[Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 80 (Tuesday, May 13, 2025)]
[House]
[Pages H1955-H1959]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
{time} 1415
NOTICE OF INTENTION TO OFFER RESOLUTION RAISING A QUESTION OF THE
PRIVILEGES OF THE HOUSE
Mr. THANEDAR. Mr. Speaker, pursuant to clause 2(a)(1) of rule IX, I
rise to give notice of my intention to raise a question of the
privileges of the House.
The form of the resolution is as follows:
H. Res. 353: Impeaching Donald John Trump, President of the United
States, for high crimes and misdemeanors.
Resolution: Impeaching Donald John Trump, President of the United
States, for high crimes and misdemeanors.
Resolved, That Donald John Trump, President of the United States, is
impeached for high crimes and misdemeanors, and that the following
articles of impeachment be exhibited to the Senate:
Article of impeachment exhibited by the House of Representatives of
the United States of America in the name of itself and of the people of
the United States of America, against Donald John Trump, President of
the United States of America, in maintenance and support of its
impeachment against him for high crimes and misdemeanors.
article i: obstruction of justice, violation of due process, and a
breach of the duty to faithfully execute laws
The Constitution provides that the House of Representatives ``shall
have the sole Power of Impeachment'' and that the President ``shall be
removed from Office on Impeachment for, and Conviction of, Treason,
Bribery, or other high Crimes and Misdemeanors''. Further, Article II
of the Constitution states that the President ``shall take Care that
the Laws be faithfully executed'', the Fourth Amendment of the
Constitution states that ``The right of the people . . . against
unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated'', and the
Fifth Amendment of the Constitution states ``No person shall be . . .
deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law''.
In his conduct of the office of President of the United States--and in
violation of his constitutional oath to faithfully to execute the
office of President of the United States and, to the best of his
ability, preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United
States, and in violation of his constitutional duty to take care that
the laws be faithfully executed--Donald John Trump has abused the
powers of the Presidency in a manner offensive to, and subversive of,
the Constitution, in that:
Using the power of his high office, Donald John Trump has engaged in
this scheme or course of conduct through the following means:
(1) By his orders and directions to subordinates, obstructed the
administration of justice and embarked on a scheme to destroy and
corrupt the legal system and the powers of the courts under Article III
of the Constitution. Specifically, he has done the following:
(A) Directed and permitted his subordinates and attorneys at the
Department of Justice to violate their oaths to uphold the
Constitution, laws of the United States, and the rules of professional
ethics by adducing misleading and willfully false representations to
the courts of the United States, and to otherwise abuse their official
powers. Specifically, he has--
(i) sought to dismiss, without prejudice and under false pretenses,
the bribery and fraud charges against New York City Mayor Eric Adams,
in an unethical quid pro quo exchange for the Defendant's cooperation
with the Administration's political priorities, thus abusing the
criminal laws to unconstitutionally commandeer a State officer and unit
of government in violation of the sovereignty thereof; and
(ii) terminated and purged career Department of Justice attorneys
without reasonable cause and in violation of the law in retaliation for
their legitimate investigatory and prosecutorial
=========================== NOTE ===========================
On May 13, 2025, beginning near the bottom of the middle column
of page H1955, through the third column of page H1959, the
following appears: Impeaching Donald John Trump for high crimes
and misdemeanors . . . Wherefore, Donald John Trump, by such
conduct, has demonstrated that he is unfit to govern a nation by
and for the people, has acted in a manner grossly incompatible
with self-governance and the rule of law, and will remain a threat
to the Constitution if allowed to remain in office.
The online version has been corrected to reflect the bill text
of H. Res. 353, as introduced, verbatim.
========================= END NOTE =========================
[[Page H1956]]
work under prior administrations, including in relation to the January
6, 2021, attack on the United States Capitol, and in retaliation for
attorneys upholding their ethical and legal obligations including
candor and honesty to the courts.
