House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has announced a formal impeachment inquiry into President Donald Trump following outrage over reports that he pressured the Ukrainian president to target Vice President Joe Biden.
Delivering a brief speech in the Capitol, Pelosi said "Today, I am announcing the House of Representatives moving forward with an official impeachment inquiry. The President must be held accountable. No one is above the law. Actions taken to date by the President have seriously violated the Constitution."
The announcement of the formal impeachment inquiry by Pelosi followed the admission of Trump of discussing Vice President Joe Biden and his son in his phone call with the Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky after he decided to withhold hundreds of millions of dollars in military aid to Ukraine.
Pelosi argued "This week, the President has admitted to asking the President of Ukraine to take actions which would benefit him politically. The actions of the Trump presidency revealed the dishonorable fact of the President's betrayal of his oath of office, betrayal of our national security and betrayal of the integrity of our elections."
Following Pelosi's announcement, Rep. Jackie Speier said "I think she's very laser-focused on this offense as being so egregious that it warrants a full blown impeachment inquiry" while House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerry Nadler remarked "I only have one thing to say, full speed ahead."
Georgia Rep. John Lewis expressed his support for impeachment proceedings, arguing that "now is the time to act" and any delay "would betray the foundation of our democracy." He pointed out "We will never find the truth unless we use the power given to the House of Representatives and the House alone to begin an official investigation as dictated by the Constitution. The future of our democracy is at stake."
House Reps. Rosa DeLauro of Connecticut and Debbie Dingell of Michigan have also announced their support for impeachment proceedings.
