Manatee County DEC members voted to join other local Democratic groups to urge Congress to immediately begin an impeachment inquiry into President Trump, with the following resolution. During the discussion, participants emphasized that this is not a call for actual impeachment, rather an inquiry to start the process.

As the president continues to obstruct justice by denying Congressional oversight, and in light of the multiple well-documented incidents that appear to be obstruction of justice laid out in the Mueller Report, to do anything less would set the terrible precedent of Congress abdicating their responsibilities under the Constitution.

The United States President is not a King who is above the law. That has always been a near-sacred belief of the American people. As Thomas Paine put it long ago, “in America the law is king,” not the President. 

The Constitution gives the House of Representatives the “sole Power of Impeachment.” In addition to obstruction allegations, there is clear evidence that President Trump has abused the power of his office and violated the emoluments clause. Members of the House must do their duty, even if they believe that many Senators will not do theirs.

Congress cannot simply look the other way when faced with the vast evidence of criminality. We the American People need leaders who will protect our Constitution from all who seek to destroy or disregard its fundamental principles. And there is no greater principle than the accountability of the President to the people.

Impeachment should not be a partisan issue, so partisan considerations should not come into play when determining whether or not to begin the impeachment process. It’s is a question of duty. Congress must do its job, which includes oversight of the President, regardless of any speculation about what will happen in the next election. 

Congress needs to act now. The people will act in 2020.

This proclamation was originated by the Democratic Progressive Caucus of Florida, championed locally by the Sarasota-Charlotte Democratic Progressive Caucus, and adopted by the Florida LGBTA Democratic Caucus,  the Sarasota County Democratic Executive Committee, Manasota Young Democrats,  and local Indivisible groups.

For Sarasota coverage in the Herald Tribune: http://bit.ly/2IM6BvM