(B) Directed and permitted the evasion and defiance of binding court
orders. Specifically, he has--
(i) removed persons from the United States to El Salvador despite an
order from the United States District Court for the District of
Columbia, for which said Court has found probable cause that the
Government committed acts of criminal contempt;
(ii) removed Kilmar Armando Abrego Garcia from the United States to
El Salvador despite a binding Withholding of Removal order prohibiting
the government from removing him to El Salvador;
(iii) defied court orders, upheld by a unanimous ruling of the
Supreme Court, to facilitate the release of Mr. Abrego Garcia, and
related orders to provide information to the court and opposing
counsel, while publicly flaunting their refusal;
(iv) acted in contempt of court for violating a court-sanctioned
settlement agreement; and
(v) conducted enforced disappearances of persons without due process
and without disclosing their fate and location to their families and
legal counsel, in violation of the Constitution and the rulings of the
Supreme Court, as well as the foundational principles of due process
and the rule of law.
(C) Directed and permitted the deliberate and systematic violation of
laws duly enacted by Congress. Specifically, he has--
(i) terminated Inspector Generals, the officers responsible for
detecting and preventing waste by auditing and investigating their
respective agencies' operations and personnel, in violation of the
process stipulated by the Inspector Generals Act of 1974, as
subsequently amended;
(ii) terminated a member of the Merit Systems Protection Board, a
tribunal created to address widespread public concerns about the
Federal civil service; and
(iii) unlawfully transmitted sensitive personal information of
private citizens and government employees in violation of, among other
Federal laws, the Privacy Act and the Administrative Procedure Act.
In all of this, Donald John Trump has willfully disregarded Federal
laws and the Constitution, imperiled a coequal branch of Government,
and threatened the integrity of the democratic system. He thereby
betrayed his trust as President, abused the powers of the Presidency,
acted in a manner grossly incompatible with self-governance and the
rule of law, and has committed the High Crimes and Misdemeanors of
obstruction of justice and effecting a wide-ranging scheme to destroy
and corrupt the legal system and the powers of the courts under Article
III of the Constitution.
Wherefore, Donald John Trump, by such conduct, has demonstrated that
he is unfit to govern a Nation by and for the people, has acted in a
manner grossly incompatible with self-governance and the rule of law,
and will remain a threat to the Constitution if allowed to remain in
office.
article ii: usurpation of the appropriations power
The Constitution provides that the House of Representatives ``shall
have the sole Power of Impeachment'' and that the President ``shall be
removed from Office on Impeachment for, and Conviction of, Treason,
Bribery, or other high Crimes and Misdemeanors''. Further, Section 9 of
Article I of the Constitution states that ``No money shall be drawn
from the Treasury, but in Consequence of Appropriations made by Law''.
In his conduct of the office of President of the United States--and in
violation of his constitutional oath to faithfully to execute the
office of President of the United States and, to the best of his
ability, preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United
States, and in violation of his constitutional duty to take care that
the laws be faithfully executed--Donald John Trump has abused the
powers of the Presidency in a manner offensive to, and subversive of,
the Constitution, in that:
Using the powers of his high office, Donald John Trump unlawfully
usurped Congress and its power to appropriate funds, thereby nullifying
the Appropriations Clause in the Constitution and violating the
Impoundment Control Act of 1974. Since taking office, he has signed
numerous Executive Orders directing agencies to withhold funds
appropriated by Congress. The President does not have the power to
override spending laws or impound appropriated funds, a principle
affirmed by numerous Supreme Court rulings.
Donald John Trump has withheld funds and terminated en masse Federal
employees and numerous Federal agencies and departments, including the
following:
(1) Directed the dismantling of the Department of Education.
{time} 1430
Point of Order
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentleman will suspend momentarily.
For what purpose does the gentleman from South Carolina seek
recognition?
Mr. WILSON of South Carolina. Mr. Speaker, the gentleman from
Michigan was recognized for 1 minute. He has substantially exceeded 1
minute with absurdity.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Actually, the gentleman had been recognized
for a 1-minute speech. He then was recognized subsequently to give
notice under rule IX for a resolution, so the gentleman has the floor
for that purpose.
