Impeachment inquiry ‘about the rule of law,’ Langevin says

By DANIEL KITTREDGE
Posted 8/22/19

Citing sentiment from constituents and a belief that Congress is being “stymied” by the administration, U.S. Rep. James Langevin on Wednesday announced his support for an impeachment inquiry into President Donald Trump.

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Impeachment inquiry ‘about the rule of law,’ Langevin says

Posted

Citing sentiment from constituents and a belief that Congress is being “stymied” by the administration, U.S. Rep. James Langevin on Wednesday announced his support for an impeachment inquiry into President Donald Trump.

“The American people deserve the truth, they deserve the facts. And above all, they deserve a president who respects the rule of law,” Langevin said during a press conference at his Warwick offices.

He later added: “This right now, an impeachment inquiry, is about accountability. It’s about the rule of law.”

The announcement represents a significant shift for Langevin, who in July voted against a resolution seeking Trump’s impeachment.

Roughly 130 of the 235 Democrats in the U.S. House of Representatives have now voiced their support for the start of an inquiry, including Langevin’s Ocean State colleague, Rep. David Cicilline, and Rep. Jerry Nadler of New York, who chairs the House Judiciary Committee.

The inquiry – which would be conducted by the Judiciary Committee – would be the first step in a process that could potentially result in Trump’s removal from office. At the conclusion of the inquiry, the committee would decide whether to recommend articles of impeachment to the full House. The House would then decide whether to impeach the president and refer the matter to the Senate for a trial.

Langevin has been home in Rhode Island during a congressional recess this month, and he said the majority of constituents with whom he has spoken have voiced support for an impeachment inquiry.

“Many have come to me with their concerns about the president’s conduct and whether he has committed impeachable offenses,” he said. “The vast majority of feedback that I have received from my constituents has been in support of an impeachment inquiry.”

The congressman said his reading of the report compiled by Robert Mueller – who was appointed as a special counsel to investigate Russia’s actions related to the 2016 election – was also a major factor in his decision to support the inquiry.

The report, Langevin said, “outlines how the Trump campaign welcomed the assistance of the Russia government or operatives during the campaign, and how President Trump took steps to undermine the subsequent investigation.”

He accused Trump of “reckless actions” and “ignoring the rule of law,” and specifically cited an episode described in the Mueller Report in which the president is said to have ordered former White House counsel Don McGahn to fire Mueller.

“Clearly, there was an intent there to obstruct justice … On it’s face, that what it appears to be,” the congressman said.

Langevin also accused the president and his administration of having “stymied” investigative efforts. The launch of a formal inquiry process, he said, will allow Congress to “demand the facts, the evidence, and to compel testimony.”

“The issue of impeachment should never be used for political reasons,” he said. “It should only be used in extraordinary circumstances. None of us take that responsibility lightly … We’ve hit a point where we need to take this up a notch and support the inquiry.”

Comments

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  • JohnStark

    Memo to Jim: Being icky and "reckless" are not impeachable offenses. Though I'm sure this courageous new position will finally get you invited to many of the Cool Kid parties in our nation's capital. Clearly, you have consulted with other intellectual luminaries such as Maxine Waters prior to breaking this new ground which, if memory serves, began around 2:00 AM on November 9, 2016.

    Thursday, August 22, 2019 Report this

  • Apple_martinis

    I can admit 18 years ago I voted for him (once) because he was at my polling station in his wheelchair.... When are we getting TERM LIMITS???????????????????????

    Thursday, August 22, 2019 Report this

  • Apple_martinis

    If it's not obvious RI is in danger of losing a congressional seat, than I don't know what is! People are leaving this state in droves. Houses are for sale up and down every street in Warwick. Meanwhile the retirees are living large. Can you imagine how much extra money you'd have if your health insurance and prescriptions were FREE?

    Thursday, August 22, 2019 Report this

  • falina

    Why and how is this jackhiole still in office? What has he actually done, other than the opportunistic photoshoot? Not a damn thing other than enriching himself.

    Thursday, August 22, 2019 Report this

  • falina

    *Jackhole, sorry.

    Thursday, August 22, 2019 Report this

  • thepilgrim

    Rhode Island has had the worst economy in the US for the last 75 years. Why? Because it’s been ruled by the Democratic Party which is anti-business. I was born in Warwick 60+ years ago and am amazed by the stupidity of the citizenry. Warwick is now a communist city occupied by fools who only want bigger government.

    Thursday, August 22, 2019 Report this

  • Thecaptain

    Yet all the idiots continue to elect these unqualified A-Holes time and time again. Just like in the City of Warwick.

    Thursday, August 22, 2019 Report this

  • Honestinfo

    Robbie Robbie Robbie

    I didn’t realize you were also an expert in national politics. Any word on the FBI report. You have been very quiet lately, something really big must be in the hopper.

    Friday, August 23, 2019 Report this

  • Daydreambeliever

    Sadly has has no clout after all this time and I do think he gets the sympathy votes.

    Crystal Ball you sound eerily familiar to other screen names. What do you think Congress, Senate and House get for Healthcare?

    They a!so get paid during government zhutdowns!!!!!!

    Just like local voting and national voting the same names get voted in a nd I'll bet some of the names on here voted for Reed, Ciccilinne and Langevin myself included.

