168 House Reps Support Impeaching Trump - Do You?

What's the story?

• 168 House Democrats and 1 independent publicly support launching an impeachment inquiry against President Donald Trump.

• The uptick comes after allegations that the president pressured his Ukrainian counterpart to investigate Joe Biden. There is speculation that Trump withheld military aid to Ukraine until the country promised to investigate Biden and his son.
• Last night, seven freshman Democrats wrote an op-ed in the Washington Post saying it will be "an impeachable offense" if Trump "used his position to pressure a foreign country into investigating a political opponent, and ... sought to use U.S. taxpayer dollars as leverage."
• Meanwhile, across the Capitol, Senate Minority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) told a group of reporters on Tuesday that he supports impeachment proceedings in the lower chamber.

“I think this may be the straw that broke the camel’s back. There’s so much cumulative evidence here and many of us have wondered if this would ever see the light of day in an impeachment inquiry, but I think now we have to move forward.”

• Trump confirmed to reporters at the UN General Assembly that he withheld nearly $400 million in military aid to Ukraine, but only as a means to force other EU nations to increase their contributions.

"I want other countries to put up money. I think it's unfair that we put up the money. Then people called me, they said 'Oh, let it go.' And I let it go. We paid the money. The money was paid. But very importantly, Germany, France, other countries should put up money. And that's been my complaint from the beginning."

• Not all (D) reps are prepared for impeachment. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (D-HI), who's running for president, told "Fox & Friends":

"I believe that impeachment at this juncture would be terribly divisive for the country at a time when we are already extremely divided. The hyperpartisanship is one of the main things driving our country apart."

What’s the backstory?

• Trump on Sunday confirmed reports that he discussed former Biden with Ukraine’s president.

"The conversation I had was largely congratulatory, with largely corruption — all of the corruption taking place — largely the fact that we don't want our people like Vice President Biden and his son creating to the corruption already in the Ukraine and Ukraine has got a lot of problems,” Trump told reporters.

• Some believe this is the conversation where Trump made an alleged "promise" to a foreign leader, prompting an American intelligence official to file a formal whistleblower complaint with the inspector general of the intelligence community. However, Trump on Sunday was adamant there was "no quid pro quo" with Ukraine.

What do you think?

Should the House impeach Trump over his attempts to solicit foreign meddling in the 2020 election? Take action and let them know, then share your thoughts below.

—Josh Herman

(Photo Courtesy The White House)