The gentleman from Michigan may continue.
Mr. THANEDAR. As enacted in the Department of Education Organization
Act, signed into law by President Jimmy Carter, the Department of
Education was established by Congress to create reform in the education
system throughout the country, distribute Federal aid to students and
places of learning, and prohibit discriminatory practices. The
President does not have the authority to dismantle the Department of
Education, and his signing of Executive Order 14242, which aims to
``Improving Education Outcomes by Empowering Parents, States, and
Communities'', violates the law and the Constitution.
(2) Unlawfully directed the elimination of the United States Agency
for International Development (USAID). As enacted in the Foreign
Assistance Act of 1961, signed into law by President John F. Kennedy,
USAID plays a crucial role in delivering foreign assistance worldwide,
including disaster relief, conflict relief, combating global diseases,
promoting educational programs, and enhancing food security in
developing countries. By dismantling USAID and freezing foreign
assistance, he has severed the United States from its humanitarian role
as directed by Congress, leaving other countries and potentially our
adversaries to fill in the role the United States has abandoned.
(3) Created the so-called ``Department of Government Efficiency
(DOGE)'', which has imposed payment holds and rescinded funds after
disbursement. Donald John Trump has utilized DOGE to unlawfully block
or impound appropriated funds to dozens of Federal agencies, including
the National Institutes of Health, the Federal Aviation Administration,
and the Department of Veterans Affairs. By impounding congressionally
appropriated funds, Donald John Trump and DOGE have not only violated
the law, but have negatively impacted the American people by cutting
jobs, halting critical services, and rescinding grants for programs, in
defiance of the express, constitutionally binding will of Congress.
Using the powers of his high office, Donald John Trump has unlawfully
withheld congressionally appropriated funds and attempted to dismantle
congressionally mandated agencies. By withholding funds and crippling
agencies, he has prevented the Federal Government from performing
critical duties here and abroad. He has threatened the well-being of
United States citizens through the gross misconduct of his office,
resulting in dire and life-threatening consequences on the world's most
vulnerable populations.
Wherefore, Donald John Trump, by such conduct, has demonstrated that
he is unfit to govern a Nation by and for the people, has acted in a
manner grossly incompatible with self-governance and the rule of law,
and will remain a threat to the Constitution if allowed to remain in
office.
article iii: abuse of trade powers and international aggression
The Constitution provides that the House of Representatives ``shall
have
=========================== NOTE ===========================
On May 13, 2025, beginning near the bottom of the middle column
of page H1955, through the third column of page H1959, the
following appears: Impeaching Donald John Trump for high crimes
and misdemeanors . . . Wherefore, Donald John Trump, by such
conduct, has demonstrated that he is unfit to govern a nation by
and for the people, has acted in a manner grossly incompatible
with self-governance and the rule of law, and will remain a threat
to the Constitution if allowed to remain in office.
The online version has been corrected to reflect the bill text
of H. Res. 353, as introduced, verbatim.
========================= END NOTE =========================
[[Page H1957]]
the sole Power of Impeachment'' and that the President ``shall be
removed from Office on Impeachment for, and Conviction of, Treason,
Bribery, or other high Crimes and Misdemeanors''. Further, Section 8 of
Article I of the Constitution states, ``Congress shall have Power To
lay and collect Taxes, Duties, Imposts and Excises, . . . but all
Duties, Imposts and Excises shall be uniform throughout the United
States''. In his conduct of the office of President of the United
States--and in violation of his constitutional oath to faithfully to
execute the office of President of the United States and, to the best
of his ability, preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of the
United States, and in violation of his constitutional duty to take care
that the laws be faithfully executed--Donald John Trump has abused the
powers of the Presidency in a manner offensive to, and subversive of,
the Constitution, in that:
Using the powers of his high office, Donald John Trump abused trade
powers by imposing unjustifiable and unreasonable tariffs on foreign
nations, causing a sharp decline in the United States economy and the
economies of countries around the world, and declaring the false
existence of a national security emergency to justify his actions.
