Craig and Phillips Call for Immediate Action on Impeachment Following Ukraine Allegations

Reps. Angie Craig (D-MN-02) and Dean Phillips (D-MN-03), representing suburban swing districts, both released statements Monday in support of pursuing impeachment.

The statements were released in response to allegations that President Donald Trump pressured the president of Ukraine to investigate Joe Biden’s son, Hunter, and threatened to withhold military aid if President Volodymyr Zelensky didn’t comply.

Craig and Phillips, who have gone back and forth on the issue of impeachment, now wholeheartedly support pursuing an impeachment inquiry.

“I came to Congress on a mission to clean up corruption and restore America’s trust in our government. It appears that our President encouraged the leader of Ukraine to investigate his political opponent, thereby inviting foreign interference in our democracy. This continues a pattern of behavior that is corrupt at best, treasonous at worst, and puts our rule of law at risk,” Phillips said in a Monday press release.

“Our Constitution transcends any person, politician, or political party, and I call on the House Foreign Affairs, Intelligence, and Judiciary Committees to use every legal mechanism possible to obtain all relevant evidence. If the reports are corroborated, we must pursue articles of impeachment and report them to the full House of Representatives for immediate consideration,” he added.

Craig released a similar statement, saying Congress has a “responsibility to ensure that no one is above the law—particularly our elected leaders.”

“Yesterday, the President and his personal counsel confessed to asking the Ukrainian government to interfere with a political rival. Additionally, President Trump threatened to withhold military aid to our ally if they did not comply. It is clear that the sitting president of the United States placed his own personal interests above the national security of the United States,” Craig said.

“We must safeguard our electoral process and our very democracy from outside threats. For this reason, the current investigations into corruption must continue. And when there is an abuse of power of this magnitude, it is our responsibility to stand up for what is right. This is why I am calling to open impeachment proceedings—immediately, fairly, and impartially,” she continued.

Reps. Betty McCollum (D-MN-04) and Ilhan Omar (D-MN-05) both support an immediate impeachment inquiry, while Rep. Collin Peterson (D-MN-07) remains opposed. Sen. Amy Klobuchar, a presidential candidate, has expressed support for impeachment, while Sen. Tina Smith, who’s up for reelection in 2020, has avoided the topic.

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Anthony Gockowski is managing editor of Battleground State News, The Ohio Star, and The Minnesota Sun. Follow Anthony on Twitter. Email tips to [email protected].
Photo “Dean Phillips” by Dean Phillips.