President Donald Trump was charged with two articles of impeachment on Wednesday and all seven congressional members that represent a section of Queens voted for both measures.
Trump was charged for abuse of power and obstruction of justice with a 230 to 197 vote and a 229 to 198 vote, respectively, on Dec. 18.
Voting in favor of impeachment were U.S. Reps. Hakeem Jeffries (D-Brooklyn, South Ozone Park, Howard Beach), Greg Meeks (Far Rockaway, Jamaica), Tom Suozzi (D-L.I., Little Neck), Carolyn Maloney (D-Manhattan, Brooklyn, Astoria), Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-Bronx, Jackson Heights), Nydia Velázquez (D-Brooklyn, Manhattan, Ridgewood) and Grace Meng (D-Flushing).
“I did not come to Congress to impeach the President of the United States,” said Meng. “I came to fight for the betterment of the lives of my constituents in New York’s 6th congressional district. This is an honor and duty I do not – and will not ever – take lightly.”
The impeachment inquiry into Trump made it clear to Meng that his actions allegedly supported high crimes and misdemeanors, and that he put his own personal interests above that of the American people, according to Meng.
“Today, I voted to impeach President Donald Trump,” said Meng. “I voted yes on two articles of impeachment against the President that charge him with abuse of power and obstruction of Congress. I did so with a heavy heart for our country, but a clear conscience.”
Trump’s alleged schemes to reach out to a foreign nation – Ukraine – to “get dirt” on a political rival, blocking testimony, refusing subpoenas and failure to provide exculpatory evidence that led to Meng’s impeachment votes.
“Above all, I took an oath to support and defend the Constitution of the United States. I did so because no one is above the law, not even the President of the United States,” added Meng.
Velázquez also took issue with Trump allegedly withholding military aid from Ukraine in exchange for information on his rival and former Vice President Joe Biden for the upcoming 2020 presidential election.
“The facts are clear – the President of the United States withheld $400 million in military aid to an ally of the U.S. — and also held back a White House meeting to compel a foreign nation to investigate his political opponent,” said Velázquez. “At the exact time the President was doing this, Ukraine was engaged in a battle for its very existence with one of America’s adversaries, Russia. The President abused his powers to persuade a foreign nation to dig up dirt on a political opponent. This was, quite simply, a ‘geopolitical shakedown.'”
Velázquez later accused Trump of intentionally blocking Congress from exercising its right to examine the situation with Ukraine.
“Every single one of us, today, face a stark choice. If we choose to turn a blind eye, to put political expediency before the Constitution, then we are complicit in this subversion of democracy,” said Velázquez. “If we do not hold this President accountable, we have failed the people who sent us here and we have abdicated our own oath to defend the constitution.”
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell will announce when the Senate trial date, which is expected is expected to take place in January.