Donald John Trump's tariffs contradicted trade agreements established
by his Administration and other administrations, including the duly
ratified and binding treaty obligations of the United States, thereby
breaking international laws and norms, leading to countries around the
world to enact damaging tariffs on goods and services originating from
the United States. His ``Liberation Day'' scheme, which imposed 10
percent tariffs on all countries, as well as additional tariffs based
on a formula for ``reciprocity'' widely mocked as nonsensical, led to
the most significant drop in the financial markets since the 2020 crash
triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Additionally, Donald John Trump has threatened foreign nations with
invasion, the annexation of territory, and the occupation of sovereign
territory through the use of military action. By doing this, he has
implicated the United States and himself in violation of
constitutionally binding treaty obligations, to include the North
Atlantic Treaty of 1949, the General Treaty for Renunciation of War as
an Instrument of National Policy of 1928, the Charter of the United
Nations of 1945, and the Inter-American Treaty of Reciprocal Assistance
of 1947. Donald John Trump threatened the following:
(1) Annexation of the sovereign country of Canada. Donald John Trump
has negatively impacted the deep and historic relationship between the
United States and Canada by stating numerous times that Canada should
become the 51st State, under the threat of both economic coercion and
military force.
(2) Unlawful and aggressive military action within Mexico, to include
drone strikes and the use of special operations military personnel,
ostensibly against drug cartels, in violation of the sovereignty and
territorial integrity of that country and without any congressional
authorization to use military force.
(3) Annexation of Greenland, an autonomous territory in the Kingdom
of Denmark. Donald John Trump has continued to use hostile language
aimed at taking control of Greenland, stating that the United States
will ``go as far as we have to go'' to obtain control of Greenland. He
has refused to rule out military action to gain control of the
territory, in violation of international law and despite Denmark's
longstanding alliance and friendly relations with the United States.
(4) Annexation of the Panama Canal, owned and controlled by Panama.
During a joint session speech to Congress, Donald John Trump stated
that his Administration ``will be reclaiming the Panama Canal''. He has
refused to rule out military or economic action against the sovereign
country.
(5) Annexation of the Gaza Strip, involving the forced resettlement
of the Palestinian population to the surrounding countries. Donald John
Trump has stated that the United States ``will take over the Gaza
Strip'' and ``own it''. His proposal of taking over the Gaza Strip and
the expulsion of its population violates international law, including
the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of
Genocide, would be unconstitutional absent the approval of the United
States Congress, and is profoundly unserious in light of the grave
humanitarian situation and ongoing armed conflict in Gaza.
Using the powers of his high office, Donald John Trump has unlawfully
conducted himself, bringing shame and embarrassment to the office of
the Presidency and the people of the United States. He has betrayed the
trust of the Nation to conduct meaningful diplomatic negotiations as
its chief diplomat and failed to maintain peaceful economic and defense
relations with foreign countries. He has threatened the security of the
United States through gross misconduct of his office, prompting
hostilities towards Americans here and abroad, as well as foreign
nations warning their citizens against visiting the United States,
further harming the Nation's economy.
Wherefore, Donald John Trump, by such conduct, has demonstrated that
he is unfit to govern a Nation by and for the people, has acted in a
manner grossly incompatible with self-governance and the rule of law,
and will remain a threat to the Constitution if allowed to remain in
office.
article iv: violation of first amendment rights
The Constitution provides that the House of Representatives ``shall
have the sole Power of Impeachment'' and that the President ``shall be
removed from Office on Impeachment for, and Conviction of, Treason,
Bribery, or other high Crimes and Misdemeanors''. Further, the First
Amendment of the Constitution states ``Congress shall make no law
respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free
exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press;
or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the
Government for a redress of grievances''. In his conduct of the office
of President of the United States--and in violation of his
constitutional oath to faithfully to execute the office of President of
the United States and, to the best of his ability, preserve, protect,
and defend the Constitution of the United States, and in violation of
his constitutional duty to take care that the laws be faithfully
executed--Donald John Trump has abused the powers of the Presidency in
a manner offensive to, and subversive of, the Constitution, in that:
By his orders and directions to subordinates, retaliated against law
firms and attorneys who have advised or represented, or been associated
with those who advise or represent, litigants who displease him, in
violation of the Constitution's prohibition on retaliation against
individuals for engaging in First Amendment-protected conduct,
including the right to petition the government for redress of
grievances. Specifically, he has, barred attorneys at certain law firms
from access to Federal buildings, arbitrarily revoked security
clearances without a reasonable basis, threatened to cancel Federal
contracts with any entity engaging the targeted attorneys and firms,
and demanded pro bono services from law firms in exchange for the
discontinuation of the punitive Executive orders.
