While it is impossible to see how President Donald Trump will be impeached so long as both chambers of Congress are controlled by Republicans, that didn't stop 58 House Democrats from advancing two articles of impeachment against the president.
The measure was ultimately sidelined by a vote of 364 to 58, Politico reported. Rep. Al Green of Texas, who led the movement to impeach Trump, argued in a letter to House Democrats earlier this week, "The question isn't whether we have a bigot as President, the question is: What are we going to do about it? The answer is: impeachment for his high misdemeanors, which need not be a crime."
By contrast, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi and Minority Whip Steny Hoyer argued in a joint statement, "Congressional committees continue to be deeply engaged in investigations into the President's actions both before and after his inauguration. The special counsel's investigation is moving forward as well, and those inquiries should be allowed to continue. Now is not the time to consider articles of impeachment."
The proposed articles themselves would have been a very tough sell, considering that they focused on controversial comments Trump has made rather than allegations that he has misused his office for personal gain or colluded with the Russian government during the 2016 presidential election. The articles denounced the president's expression of sympathy with "alt-right" protesters at Charlottesville, his criticism of the NFL player protests, his retweeting of anti-Muslim videos, his Muslim travel ban, his transgender military ban, his victim-blaming of Puerto Ricans after Hurricane Maria and his referring to Rep. Frederica Wilson of Florida as "wacky" on three separate occasions.
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