    I do know this i won't be voting for any currently serving officials.

    As for the Captain i do agree he's been very quiet (I'm sure he will say he's busy blah blah blah) but he's lurking someplace compiling data to expose something he feels is Target 12 Investigation important.

    Friday, August 23, 2019 Report this

  • Justanidiot

    two little 2 late

    dis is just a ploy sew dat when der is one seat in 2022 both wheelboy and sissyleany can say day did da "right" ting

    Friday, August 23, 2019 Report this

  • TheSkipper

    Personally, I think all the elections in Rhode Island are "fixed". Otherwise we have to reconcile that everyone in this state is really as stupid as the voting records are showing them to be.

    Remember. keep voting for DemocRATS. Or as I remember?

    The definition of Insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result..

    Friday, August 23, 2019 Report this

  • KimLorene

    This guy is a joke. He has done nothing since becoming a rep. And, unfortunately, we are stuck with him forever...he will continue to get re-elected. Hey Jim! News flash...just because you don't like someone doesn't mean you can impeach him!

    Friday, August 23, 2019 Report this

  • Apple_martinis

    Daydreambeliever - Yes, I've used different screen names in the past but I've only posted 5 or 6 times total. Do you have a problem with me complaining about Warwick's FREE healthcare for life? Congress does not receive free healthcare, but Federal employees as a whole have lucrative healthcare packages compared to most working Americans.

    Friday, August 23, 2019 Report this

  • bill123

    Mueller was not fired, and he completed his investigation and wrote his final report. The report was confidential to the DOJ, except Trump himself allowed it to be disclosed to the public. Does this sound like obstruction of justice ? The most serious underlying issue, about one party purportedly using US government intelligence resources to spy on another, and fabricate false information and accusations as a basis for launching investigations, has yet to be resolved.

    Friday, August 23, 2019 Report this

  • bendover

    Did the writers from SNL write this rubbish for you Rep. Langevine? So in your little world and that of sisilinne, the midget war hero and the witness killer, bleaching hard drives, destroying cell phones and deleting 30,000+ emails is just sillyness? You and your ilk are just a group of pecksniffian asses...Now, about that vast list of legislative accomplishments...What's that you say, you nave none, other than naming a post office? You need a new career, UBER needs drivers.

    Friday, August 23, 2019 Report this

  • Daydreambeliever

    Not all retired city employees get free healthcare. That only came about around 2000-2001.

    Actually employees do pay weekly I'm unsure what it is but I think $100 a week or close to it.

    Friday, August 23, 2019 Report this

  • thepilgrim

    To The Skipper, So you think all elections in Rhode Island are rigged? I KNOW they are all rigged. Take just one example; John Chafee was most treasonous and was a member of The Order of Skull and Bones (aka. The Brotherhood of Death) and these past few decades we have had to tolerate his relatives in office. Think that's any mistake? Election day is merely a day when the citizenry is polled to see who really would have won.

    Saturday, August 24, 2019 Report this

  • pallyboy

    Poor thing, guess he doesn't have a TV in his mansion inside the Beltway. If he did he would have seen Mueller testify that he had NO Idea what or who Fusion GPS even was! A sixth grader could have answered that question. Pretty obvious that Mueller had no part in his writing "HIS" report. Attacking Trump repeatedly may play to the Commies in the state but for the people who work and pay the bills it is time to get a new script writer. Screaming IMPEACH will not get you reelected Henny Penny!!!

    Saturday, August 24, 2019 Report this

  • bendover

    memo to Robert; HUH??? Rigged elections, John Chafee, "Skull and Crossbones"? What does this have to do with the malingerer from the 2nd district? 'Skull and Crossbones"...The long serving Senator from Oklahoma, David Boren, John Kerry, Sen. witness killer's Daddy, Charles S. Whitehouse, all "Skull and Crossbones", so the point is....? At least old man Whitehouse along with John Chafee interrupted law school at Yale and joined the Marines, unlike our senior Sen. who upon graduating West Point, class of 71' and joining his classmates in Vietnam, ran away to Harvard yard for two years. "Skull and Crossbones, indeed...Some served with honor...not to be confused with this gang of 4 from Rhode Island.

    Sunday, August 25, 2019 Report this

  • Samuel

    Stacia, why don't you shove that Crystal Ball where the sun don't shine? Please stay in Charlestown and mind your business about this city. Since you don't live here our property values and average IQ have each gone way up.

    Sunday, August 25, 2019 Report this

  • bendover

    This Guy, Dick Cicilline and the other two are as useless as udders on a bull...Stop voting for a damn wheelchair, we need people with a pulse representing us.

    Wednesday, August 28, 2019 Report this

  • SaltyJake

    Hey Jim, why don't you look in to charges against HilLIARy, Barry Obama and Comey for their parts in lying under oath and blatant disregard for the LEGAL citizens of this great country. They were culpable long before Trump was even a candidate.......

    Friday, August 30, 2019 Report this

  • OldButInformed

    Jim, you’re just another lightweight hack Democrat with zero real influence in “the Swamp”! Look at Rhode Island’s economy, infrastructure, education results, and its declining population and then look in a mirror to see the problem. You, the rest of the Rhode Island congressional delegation, and the Captain of the Titanic have lots in common!

    Saturday, August 31, 2019 Report this