Additionally, Donald John Trump has engaged in a pattern of
unconstitutional, unlawful, and corrupt retaliation against critics and
political opponents, a flagrant violation of constitutional rights
protected by the First Amendment. He has weaponized the Department of
Justice and other agencies to engage in spurious investigations and
harassment, with no basis in law, of public figures and his perceived
political enemies.
Since taking office, Donald John Trump has directed the Department of
Justice to dismiss more than a dozen prosecutors who were involved in
investigations against him after he left office in 2021. The Department
of Justice has subsequently launched investigations into officials
involved in prior probes against Donald John Trump, in some cases
against individuals specifically named and accused in flagrantly
improper Executive orders.
Furthermore, he has made direct and unambiguous public statements
threatening media outlets, current and
=========================== NOTE ===========================
On May 13, 2025, beginning near the bottom of the middle column
of page H1955, through the third column of page H1959, the
following appears: Impeaching Donald John Trump for high crimes
and misdemeanors . . . Wherefore, Donald John Trump, by such
conduct, has demonstrated that he is unfit to govern a nation by
and for the people, has acted in a manner grossly incompatible
with self-governance and the rule of law, and will remain a threat
to the Constitution if allowed to remain in office.
The online version has been corrected to reflect the bill text
of H. Res. 353, as introduced, verbatim.
========================= END NOTE =========================
[[Page H1958]]
former officeholders, and advocacy organizations. He has pursued
meritless litigation, leveraged his public office for private gain, and
perverted the course of justice and the integrity of the judicial
system to extract tens of millions of dollars in putative settlements,
effectively acting as a conduit for flagrant bribery and extortion. He
has restricted the access of the Associated Press after they refused to
use the name ``Gulf of America'' in their reporting and has defied
court orders to cease this unconstitutional action. He has also
threatened current and former members of Congress for the exercise of
their legislative and oversight functions, an attack on the
independence of Congress as a coequal branch of government as
established by the Constitution's Article I Vesting Clause, and by the
Constitution's Speech or Debate Clause, in addition to the First
Amendment.
For example, Donald John Trump has repeatedly threatened members of
the House Select Committee on the January 6th Attack on the United
States Capitol, which investigated the attack on the Capitol that
Donald John Trump instigated. Donald John Trump has sought to
intimidate the members and staff of the United States House Select
Committee on the January 6th Attack, stating that they ``should fully
understand that they are subject to investigation at the highest
level'' and expressing a desire to remove the pardons they received,
stating ``The `Pardons' that Sleepy Joe Biden gave to the Unselect
Committee of Political Thugs, and many others, are hereby declared
[void, vacant, and of no further force or effect]''.
Donald John Trump has made it clear that he will not rest until all
of his perceived political enemies are eliminated. In a speech
addressing his Department of Justice subordinates, Donald John Trump
further laid out his fascist vision for the Department of Justice. He
has targeted watchdog organizations like the Citizens for
Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, calling them ``scum'' and
independent media outlets like CNN and MSNBC, labelling them as
organizations that ``literally write 97.6 percent bad about me, are
political arms of the Democrat Party. And in my opinion, they are
really corrupt and they are illegal. What they do is illegal.''. He has
stated that newspapers critical of him are ``really no different than a
highly paid political operative. And it has to stop. It has to be
illegal. It's influencing judges . . . it just cannot be legal.''.
