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{{Short description|Talks and activities of a possible impeachment of George W. Bush}}
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]
{{current}}
] calling for impeachment in March 2006]]
{{NPOV}}
] in support of impeaching both Bush and Vice President ] in July 2008]]
]''.]]


During the presidency of ], several American politicians sought to either investigate Bush for possible impeachable offenses, or to bring actual ] charges on the floor of the ] ]. The most significant of these efforts occurred on June 10, 2008, when Congressman ], along with co-sponsor ], introduced 35 ]<ref name="articles">{{Cite web|title=Impeaching George W. Bush, President of the United States, of high crimes and misdemeanors. (2008 - H.Res. 1258)|url=https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/110/hres1258|access-date=2023-01-05|website=GovTrack.us|language=en}}</ref> against Bush to the U.S. House of Representatives.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://weblogs.sun-sentinel.com/news/politics/broward/blog/2008/06/impeach_bush_wexler_says.html|title=Impeach Bush, Wexler says|access-date=2008-06-10|publisher=South Florida Sun-Sentinel.com|date=June 10, 2008|first=Anthony |last=Man}}</ref> The House voted 251 to 166 to refer the impeachment resolution to the Judiciary Committee on June 11, where no further action was taken on it.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d110:HE01258:@@@X |title=Bill Summary & Status - 110th Congress (2007 - 2008) - H.RES.1258 - All Congressional Actions - THOMAS (Library of Congress) |access-date=2009-01-26 |archive-date=2016-07-04 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160704221033/http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d110:HE01258:@@@X |url-status=dead }}</ref> Bush's presidency ended on January 20, 2009, with the completion of his second term in office, rendering impeachment efforts ].
The phrase '''"Movement to impeach George W. Bush"''' for the purpose of this article is used in two ways. It is used to describe actions by individuals and groups within the public and private spheres intended to support an ] of ] ]. The phrase is also used in a more broad in referrence to refer to various ]s, some of which indicate a degree of public support for a Presidential impeachment.


==Kucinich–Wexler impeachment articles==
Prior to the current controversies of 2005 and 2006, some critics of Bush and certain partisans were already calling for his impeachment, citing various reasons and justifications. The justifications currently being advanced for seeking Bush's impeachment vary, such as questions about the ] and the ].
The Kucinich–Wexler impeachment resolution contained 35 ] covering the Iraq War, the ] affair, creating a case for war with Iran, capture and treatment of prisoners of war, spying and or wiretapping inside the United States, use of signing statements, failing to comply with Congressional subpoenas, the 2004 elections, Medicare, Hurricane Katrina, global warming, and 9/11.<ref name="articles" />


The 2003 invasion of Iraq was the most substantial portion of the articles of impeachment introduced by Kucinich and Wexler. Fifteen of the 35 articles directly relate to alleged misconduct by Bush in seeking authority for the war, and in the conduct of military action itself. Five other articles address allegations partially or tertiarily relating to the war, including the "outing" of Valerie Plame, treatment of prisoners (both in Iraq and from operations in Afghanistan and other countries), and building a case for Iran being a threat based in part on alleging Iranian actions in Iraq.
As of March 2006, the ] as a body, has taken no action of any kind toward the impeachment of President Bush, nor have they scheduled any.


===Justification for invasion===
==Background==
{{further|Iraq and weapons of mass destruction|Saddam Hussein and al-Qaeda|Downing Street memo|Bush-Blair memo|Legitimacy of the 2003 invasion of Iraq|Bush-Aznar memo}}
Impeachment in the United States is the proscribed process by which an elected office-holder may be removed from office. A president may be removed from office upon conviction of impeachment for "], ], or other ]" . When a preisdent is impeached, formal charges known as "Articles of Impeachment", which state the allegations are introduced at ] where they may debated and, if consensus for a vote is reached, voted upon. If any of the articles are approved, then the President is considered "impeached" and would then be tried by the ] to determine his guilt or innocence. If a President is found guilty on any charge, he is removed from office and replaced by the ].


