Today, Congressman Albio Sires (D-8) released the following statement calling for an impeachment inquiry:

“The Constitution gives Congress the sole power to impeach an official, including the President.  In our system of checks and balances, this authority is one that must be used with careful deliberation to hold officials accountable for their actions.  I do not take this responsibility lightly, but the President’s past obstruction of Congressional investigations combined with the revelations of the last 24 hours have made it clear that we must begin an impeachment inquiry. Not only did President Trump order a withholding of funds to a foreign nation until it acquiesced to his demands, he is also attempting to block the whistleblower’s complaint from coming to Congress.  These direct violations of the law, and egregious abuses of power, must be treated like the national security threats that they are.  Up until now, I wanted to follow the ongoing congressional investigations to their conclusions and using the facts uncovered to make a decision about impeachment.  However, these developments raise the urgency to a new level and I join many of my colleagues, and our constituents, in calling for an impeachment inquiry – we must uphold our oaths to protect the country, even if the President will not.”

The congressman issued his statement among similar calls by his colleagues, including U.S. Rep. Mikie Sherrill (D-11).

U.S. Representatives Bill Pascrell and Donald Payne over the summer called for impeachment proceedings against the president.