By these and many other actions, he has sought to outlaw dissent,
opposition, and criticism of himself and his Administration. This
attack on the constitutional rights to freedom of speech, and of
association, and of the right to petition the government for redress of
grievances, is wholly incompatible with the rights and liberties of the
People of the United States as a self-governing people under the rule
of law.
In purpose and effect, he has attempted to suppress dissent and
opposition, casting a chilling effect over the public discourse, and
striking at the core freedoms essential to a free society and
democratic elections under the Constitution.
Wherefore, Donald John Trump, by such conduct, has demonstrated that
he is unfit to govern a Nation by and for the people, has acted in a
manner grossly incompatible with self-governance and the rule of law,
and will remain a threat to the Constitution if allowed to remain in
office.
article v: creation of unlawful office
The Constitution provides that the House of Representatives ``shall
have the sole Power of Impeachment'' and that the President ``shall be
removed from Office on Impeachment for, and Conviction of, Treason,
Bribery, or other high Crimes and Misdemeanors''. Further, Section 2 of
Article II of the Constitution states that the President ``shall
appoint Ambassadors, other public Ministers and Consuls, Judges of the
supreme Court, and all other Officers of the United States . . . but
the Congress may by Law vest the Appointment of such inferior Officers,
as they think proper, in the President alone, in the Courts of Law, or
in the Heads of Departments''. In his conduct of the office of
President of the United States--and in violation of his constitutional
oath to faithfully to execute the office of President of the United
States and, to the best of his ability, preserve, protect, and defend
the Constitution of the United States, and in violation of his
constitutional duty to take care that the laws be faithfully executed--
Donald John Trump has abused the powers of the Presidency in a manner
offensive to, and subversive of, the Constitution, in that:
Using the powers of his high office, Donald John Trump has, through
unlawful orders and directives, created an unlawful office, the so-
called Department of Government Efficiency (``DOGE''), and assigned an
extensive range of unlawful powers, effectively granting this
flagrantly unconstitutional creation significant control over the
executive branch. Donald John Trump has appointed Mr. Elon Musk as the
de facto head of this contrived entity, which was not created or funded
by any law, without a formal title or office. These actions have been
in direct violation of the Constitution's requirement that principal
officers of the United States must be created by law and their
appointees confirmed by the Senate, and that inferior offices must be
created by law with their appointment vested as Congress may determine.
Additionally, he has vested these powers in Mr. Musk without
complying with the constitutional requirement that all officers of the
United States be commissioned by the President and swear an oath of
office to support the Constitution. Mr. Musk has been designated as a
special government employee of the White House Office, in violation of
statutory authorization and restrictions on such designations. This
false claim has also been used to commit violations of the ethics,
disclosure, and conflict-of-interest laws applicable to government
officers and regular employees.
Contrary to the Government's claims in court, Mr. Musk has exercised
de facto control over DOGE and, through it, control over a wide range
of Government departments and agencies. This unmistakable reality has
been repeatedly and openly stated by the Trump Administration,
including by Donald John Trump's own address to Congress on March 4,
2025. In this capacity, Mr. Musk and his subordinates have undertaken
numerous violations of the Constitution and laws, including by--
(1) impoundment of funds appropriated by Congress;
(2) violations of privacy and security laws with respect to sensitive
information systems, personally identifiable information, and
classified material; and
(3) termination of government employees under false pretenses and in
violation of civil service laws.
These actions have vastly exceeded the terms of the formal executive
orders purporting to create DOGE under the direction of a ``U.S. DOGE
Service Administrator'', an office which remained vacant for several
weeks, with the Government's own attorneys claiming in court that the
official head of DOGE was unknown to them. Since that time, a nominal
Administrator has been named, despite the repeated avowals from the
President and his Administration that Mr. Musk controls and directs
DOGE, as confirmed by ample public reporting and Mr. Musk's own
statements.
