Rep. Gerry Connolly calls for an impeachment inquiry into Trump

Rep. Gerry Connolly (D-11) has become the latest Virginia Democrat to call for the House of Representatives to open an impeachment inquiry into President Donald Trump.

“After careful thought and consideration, I believe the time has come for the House of Representatives to begin an impeachment inquiry into President Donald J. Trump,” Connolly said in a statement.

Connolly becomes the third member of Virginia’s congressional delegation to call for impeachment proceedings to begin, joining Rep. Don Beyer (D-8) and Rep. Jennifer Wexton (D-10). He also becomes the 118th Democrat to support the opening of an impeachment inquiry.

No Republicans support an inquiry, though former Republican and now independent Rep. Justin Amash of Michigan has voiced his support for impeachment proceedings.

Connolly cited Trump’s obstruction of justice and “across the board defiance” of congressional investigations and subpoenas, while also highlighting Trump’s continued conflicts of interest and violation of the emoluments clause. “He makes decisions not for the good of the country, but for his own benefit,” Connolly said.

Connolly urged Americans not to become desensitized to Trump’s behavior and took direct aim at Trump’s divisiveness.

“This is a man who continues to debase the office he holds. He has instilled fear and incited violence. He has called American communities infested, he has told members of Congress to go back to where they came from, he stoked the flames of white supremacy by repeatedly referring to an invasion of foreigners, and he has questioned the allegiance of our fellow Americans,” Connolly said.

The sixth-term congressman, who is a senior member on the House Oversight Committee, said Trump has failed to heal the country at every turn, from Charlottesville to Dayton. “Instead, he has stained the Oval Office with his racism, xenophobia, and bigotry.”

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