The first four impeachment articles charge the president with illegally creating a case for war with Iraq, including charges of a propaganda campaign, falsely representing Iraq as responsible for 9/11, and falsely representing Iraq as an imminent danger to the United States.<ref name="articles" />
There have been nine formal attempts to impeach a United States President. Four of these resulted in articles being referred to the House of Representatives: ], ], ] and ]. Of these four, only two were actually impeached by the House: Andrew Johnson and Bill Clinton. Richard Nixon resigned the Presidency before the House could actually vote. Both Presidents Johnson and Clinton were acquitted by the Senate following their subsequent trials. In addition there have been numerous impeachment movements of various sizes directed at visible members of the government, most notably the movement to impeach former ] ].


===Legitimacy of invasion===
Critics of the movement, on both the left and the right, state that a sitting chief executive has never been removed by conviction in the Senate and only one resigned under threat of impeachment. They also point out that getting a Congressional investigation while the Republican Party is in control of the ] is improbable. However, there are now credible predictions that control of the House will shift to the Democrats after the 2006 elections, particularly owing to the current historic unpopularity of the Bush administration, in which case John Conyers would become chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, and an investigation would become a significant possibility.
{{further|UN Charter|War of aggression|Jus ad bellum|Legitimacy of the 2003 invasion of Iraq}}


Articles 5–8 and 12 deal with the invasion of Iraq and include charges that funds were misspent before the war, that the war was in violation of HJRes114, that Iraq was invaded without a war declaration, that the war is a violation of the UN Charter, and that the purpose of the war was to control the country's oil supplies.<ref name="articles" />
Many critics on the right dispute the allegations against the Bush administration in their entirety, or deny that the actions of the Bush administration officials currently under investigation constitute anything more than normal handling of politics and national security matters, or are, at worst, legal technicalities.


==Political views and actions== ===Conduct of the Iraq War===
{{further|2003 invasion of Iraq}}
===Representative Conyers===
] of ], has been instrumental in calling for an investigation of the President.]]


Articles 9, 10, 11 and 13 deal with conduct of the war, including failing to provide troops with body armor, falsifying US troop deaths and injuries, establishing a permanent military base in Iraq, and creating a secret task force to develop energy and military policies with respect to Iraq and other countries. Articles 15 and 16 cover contractors in Iraq and charges that the president misspent money on contractors and provided them with immunity.
According to ], Professor of Law at the University of Illinois School of Law , on ], ], Congressman ] (D-MI) convened "an emergency meeting of forty or more of his top advisors, most of whom were lawyers, to discuss and debate immediately putting into the House of Representatives Bills of Impeachment against President Bush, Vice President Cheney, Secretary of Defense Rumsfeld, and Attorney General Ashcroft in order to head off the impending war." Conyers is the Ranking Member of the ], which would have jurisdiction over any Bill of Impeachment.


===Valerie Plame===
In ], ], Conyers began collecting signatures on a letter to President Bush requesting answers to the questions raised by the Downing Street Memo. Conyers delivered a letter with over 540,000 signatures to the President on ], ].
{{further|Plame affair}}


Article 14 is about the revelation of the identity of CIA agent ].
Also on ], ], Conyers assembled an unofficial meeting to receive evidence related to the ] and to consider grounds for impeachment. Dozens of Members of Congress attended. Witnesses included ], constitutional attorney ], and CIA analyst ].


===Treatment of detainees===
In July, Conyers along with Representative Frank (see below) asked for research into the impeachability of Karl Rove with regard to the disclosure of CIA Operative ]'s identity to reporters.
{{further|Abu Ghraib torture and prisoner abuse|Bagram torture and prisoner abuse|United Nations Convention Against Torture|Geneva Conventions|Command responsibility|Hamdan v. Rumsfeld}}


Articles 17–20 concern the treatment of detainees, the "kidnapping" and detention of foreign nationals, and the use of torture.
On ], the House Judiciary Committee Democratic Staff, at Conyers' request, filed its 273-page report, . The report included copies of house resolutions to to establish a bi-partisan Select Committee in the House - H.Res. 635; to censure the President - H.Res.636; and to censure the Vice President - H.Res. 637.


