Rep. Al Green, D-Texas, has filed a new resolution to impeach President Donald Trump, accusing the president of abusing the powers of his office and posing a threat to the United States' democratic republic.
Filed on Monday, the resolution specifically targets the president's use of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) forces. According to the document, Trump is accused of operating these agencies as "vicious, quota-driven, unaccountable paramilitary police forces." It further alleges transgressions including anonymity, secrecy, assaults on individuals, and covering up unjustified killings of civilians with impunity, thereby devolving the nation into an authoritarian regime.
"Our country and the lives of people within it are at risk as President Donald John Trump is a great threat to the United States democratic republic, its Constitution, and democracy, violating Article II, Section 1, Clause 8 of the United States Constitution and its mandate to faithfully execute the office of President of the United States and, to the best of his ability, preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States," the resolution states.
The White House, through spokeswoman Lauren Bis, dismissed the resolution as "garbage" and suggested it contributes to increased assaults on law enforcement officers. The statement also credited the president and law enforcement with reducing violent crime.
Green has a history of filing impeachment resolutions against Trump. He previously offered similar measures during Trump's first term. The House impeached Trump twice during his presidency, but neither effort led to a conviction in the Senate.
The congressman, who has served in the House since 2005, lost a Democratic primary runoff in May. Given the current Republican majority in both chambers of Congress, his latest impeachment effort is unlikely to succeed.
In a letter to the president, Green acknowledged that some might argue the resolutions lack the necessary support for impeachment or conviction. However, he stated that such articles can still serve to express disapproval of presidential actions on the record and demonstrate oversight.