Opinion: Brindisi says Trump's actions 'unconstitutional,' Senate should hold trial

Anthony Brindisi | U.S. Congressman, N.Y. 22nd District

The rule of law holds our country together. It’s more important than any person, slogan, or politician. It makes us an enduring nation.

In Congress, the rule of law is bound by our Constitution.

Our founding fathers created a government with three unique, equal branches, designed to be a check on the other, not a blind partner.

Congress has a duty to work with the President; however, it must never be obliged to obey any president if doing so ignores the rule of law.

It is the greatest honor of my life to serve in Congress, and this impeachment process has caused me great pain.

Why?

Because I’ve successfully partnered with this President to improve the lives of many American.

He has signed my bills into law, one of the few freshmen he’s honored in this way. President Trump signed my bill to extend housing and transportation programs to our veterans. I worked with him to push a trade deal with Canada and Mexico. We also established fentanyl sanctions, cracking down on drug traffickers that flood our streets with synthetic opioids.

When tethered to the rule of law, President Trump and both parties can get great things done.

President Trump is my President too. I’ve always said I will work with him to get things done. However, I will always put country first and stand up when I think he is wrong.

I was reluctant to pursue impeachment and withheld judgment until I reviewed all the evidence. I have been critical of members on both sides who were quick to condemn the President or rushed to defend him from all accusations. I have spent weeks reviewing transcripts, talking to Constitutional law experts, and reading scholarly articles about impeachment.

There is little doubt, the President made a grave error in his call with Ukraine. The fact that the President made a political request to a foreign leader of a troubled country with the intention for it to impact an American rival is beyond disappointing. It is unconstitutional.

I took an oath to defend the Constitution. What the President admitted to doing is not something I can pretend is normal behavior. It is also wrong for the President to block testimony of subpoenaed witnesses who have direct knowledge of the Administration’s actions. There is a difference between working with a President and checking that same President. My job is to do both.

I know some people will be angry, but I was elected to do what is right, not politically safe.

I believe there is sufficient evidence to move forward with a Senate trial, and it will be their job to decide if the President should be removed from office.

No one comes to Washington or spends hours away from their young family with the goal of impeachment. But if we care about the rule of law, the scales of justice, and future generations, we must put our faith in the arc of history and our Constitution.

U.S. Rep. Anthony Brindisi (D-Utica) represents New York's 22nd Congressional District.