===Attempt to overthrow the government of Iran===
Conyers wrote a letter to President Bush advising him of his intent and invited citizens to join him in signing it .
Article 21 claims that the president misled Congress and the American people about threats from Iran, and supported terrorist organizations within Iran, with the goal of overthrowing the Iranian government.


===NSA warrantless surveillance controversy===
Conyers filed the legislation on December 18, where it was referred to the House Committee on Rules. According to the Library of Congress' legislative information site, as of March 9, 2006 there were 29 co-sponsors of H. Res. 635, "Creating a select committee to investigate the Administration's intent to go to war before congressional authorization, manipulation of pre-war intelligence, encouraging and countenancing torture, retaliating against critics, and to make recommendations regarding grounds for possible impeachment."
{{further|NSA warrantless surveillance controversy|Separation of powers}}


Articles 24 and 25 charge the president with illegally spying on American citizens, directing US telecom companies to create databases of citizens, and violating the Fourth Amendment of the US Constitution.
The cosponsors are: ] (HI), ] (WI), ] (CA), Capuano (MA), Clay (MO), ] (CA), ] (NY), Honda (CA), ] (TX), Lee (CA), Lewis (GA), ] (NY), McDermott (WA), McKinney (GA), Moore (WI), ] (NY), ] (MN), Olver (MA), ] (NY), Payne (NJ), ] (NY), ] (VT), Sabo (MN), Schakowsky (IL), Stark (CA), Tierney (MA), Velazquez (NY), ] (CA) and ] (CA).


===Signing statements===
In addition, ] (CA) signed on as a co-sponsor on ], ], but withdrew support on ], ].
{{further|Signing statement#Controversy over George W. Bush's use of signing statements}}
Article 26 concerns the presidential use of signing statements.


===Senator Boxer=== ===Congressional subpoenas===
On ], ] Senator ] (D-CA) issued a press release , saying that she had written four undisclosed legal scholars, asking if there were grounds for impeachment, citing the ], ] New York Times disclosure of Bush's authorization of the National Security Agency (NSA) to monitor Americans without ]s and Nixon counsel ]'s comments on ], ] that this constituted an impeachable offense. In a December 20, 2005 CNN interview Wolf Blitzer asked "So you're not ready at this point to say that he should be impeached."
Boxer: "Oh, no, but I do have tremendous respect for John Dean." Former Nixon White House counsel John Dean spent four years in jail for his role in the Watergate cover-up.


Article 27 is about failing to comply with congressional subpoenas.
===Representative Lewis===
An Associated Press on ], ], said that Representative ] told an interviewer at WAOK-AM News radio that the President should be impeached for authorizing the NSA's actions. A dated ], ] posted on John Lewis' official United States House of Representatives website says, "In my opinion, the President has violated the law, and the House and Senate must pursue their inquiries into this illegal program. The President must stop using the threat of terrorism and the tactics of fear to invade the privacy of American citizens. George W. Bush is the president. He is not a king. He is not above the law," and concludes, "There is no question that the U.S. Congress has impeached presidents for lesser offenses."


===Representative Nadler=== ===2004 elections===
{{further|2004 United States election voting controversies}}
On ], the Detroit Free Press reported in a story, "Call is Out to Impeach Bush," that the previous day, at an unofficial hearing of Democrats on the House Judiciary Committee called by Conyers, Scott and Van Hollen, ] (D-NY), called for the committee to explore whether Bush should face impeachment for alleged high crimes and misdemeanors stemming from his decision to authorize domestic surveillance without court review. The proceedings had no legal authority, as committee chairman, Rep. ], (R-WI), rejected Democrats' requests for an inquiry. Nadler is a senior Democrat on the committee's panel on the Constitution.