Donald John Trump has abused the powers of his high office and
breached the public trust by establishing the so-called Department of
Government Efficiency and unconstitutionally placing Mr. Musk in
control of this entity, knowingly provided false testimony to the court
regarding the leadership of the said entity, and directing the unlawful
entity to implement his agenda, in violation of the Constitution's
objective of establishing Justice and fundamental rules for how the
executive branch of the United States is to be structured and how
persons may be appointed to public office.
Wherefore, Donald John Trump, by such conduct, has demonstrated that
he is unfit to govern a Nation by and for the people, has acted in a
manner grossly incompatible with self-governance and the rule of law,
and will remain a threat to the Constitution if allowed to remain in
office.
=========================== NOTE ===========================
On May 13, 2025, beginning near the bottom of the middle column
of page H1955, through the third column of page H1959, the
following appears: Impeaching Donald John Trump for high crimes
and misdemeanors . . . Wherefore, Donald John Trump, by such
conduct, has demonstrated that he is unfit to govern a nation by
and for the people, has acted in a manner grossly incompatible
with self-governance and the rule of law, and will remain a threat
to the Constitution if allowed to remain in office.
The online version has been corrected to reflect the bill text
of H. Res. 353, as introduced, verbatim.
========================= END NOTE =========================
[[Page H1959]]
article vi: bribery and corruption
The Constitution provides that the House of Representatives ``shall
have the sole Power of Impeachment'' and that the President ``shall be
removed from Office on Impeachment for, and Conviction of, Treason,
Bribery, or other high Crimes and Misdemeanors''. Further, Section 9 of
Article I of the Constitution states that ``no Person holding any
Office of Profit or Trust under them, shall, without the Consent of the
Congress, accept of any present, Emolument, Office, or Title, of any
kind whatever, from any . . . foreign State''. In his conduct of the
office of President of the United States--and in violation of his
constitutional oath to faithfully to execute the office of President of
the United States and, to the best of his ability, preserve, protect,
and defend the Constitution of the United States, and in violation of
his constitutional duty to take care that the laws be faithfully
executed--Donald John Trump has abused the powers of the Presidency in
a manner offensive to, and subversive of, the Constitution, in that:
Donald John Trump has engaged in a pattern of unlawful corruption for
the personal profit of himself and his associates, soliciting and
accepting bribes in exchange for official actions, policy influence,
and favorable treatment from the Administration. In so doing, he has,
beyond a reasonable doubt, profiteered from public office on a scale
unprecedented in American history.
Donald John Trump has engaged in fraudulent con artist schemes
through ``pump and dump'' or ``rug pull'' tactics for cryptocurrency
tokens he has created, and at the same time, enabled a direct conduit
for bribes paid to him in exchange for official actions.
Donald John Trump has also leveraged the threat of hostile government
action and the corresponding offer of preferential treatment in order
to extract large payments in the form of settlements for meritless and
vexatious litigation he pursues in his personal capacity, thereby
corrupting both the executive branch and the judiciary. To advance this
end, Donald John Trump solicited and received $940,000,000 in pro bono
services from prominent law firms to help causes he personally
supports.
Donald John Trump has refused to divest himself or take any steps to
prevent conflicts of interest in his substantial personal business
ventures, creating another conduit for the payment of bribes.
Donald John Trump has permitted and encouraged his subordinates to
violate laws regarding ethics, disclosures, and self-dealing, and
through these actions, he has enabled and encouraged corruption and
graft by his relatives, associates, and political allies.
Donald John Trump has, in these ways and others, solicited payments
from foreign governments for corrupt purposes and in flagrant violation
of the Constitution's prohibition on foreign emoluments.
