House Democrats May File Articles Of Impeachment Against Trump Before The Weekend

The House Judiciary Committee appears poised to begin drafting articles of impeachment against President Donald Trump this week and may finish before the weekend. Monday will see the release of both a 55-page document outlining the legal basis for impeachment and a 300-page report from Congress detailing findings related to Trump’s alleged inappropriate dealings with Ukraine.

Trump is accused of threatening to withhold millions in military aid intended for Ukraine over his request for their government to investigate Hunter Biden, the son of former Vice President Joe Biden, for possible corruption linked to his time as a board member for Ukrainian gas company Burisma Holdings. Democrats have said this action was not only illegal – as the aid meant for Ukraine had been authorized by Congress – but was also politically motivated, the aim being to dig up dirt against Trump’s potential 2020 presidential rival.

Whether a draft of the articles of impeachment is finished this week will, however, depend on how fast the House acts following a briefing on Monday’s reports. It will also depend on the outcome of an ongoing debate among House Democrats about whether or not to expand the scope of impeachment beyond Trump’s dealings with Ukraine. If this does become the case, then it would be unlikely a draft of the articles of impeachment will be completed this week.

The Democrats pushing to go this route say the report released by FBI special council Robert Mueller regarding Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election indicates that Trump engaged in the obstruction of justice and possible other “high crimes.” Mueller, following the released of his team’s findings, declined to bring criminal charges against Trump, saying a sitting president could not be indicted.

Democrats have also floated potentially investigating whether Trump has personally benefited financially as a result of holding office. A key part of this aspect may be revealed by House-issued subpoenas delivered to Deutsche Bank and Capitol One seeking records relating to Trump’s banking finances. Trump has sued to stop these subpoenas but after failing to appeal a court decision to allow the subpoenas last week, the President has taken his appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court.

On Friday, Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg granted a one-week stay on the release of the President’s bank records while the court considers a ruling on Trump’s appeal.

Some Democrats opposing expanding the impeachment’s scope worry that doing so will delay bringing a vote to the House, while others worry it will put freshman Democrats from Republican-leaning districts at risk.