Articles 28 and 29 charge the president with tampering with the 2004 elections and violating the Voting Rights Act of 1965.
==White House reaction==


===Medicare===
The ]-29, ] issue of ''Insight on the News'', self-described as "a sister publication" of the conservative '']'', included an article, "Impeachment hearings: The White House prepares for the worst." This article said administration sources regard Senate Judiciary Committee hearings into the ] as "a prelude to the impeachment process." The article quotes a source as saying, "Our arithmetic shows that a majority of the committee could vote against the president. If we work hard, there could be a tie." A source criticized Congress, saying, "We will tell the American people that while we have done everything we can to protect them, our policies are being endangered by a hypocritical Congress."


Article 30 states "Misleading Congress and the American People in an Attempt to Destroy Medicare."
==Public opinion==
===Polling results===
]]]


===Katrina===
Poll results show that many Americans support the hypothetical impeachment of Bush. These polls show greater support for the possibility of impeaching Bush than ever seen for the ] ], though the numbers are comparable to the early Clinton polls that used similar hypothetical wording as in the Bush polls.
{{further|Criticism of the government response to Hurricane Katrina}}


Article 31 concerns the supposed failure to plan and respond to Hurricane Katrina.
In ], ] commissioned a poll by the independent ] ] , which found that by a margin of 50% to 44% Americans say that President Bush should be impeached if he lied about the war in Iraq. 39% strongly agreed and 30% strongly disagreed with the statement, "If President Bush did not tell the truth about his reasons for going to war with Iraq, Congress should consider holding him accountable by impeaching him." 72% of Democrats favored impeachment, compared to 56% of Independents and 20% of Republicans.


===Global warming===
A Zogby International poll from ] to ], ] found that by a margin of 53% to 42% (+/-2.9%) Americans say that "If President Bush did not tell the truth about his reasons for going to war with Iraq, Congress should consider holding him accountable through impeachment." This was supported by 76% of ], 50% of ], and 29% of ]. A ], ] ]-] poll found 55% of Americans believe the Bush administration "intentionally misled the public" in making its case for war.


Article 32 charges the president with "Systematically Undermining Efforts to Address Global Climate Change."
], ], Rasmussen Reports released a poll that showed that 32% of the 1,000 Americans polled would support an impeachment of Bush and 35% would support an impeachment of Cheney. This survey was also commissioned by After Downing Street.


===9/11===
====Media response to polls====
The major media have largely ignored these opinion polls and protests. Several columnists have ]. ] on the ] predicted on ] ] that "if the country, according to the polls, believes by a margin of 55 percent that President Bush misled us into war, the next logical step is impeachment and I think you’re going to hear that word come up and if the Democrats ever capture either house of Congress there are going to be serious proceedings against this administration."


Articles 33, 34 and 35 concern 9/11, alleging that the president failed to respond to prior intelligence, obstructed post-9/11 investigations and endangered the health of 9/11 first responders.
When the ]'s chief pollster Richard Morin was asked by readers why the Post has not polled on impeachment he responded with "This question makes me angry". According to ], the Washington Post asked about impeachment in a poll conducted a few days after the revelation of President Clinton's relationship with ] in ]. Frank Newport, the director of the ] has said he would only run a poll on the subject if it starts to gain mainstream attention and not until then.


==Political views and actions==
===Public demonstrations===
An early effort to impeach Bush was begun by ] administration Attorney General ].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://independent.gmnews.com/News/2003/0319/Front_Page/013.html |title=Ramsey Clark speaks out against war at college by josh davidson Staff Writer |website=independent.gmnews.com |access-date=17 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051217033130/http://independent.gmnews.com/News/2003/0319/Front_Page/013.html |archive-date=17 December 2005 |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.democracynow.org/2005/1/21/former_u_s_attorney_general_ramsey|title=Former U.S. Attorney General Ramsey Clark Calls for Bush Impeachment|website=]}}</ref>
====Rallies and marches====
The rally held in ] by ] and her supporters in late summer of 2005 featured frequent calls for impeachment.


