WASHINGTON (AP) On the eve of almost-certain impeachment, President Donald Trump fired off a furious letter Tuesday to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi denouncing the vicious crusade against him, while Democrats amassed the votes they needed and Republicans looked ahead, vowing to defend Trump at next months Senate trial.
Trump, who would be just the third U.S. president to be impeached, acknowledged he was powerless to stop Wednesdays vote. He appeared to intend his lengthy, accusatory message less for Pelosi than for the broad audience of citizens watching history unfolding on Capitol Hill.
He accused the Democrats of acting out of Trump Derangement Syndrome, still smarting from their 2016 election losses. You are the ones bringing pain and suffering to our Republic for your own selfish, personal political and partisan gain.
Portraying himself as a blameless victim, as he often does, Trump compared the impeachment inquiry to the Salem Witch Trials. Asked later if he bore any responsibility for the proceedings, he said, No, I dont think any. Zero, to put it mildly.
Pelosi, who warned earlier this year against pursuing a strictly partisan impeachment, nonetheless has the numbers to approve it. According to a tally compiled by The Associated Press, Trump is on track to be formally charged by a House majority on Wednesday. Lawmakers were scheduled to convene this morning with final votes anticipated by early evening.
Very sadly, the facts have made clear that the President abused his power for his own personal, political benefit and that he obstructed Congress, Pelosi wrote to colleagues. In America, no one is above the law.
During this very prayerful moment in our nations history, we must honor our oath to support and defend our Constitution from all enemies, foreign and domestic, she said.
No Republicans have indicated they will support the the two articles of impeachment, for abuse of power and obstruction of Congress, setting up a close-to-party-line vote.
One by one, centrist Democratic lawmakers, including many first-term freshmen who built the House majority and could risk their reelection in districts where the president is popular, announced they would vote to impeach.
Rep. Abby Finkenauer, D-Iowa, referred to the oath she took in January as she was sworn into office as guiding her decision. She announced support for both articles of impeachment to honor my duty to defend our Constitution and democracy from abuse of power at the highest levels.
Republicans disagreed, firmly.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell set the partisan tone for the next step, as attention will shift to the Senate which, under the Constitution, is required to hold a trial on the charges. That trial is expected to begin in January.
Im not an impartial juror, McConnell declared. The Republican-majority chamber is all but sure to acquit the president.
From Alaska to Florida, tens of thousands of Americans marched in support of impeachment Tuesday evening, from a demonstration through a rainy Times Square to handfuls of activists standing vigil in small towns. They carried signs saying Save the Constitution – Impeach!!!! and Criminal-in-Chief.
I really believe that the Constitution is under assault, said one protester, 62-year-old Glenn Conway, of Holly Springs, North Carolina, attending his first political rally in 30 years. I think we have a president at this point who believes hes above the law.
Trump is accused of abusing his presidential power in a July phone call in which he asked the newly elected president of Ukraine, a U.S. ally facing an aggressive Russia at its border, to do us a favor by investigating Democrats, including his potential 2020 rival Joe Biden. At the time, President Volodymyr Zelenskiy was hoping for a coveted White House meeting that would bolster his standing with Ukraines most important ally. He also was counting on nearly $400 million in military aid Congress had approved to counter Russia. The White House had put the money on hold as leverage, the Democrats say.
In his letter on Tuesday, Trump defended his absolutely perfect phone call that sparked the impeachment inquiry. He also tried to justify anew the Ukrainian investigations he wanted into Biden. And he disputed the charges of abuse of power and obstruction of Congress investigation.
