Reps. Brad Sherman and Al Green cite the president's conduct in the firing of the former FBI director for obstruction of justice

Advertisement Congressmen introduce Article of Impeachment against President Trump Reps. Brad Sherman and Al Green cite the president's conduct in the firing of the former FBI director for obstruction of justice Share Shares Copy Link Copy

Two Democratic lawmaker have introduced an Article of Impeachment against President Donald Trump for obstruction of justice.Reps. Brad Sherman (D-Calif.) and Al Green (D-Texas) announced the article Wednesday in a news conference at the Capitol.Sherman said he believes Trump's conversations with and firing of former FBI Director James Comey constitute obstruction of justice. Comey was leading an investigation into alleged Russian election meddling and potential collusion by the Trump campaign."In all of this, Donald John Trump has acted in a manner contrary to his trust as president and subversive of constitutional government, to the great prejudice of the cause of law and justice and to the manifest injury of the people of the United States," Sherman's House Resolution 438 reads. "Wherefore, Donald John Trump, by such conduct warrants impeachment and trial, and removal from office."Click here to read the House Resolution calling for Trump's impeachment.Asked about the impeachment bill during an off-camera briefing, White House deputy press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders called it "utterly ridiculous" and "a political game at its worst."Green previously said he would be drafting Articles of Impeachment against the president, though the effort may be fruitless. Republican lawmakers would likely be hesitant to impeach a president from their own party, and Democratic leadership has been wary of broaching the topic.In the impeachment process, each branch of the government plays a role. First, the House votes on one or more article, with the president being impeached — similar to being indicted — if the representatives get a majority vote on one of the articles. Then, the Senate holds a trial overseen by the chief justice of the Supreme Court and a team of House lawmakers playing the role of prosecutors. If two-thirds of senators find the president guilty, he is removed and the vice president succeeds him.Only three presidents have been subjected to impeachment proceedings. Andrew Johnson in 1868 and Bill Clinton 1999 were acquitted and remained in office, while Richard Nixon resigned to avoid being impeached."I am pleased that Congressman Al Green (D-TX) has joined me in filing Articles of Impeachment against Donald J. Trump," Sherman said in a release. "We now begin the effort to force the House Judiciary Committee to hold hearings on Obstruction of Justice and Russian interference in our election."The move comes a day after Trump's son, Donald Jr., released emails showing he met last year with a Russian lawyer for possible information to use against then-Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton.After the release, Green tweeted that the emails "expose more truth. We're getting closer to impeachment." Sherman said more Articles of Impeachment may emerge as evidence comes from separate investigations, but they believe there is sufficient evidence for obstruction to move forward.The representative said he sees two possible outcomes from introducing Articles of Impeachment:"I have slight hope it will inspire an 'intervention' in the White House. If Impeachment is real, if they actually see Articles, perhaps we will see incompetency replaced by care.""Second, and more likely, filing Articles of Impeachment is the first step on a very long road. But if the impulsive incompetency continues, then eventually — many, many months from now — Republicans will join the impeachment effort."