Iowa Rep. Cindy Axne joined more than 170 of her colleagues today in support of an impeachment inquiry into Republican president Donald Trump.
“For the sake of our national security and our democracy, these serious allegations require independent Congressional investigation unobstructed by this Administration,” said Axne, Tuesday afternoon in a statement. “Congress has a responsibility to uphold the rule of law and to take appropriate steps to open an impeachment inquiry.”
Axne’s statement came on the heels of reporting that House Speaker Nancy Pelosi will begin a formal impeachment inquiry.
“When I was sworn into office, I took an oath under God to support and defend the Constitution of the United States,” Axne said. “Using the Oval Office to pressure a foreign leader to investigate a political opponent is a clear abuse of power. Beyond an abuse of power, allegations that the president threatened to leverage U.S. taxpayer dollars to extort a foreign government, if true, constitute an unequivocal violation of our federal laws and the U.S. Constitution I swore to defend.”
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Prior to recent reporting on Trump’s alleged quid pro quo with Ukraine — withholding financial assistance in exchange for damaging information on Joe Biden, one of his top Democratic rivals — Axne, Iowa’s 3rd District congresswoman, had yet to weigh in on the impeachment question.
Up for re-election for the first time in 2020, Axne is expected to face a competitive race in a swing district against former congressman David Young.
Fellow House Democrats Abby Finkenauer and Dave Loebsack issued statements Monday calling out the president on his conversation with the Ukrainian leader, though they didn’t go so far to call for impeachment hearings yet.
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No House Republicans have come out in support of the effort. In the Republican-controlled Senate, led by staunch Trump supporter Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, an impeachment vote is almost certainly dead on arrival.
As of Tuesday afternoon, 173, and counting, House Democrats have put their support behind an impeachment inquiry.
By Elizabeth Meyer
Photo by Julie Fleming
Posted 9/24/19
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