===Democrats in Congress===
A ] in ] on ] ] attracted over 100,000 people. The march included calls for impeachment and for investigations leading to impeachment.
<!-- Please keep these new additions to these sections in chronological order! -->
On June 16, 2005, Rep. ] (D-]) assembled an unofficial meeting to discuss the ] and to consider grounds for impeachment.
Conyers filed a resolution on December 18, 2005, to create an investigative committee to consider impeachment. His resolution gained 38 co-sponsors before it expired at the end of the ]. He did not reintroduce a similar resolution for the ].<ref> {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150318011840/http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d109:h.res.635: |date=2015-03-18 }} ], retaliating against critics, and to make recommendations regarding grounds for possible impeachment Sponsor: Rep Conyers, John, Jr. (introduced December 18, 2005)</ref>


] (D-MN) was the leading figure behind the resolution to impeach Bush brought to the ] in May 2006.<ref>{{cite news| title=The Insurgent|first=Conrad |last=Wilson|date=2006-12-08|url=http://www.prospect.org/web/page.ww?section=root&name=ViewWeb&articleId=12284 |access-date=January 27, 2007 }}</ref> Ellison was elected to the ] in November 2006. During the campaign and when he was named to the ], Ellison repeatedly called for an investigation into a possible impeachment.<ref>{{cite news|title=Ellison compares Bush to Nixon|url=http://minnesota.publicradio.org/collections/special/columns/polinaut/archive/2006/08/mprs_tim_pugmir.shtml|publisher=Minnesota Public Radio|first=Tim |last=Pugmire |date=2006-08-09 |access-date=January 27, 2007 }}</ref> In support of his candidacy, he "received a $1,000 contribution from ImpeachPAC".<ref name="Trib 1-27">{{cite news|url=http://www.startribune.com/587/story/960880.html |title=Will Ellison pursue impeachment? Not for now, he says |date=2007-01-25 |first=Rob |last=Hotakainen |publisher=Star Tribune |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070214092150/http://www.startribune.com/587/story/960880.html |archive-date=February 14, 2007 }} Retrieved January 27, 2007.</ref> Ellison would later note that his "opinions really have not changed over time, but the circumstances" regarding his position in Congress had, and he was a "step before impeachment".<ref>{{cite web|date=January 27, 2007|title=Impeach Bush? Not yet, says Dem|first=Rob|last=Hotakainen|url=https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2007/01/27/impeach-bush-not-yet-says-dem/}}</ref>
On ] ], ] mobilized marches across the country that called for the ousting of Bush. News reports cited thousands of protesters in each of ], ], and ] and 500 in each of ], ], ] and ].


At another ] convened by Conyers on January 20, 2006, Rep. ] (D-]) called for the committee to explore whether Bush should face impeachment, stemming from his decision to authorize domestic surveillance without court review.
Rep. ] founded the ''Out of Iraq ]'' in the House of Representatives. It has 66 members (as of ], ]). An ''Out of Iraq'' event hosted by Rep. Waters in ], attracted 1200 supporters who loudly chanted "Impeach Bush" in response to a speaker explaining ].


On May 10, 2006, House Minority Leader ] (D-]) indicated she was not interested in pursuing impeachment and had taken it "off the table", reiterating this phrase on November 8, 2006, after the election.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Babington|first=Charles|date=2006-05-12|title=Democrats Won't Try To Impeach President|newspaper=] |language=en-US|url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/05/11/AR2006051101950.html|access-date=2023-01-05|issn=0190-8286}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|title=Pelosi Says Democrats Are Ready to Lead|author=NANCY ZUCKERBROD|newspaper=] |agency=Associated Press|language=en-US|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/11/08/AR2006110801789_pf.html|date=8 November 2006|access-date=2023-01-05|issn=0190-8286}}</ref> In July 2007, Pelosi stated that she "would probably advocate" impeaching Bush if she were not in the House nor Speaker of the House.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Berman|first=Ari|date=2007-07-31|title=Why Pelosi Opposes Impeachment|language=en-US|url=https://www.thenation.com/article/archive/why-pelosi-opposes-impeachment/|access-date=2023-01-05|issn=0027-8378}}</ref>
===Response to groups formed to support impeachment===
Numerous groups have been created to support impeachment. The VoteToImpeach.org website claims to have collected half a million signatures on a petition to impeach Bush. None are known to have been created to oppose it (as ] had been created to oppose the impeachment of Clinton).