Wherefore, Donald John Trump, by such conduct, has demonstrated that
he is unfit to govern a Nation by and for the people, has acted in a
manner grossly incompatible with self-governance and the rule of law,
and will remain a threat to the Constitution if allowed to remain in
office.
article vii: tyranny
The Constitution provides that the House of Representatives ``shall
have the sole Power of Impeachment'' and that the President ``shall be
removed from Office on Impeachment for, and Conviction of, Treason,
Bribery, or other high Crimes and Misdemeanors''. Further, the system
of checks and balances, as well as the separation of powers, as defined
in the Constitution, work to ensure that the Office of the President
does not become tyrannical. In his conduct of the office of President
of the United States--and in violation of his constitutional oath to
faithfully to execute the office of President of the United States and,
to the best of his ability, preserve, protect, and defend the
Constitution of the United States, and in violation of his
constitutional duty to take care that the laws be faithfully executed--
Donald John Trump has abused the powers of the Presidency in a manner
offensive to, and subversive of, the Constitution, in that:
He has, by his actions and statements, sought to establish himself as
tyrant, dictator, and autocrat over the People of the United States,
usurping unto himself the constitutional powers of Congress, the
courts, and the States, and powers illegitimate and beyond the scope of
lawful government altogether.
He has claimed for himself absolute and arbitrary power, the ability
to suspend laws at whim, and utterly disregarded and betrayed his oath
to faithfully execute the office of President of the United States and
to preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States.
He has denied and violated the right of the People of the United
States to freedom of speech, and of assembly, and to petition the
government for redress of grievances.
He has denied and violated the right of the People of the United
States to due process of law and equal protection under the laws, to
fair and impartial independent courts, and to legal counsel.
He has sought to intimidate and coerce, by means including the threat
of unlawful prosecutions and by encouraging violence and threats of
violence, the Representatives and Senators in Congress.
He has denied and violated the separation of powers and the
Constitution's system of checks and balances, arrogating unto himself
the legislative and judicial powers, including the power of Congress to
levy taxes, appropriate public funds, direct the organization of
officers and agencies of the executive branch, and to make laws.
He has sought to intimidate, coerce, and extort the officers of the
several States, including those elected by the People thereof, and
thereby sought to commandeer the several States, in violation of their
sovereignty and the system of federalism established by the
Constitution of the United States.
He has sought to abrogate the citizenship clause of the 14th
Amendment to the Constitution, by means including the issuance of an
executive order that directs executive departments and agencies to
withhold citizenship from certain classes of persons who are born
within the United States.
He has repeatedly threatened and suggested that he intends to violate
the Presidential term limits established by the 22d Amendment to the
Constitution, and adopted overtly monarchical aspirations and
affectations, including by invoking and endorsing theories that he is
above the law or that his personal will constitutes the law.
In all of this, Donald John Trump has willfully disregarded Federal
laws and the Constitution, imperiled a coequal branch of Government,
and threatened the integrity of the democratic system. He thereby
betrayed his trust as President, abused the powers of the Presidency,
acted in a manner grossly incompatible with self-governance and the
rule of law, and has committed High Crimes and Misdemeanors in
attempting to establish himself as a lawless tyrant to the manifest
injury of the people of the United States.
Wherefore, Donald John Trump, by such conduct, has demonstrated that
he is unfit to govern a Nation by and for the people, has acted in a
manner grossly incompatible with self-governance and the rule of law,
and will remain a threat to the Constitution if allowed to remain in
office.
=========================== NOTE ===========================
On May 13, 2025, beginning near the bottom of the middle column
of page H1955, through the third column of page H1959, the
following appears: Impeaching Donald John Trump for high crimes
and misdemeanors . . . Wherefore, Donald John Trump, by such
conduct, has demonstrated that he is unfit to govern a nation by
and for the people, has acted in a manner grossly incompatible
with self-governance and the rule of law, and will remain a threat
to the Constitution if allowed to remain in office.
The online version has been corrected to reflect the bill text
of H. Res. 353, as introduced, verbatim.
========================= END NOTE =========================
The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mrs. Miller of Illinois). Under rule IX, a
resolution offered from the floor by a Member other than the majority
leader or the minority leader as a question of the privileges of the
House has immediate precedence only at a time designated by the Chair
within 2 legislative days after the resolution is properly noticed.
Pending that designation, the form of the resolution noticed by the
gentleman from Michigan will appear in the Record at this point.
The Chair will not at this point determine whether the resolution
constitutes a question of privilege. That determination will be made at
the time designated for consideration of the resolution.
____________________