US: Tlaib to enter impeachment articles by month's end

By Michael Hernandez

WASHINGTON (AA) – U.S. Rep. Rashida Tlaib announced Wednesday that she will introduce articles of impeachment against President Donald Trump by the end of the month.

"This President continues to violate the constitution and perform impeachable actions while in the Oval Office," Tlaib said in a statement.

"From campaign finance violations, violating the Emoluments Clause of the Constitution, to obstruction of justice, his conduct has created a constitutional crisis that we must confront now. Congress must be a check on this President and we must act swiftly," she added.

The House's Democratic leadership has, however, been reluctant to take up impeachment articles against the president without clear bipartisan support, and it is unlikely that Tlaib's effort will gain much traction in the immediate term.

Speaking to reporters at the Capitol, Tlaib said that while her fellow Democrats may disagree with her on the pace of impeachment, "every single colleague of mine thinks there are impeachable offenses".

"But at the same time, I think they know the dangers of allowing President Trump to continue to violate our United States Constitution," she said, according to CBS News.

Impeachment articles must be entered in the House and then tried in the Senate if they clear the chamber, according to the Constitution.

The House Judiciary Committee began a sweeping investigation Monday into Trump, his close associates and his top officials over allegations of abuse of power, corruption and obstruction of justice.

The probe could serve as a foundation for possible impeachment proceedings against Trump should the House decide to follow through on the matter.

So far, committee Chairman Jerrold Nadler has requested information from 81 entities and individuals, including Trump's son-in-law, Jared Kushner, his sons Eric and Donald, his short-lived National Security Advisor Michael Flynn and the Chief Financial Officer of his business, Allen Weisselberg.