On December 8, 2006 (the last day of the 109th Congress), then-Representative ] (D-GA) submitted a resolution, H. Res. 1106. The bill expired along with the 109th Congress.<ref name="impeachment_bill">{{cite news
See also .
| first = Ben
| last = Evans
| title = McKinney Introduces Bill to Impeach Bush
| url = http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2006/12/08/national/w152917S79.DTL
| agency = Associated Press
| date = 2006-12-08
}}</ref>


John Conyers brought up the subject of impeachment on the July 8, 2007, broadcast of ''],''<ref>{{Citation|title=Rep. Conyers on Impeachment|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xT9266Xx5iM|language=en|access-date=2023-01-05}}</ref> stating:
On ], ], The AfterDowningStreet.org website mounted an effort to support Representative Conyers' legislation to censure Bush and Cheney and to investigate the administration's lead-up to the Iraq war, in possible preparation to impeachment. Within the first three days, the site reported that over 17,000 people had used the site to write to their congressional representatives requesting that they support Conyers' measures.
<blockquote>We're hoping that as the cries for the removal of both Cheney and Bush now reach 46 percent and 58 percent, respectively, for impeachment, that we could begin to become a little bit more cooperative, if not even amicable, in trying to get to the truth of these matters.</blockquote>


Presidential candidate ]'s major point in the ] on October 30, 2007, was that Bush and Cheney should be impeached for the ].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2007/11/01/wufo101.xml |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071103065017/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=%2Fnews%2F2007%2F11%2F01%2Fwufo101.xml |url-status=dead |archive-date=3 November 2007 |title=US presidential candidate insists he saw UFO |work=Telegraph |first=Alex |last=Spillius |location=Philadelphia |date=2 November 2007 |access-date=2008-10-27 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/11/01/politics/main3440466.shtml |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120721170952/http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/11/01/politics/main3440466.shtml |url-status=dead |archive-date=July 21, 2012 |title=Poll: Vermont Wants Bush, Cheney Impeached, Nearly Two-Thirds Of State's Likely Voters Want President, VP Removed Before Term Ends |work=CBS News |date=November 1, 2007|access-date=2008-10-27}}</ref> On November 6, 2007, Kucinich introduced a ] in the House of Representatives.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fosters.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071122/GJNEWS_01/711220060 |title=Dover NH, Rochester NH, Portsmouth NH, Laconia NH, Sanford ME |publisher=Fosters.com |first=Jason |last=Claffey |location=Durham |access-date=2008-10-27}}</ref>
==Endorsements of impeachment==
===Politicians and government officials===
*] of ] has authored the introduction to ]'s book outlining a case for impeaching Bush.


In November 2007, ], then a candidate for the Democratic presidential nomination in 2008, stated that he would move to impeach if President Bush were to bomb Iran without first gaining congressional approval.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.seacoastonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071129/NEWS/71129018 |title=Biden: Impeachment if Bush bombs Iran |publisher=Seacoastonline.com |first=Adam |last=Leech |access-date=2008-10-27}}</ref> However, no such bombing occurred during the rest of Bush's term.
*]'s 2004 presidential campaign also promoted the cause of a Bush impeachment by raising public awareness of the numerous alleged crimes of the Bush Administration. Nader also wrote an op-ed, (along with Kevin Zeese, director of DemocracyRising.US) favoring impeachment in the ], ] Boston Globe.


On June 9, 2008, Representative ] (D-Ohio), introduced a resolution, {{USBill|110|HRes|1258}}, to impeach president George W. Bush, which included 35 counts in the articles of impeachment. At the end of the evening on June 10, Kucinich offered a motion to refer HRes 1258 to the House Judiciary Committee. On June 11, the House voted 251-166 to send the resolution to the Committee.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d110:HE01258:@@@L&summ2=m& |title=Impeaching George W. Bush, President of the United States, of high crimes and misdemeanors |publisher=Thomas.loc.gov |access-date=2008-10-27 |archive-date=2015-07-18 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150718210105/http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d110:HE01258:@@@L&summ2=m& |url-status=dead }}</ref> The effort to impeach President Bush was not supported by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who believed the move would be "divisive and unlikely to succeed."<ref>{{Cite web|title=Kucinich effort to impeach Bush kicked into limbo - CNN.com|url=https://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/06/11/kucinich.impeach.vote/|access-date=2021-02-11|website=www.cnn.com}}</ref>
*] called for a bill of impeachment 'charging George W. Bush with a conscious refusal to uphold his oath and defend the states of the Union against "invasion"' in regards to issues with ].


