Efforts by Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) and other Democrats to initiate impeachment proceedings against President Donald Trump due to his military action in Iran encountered significant obstacles on Monday, as a prominent Democratic senator labeled the initiative as “dead on arrival.”
Senator John Fetterman (D-PA), who supported Trump’s decisive action to target Iranian nuclear facilities on Sunday, dismissed speculation that Democrats would urge Republicans to commence new impeachment efforts.
This unlikely initiative gained some traction after Democratic leaders accused President Trump of breaching the Constitution by engaging in a “war” without the necessary congressional authorization.
“Certainly not [he should not be impeached],” Fetterman stated in an interview with Fox News.
“She is aware of it. I am aware of it. We are all aware of it… it is not going anywhere. He has faced impeachment twice, and he remains our president as well, thus it is not going anywhere, and I do not believe that [raising the issue is] beneficial.”
Fetterman’s remarks came after AOC’s recent demand for impeachment, which would mark a historic third effort, following 14 “bunker buster” bombs striking Iranian nuclear enrichment sites early on Sunday.
“The President’s catastrophic choice to launch a bombing campaign against Iran without proper authorization constitutes a serious breach of the Constitution and Congressional War Powers,” the congresswoman from the Bronx shared online shortly after the strikes were disclosed.
Fetterman further cautioned that casually using the term “impeachment” diminishes its significance.
“I believe that if you use that term indiscriminately, it actually lessens the gravity of what impeachment is truly meant for,” he remarked.
Far-left Representative Sean Casten (D-IL) supported AOC’s stance, although he acknowledged the slim likelihood of success.
“I am not asserting that we possess the votes to impeach,” Casten stated. “I am asserting that you MUST NOT proceed without Congressional consent.”
More establishment Democrat leaders exhibited a significantly higher level of caution.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) criticized Trump, asserting that the president “failed to seek congressional authorization for the use of military force and risks American entanglement in a potentially disastrous war in the Middle East.”
“Donald Trump bears complete and total responsibility for any negative outcomes that arise from his unilateral military action,” Jeffries further stated.
In contrast, Vice President J.D. Vance staunchly supported Trump’s decision, asserting that the president possessed full authority to act preemptively against potential Iranian retaliation towards Israel or attacks on U.S. forces in the region.
“First and foremost, the president has unequivocal authority to act in order to prevent the spread of weapons of mass destruction,” Vance remarked during an appearance on NBC’s “Meet the Press.” “The notion that this action was beyond presidential authority is something that any serious legal expert would refute as untrue.”
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Rep. Mike Lawler (R-NY) also pointed out to critics the numerous occasions when Democratic presidents employed military force without encountering demands for impeachment.
“For my colleagues who are now calling for impeachment, it is utterly ridiculous,” Lawler stated on “Fox & Friends.” “Barack Obama conducted military actions in Libya, Syria, Pakistan, and Yemen during his presidency, and at no point did they call for impeachment. Therefore, these individuals are genuinely exhibiting unprecedented levels of Trump derangement following yesterday’s decision.”
House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) defended President Donald Trump’s decision on Sunday to utilize the U.S. military to target three suspected Iranian nuclear weapons sites, asserting that he did not require Congressional approval to proceed with this action.
“The President made a judicious decision and took the necessary actions. Congressional leaders recognized the urgency of the matter, and the Commander-in-Chief assessed that the imminent threat surpassed the time required for Congressional action,” Johnson stated on the X platform.
“The largest state sponsor of terrorism, which proclaims ‘Death to America,’ must not be permitted the chance to acquire and utilize nuclear weapons. The President holds the Article I authority of Congress in high regard, and the limited, targeted strike executed tonight aligns with the historical precedent of similar military operations conducted by presidents from both political parties,” he continued.
