon Congressman Earl Blumenauer, a democrat who represents Portland. He pointed it out in a new tweet Tuesday.
I was one of the very first in Congress to support it.
As of right now, there are 159 others.
The tide is turning. Keep calling. #ImpeachmentInquiryNow
— Earl Blumenauer (@repblumenauer) September 24, 2019
Oregon Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici, also a democrat, applauded the decision of Speaker Nancy Pelosi to begin an impeachment inquiry. She emailed the KXL newsroom this statement:
“I commend Speaker Pelosi for moving forward with an impeachment inquiry,” said Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici. “The President admitted to asking a foreign government to investigate a political adversary. He must be held accountable for this impeachable offense, along with his many other wrongdoings that have betrayed the trust of the American people and undermined our democracy. Asking a foreign country to meddle in an upcoming election is a serious national security concern. Families, individuals, and communities across the U.S. need to have faith in their elections and deserve a president who has their best interest in mind, not someone who has repeatedly taken advantage of the Executive Office for personal gain. I am committed to working with the Speaker and my colleagues to advance an impeachment inquiry that will protect the American people and our national security.”
Bonamici first came out in support of an impeachment inquiry in May. She has repeatedly reiterated her support for beginning an inquiry, including following the recent reports about Trump’s improper phone call with the President of Ukraine.
Time for Congress to get the whistleblower’s complaint (as required by law) and ramp up an impeachment investigation to hold Trump accountable for this and other wrongdoings.
— Suzanne Bonamici (@RepBonamici) September 23, 2019
Oregon Congressman Peter DeFazio, also a democrat, tweeted his support of the inquiry
Time for Congress to get the whistleblower’s complaint (as required by law) and ramp up an impeachment investigation to hold Trump accountable for this and other wrongdoings.
— Suzanne Bonamici (@RepBonamici) September 23, 2019
KXL has reached out to Oregon’s only Republican member of Congress Rep. Greg Walden for a statement on the impeachment inquiry.
The Columbian Newspaper did an in depth interview with Washington State Congresswoman Jamie Herrera Beutler, who calls for ‘transparency’ of the Trump call transcript.