On July 14, 2008, Kucinich introduced a new impeachment resolution ({{USBill|110|HRes|1345}}) limited to a single count.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rollcall.com/news/-26571-1.html|title=Kucinich to Introduce Sole Impeachment Resolution|publisher=Roll Call|date=July 10, 2008|access-date=August 27, 2013}}</ref><ref>rtsp://video1.c-span.org/15days/e071008_kucinich.rm {{dead link|date=September 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes}}</ref>
*], a Republican candidate for the ] House of Representatives seat has said he will campaign for impeachment against George W. Bush.


===State-level Democratic party actions===
*], former assistant Secretary of the Treasury in the ] stated "The Bush administration is insane. If the American people do not decapitate it by demanding Bush’s impeachment, the Bush administration will bring about Armageddon."
On March 21, 2006, the New Mexico Democratic Party, at a convention in ], adopted a plank to their platform saying “the Democratic Party of New Mexico supports the impeachment of George Bush and his lawful removal from office.”<ref>{{cite news|title=N.M. Dems Call For Bush's Exit|date=2006-03-21 |first=Jeff |last=Jones |url=http://www.abqjournal.com/news/state/443722nm03-21-06.htm |access-date=2007-01-27}}</ref>


On March 24, 2007, the Vermont Democratic State Committee voted to support JRH 15, a state legislative resolution supporting impeachment, calling for its passage as "appropriate action."<ref>, by Shay Totten & Christian Avard '']'', March 6, 2007.</ref>
*Former Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Treasury ] has called for Bush's impeachment.


On January 2, 2008, ], an 87-year-old, fourteen-term Democratic ], introduced New Hampshire House Resolution 24 in the State-Federal Relations and Veterans Affairs Committee of the ].<ref name=NHdoc>{{Cite web|title=Bill Docket|url=http://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/bill_status/bill_docket.aspx?lsr=2013&sy=2008&sortoption=&txtsessionyear=2008&txttitle=impeach|access-date=2023-01-05|website=www.gencourt.state.nh.us}}</ref> The resolution was "petitioning Congress to commence impeachment procedures" against Bush and Cheney for "high crimes and misdemeanors", including domestic spying, illegal detentions, signing statements, electioneering, the breaking of international treaties, and war crimes.<ref name=NHtext>{{Cite web|title=HR 0024|url=http://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/legislation/2008/HR0024.html|access-date=2023-01-05|website=www.gencourt.state.nh.us}}</ref> The bill further asserted that "section 603 of ] states that an impeachment may be set in motion by the United States House of Representatives by charges transmitted from the legislature of a state".<ref name=NHtext/>
*On ], ], ] town meetings in ], ], ], ] and ] called for impeachment of the president.


On February 20, 2008, the bill was ruled "Inexpedient to Legislate" to pass by a 10 to 5 vote within committee, which passed the resolution on to the full House for a vote.<ref name=NHdoc/> The bill was ] in the New Hampshire House of Representatives on April 16, 2008.<ref name=NHdoc/> After three efforts to have the bill removed from the table were unsuccessful, it died on the table on September 24, 2008.<ref name=NHdoc/>
===Viewpoints of some legal and academic professionals===
*], former White House Counsel to President ] and an early advocate of a Bush impeachment, believes that President Bush lied about weapons of mass destruction in order to get the United States into a war with Iraq. Dean believes this is an impeachable crime. In a talk before Writers Bloc in Beverly Hills, CA on ], ], Dean "remarked that Bush is the first President to ever willingly admit to an impeachable offense." (referring to the ])
*], United States ] under ], and current lawyer for ], has set up a website, , in which he lists some of the reasons he believes Bush, as well as ] ] and ] ], should be impeached.


===House Republicans===
*Constitutional Law Professor ] has written six draft articles of impeachment against Bush.
On July 25, 2008, Rep. ] (]) said that Bush had not broken the law in his own interest. He further cited the ] of the Constitution and said that we should use "our own good judgment" regarding their intent on impeachment.<ref>{{cite news |title=User Clip: Mike Pence on impeachment cspan-July 25, 2008 {{!}} C-SPAN.org |url=https://www.c-span.org/video/?c4821207/user-clip-mike-pence-impeachment-cspan-july-25-2008 |access-date=November 25, 2019 |work=C-SPAN |date=July 25, 2008 |language=en-us}}</ref>


==Municipal and county resolutions endorsing impeachment==
*Conservative scholars ] (constitutional scholar and former deputy attorney general in the Reagan Administration) and ] (scholar at the American Enterprise Institute) argued on the ], ] ] show that, should Bush remain defiant in defending his constitutionally-abusive wire-tapping of Americans (as he has indicated he will), Congress should consider impeaching him. Said Fein, "On its face, if President Bush is totally unapologetic and says I continue to maintain that as a war-time President I can do anything I want – I don’t need to consult any other branches – that is an impeachable offense. It’s more dangerous than Clinton’s lying under oath because it jeopardizes our democratic dispensation and civil liberties for the ages. It would set a precedent that … would lie around like a loaded gun, able to be used indefinitely for any future occupant. " Said Ornstein, "I think if we’re going to be intellectually honest here, this really is the kind of thing that Alexander Hamilton was referring to when impeachment was discussed."
By early 2006, numerous municipalities (large and small, and in various regions of the United States) had begun considering resolutions endorsing an impeachment of Bush.<ref>{{cite web |title=Towns draft resolutions for Bush impeachment |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna11746261 |website=NBC News |access-date=3 December 2024 |language=en |date=9 March 2006}}</ref> By June 2007, 79 municipal governments had adopted resolutions expressing their support for impeachments against Bush and other Bush administration officials.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Luhn |first1=Alec |title=Council to Discuss Bush Impeachment Madison Joins the 79 Muncipalities National Discussing Impeachment Resolutions of Bush's Administration. (First Edition) Seventy-Nine Municipalities Nationwide Have Adopted Impeachment Resolutions. (Second Edition) |url=https://madison.com/news/local/council-to-discuss-bush-impeachment-madison-joins-the-79-municipalities-nationwide-discussing-impeachment-resoltuions-of/article_1c02fa1a-d491-5192-9cb7-756758f3f857.html |website=Wisconsin State Journal |access-date=3 December 2024 |language=en |date=19 June 2007}}</ref>


Several county governments adopted resolutions expressing their support for an impeachment of Bush. Among the first to do this was ] in August 2007.<ref>Multiple sources:
*Constitutional Lawyer ] has written a book on the case for impeaching Bush, is a co-founder of After Downing Street, and has spoken regularly in favor of impeachment.
*{{cite web |title=Dane County Board to vote on impeachment of Bush, Cheney |url=https://www.twincities.com/2007/08/11/dane-county-board-to-vote-on-impeachment-of-bush-cheney |website=Twin Cities |access-date=3 December 2024 |date=11 August 2007}}

*{{cite web |title=Dane County / Board to vote on Bush impeachment |url=https://www.twincities.com/2007/08/11/dane-county-board-to-vote-on-bush-impeachment |website=Twin Cities |access-date=3 December 2024 |date=11 August 2007}}
*], a law professor at ] and a specialist in surveillance, spoke about Bush's admission that he authorized warrantless wiretaps, in an interview for an article, “Bush’s Impeachable Offense” by Michelle Goldberg, published ], ] on Salon.com. "The president has already conceded that he personally ordered that crime and renewed that order at least 30 times. This would clearly satisfy the standard of high crimes and misdemeanors for the purpose of an impeachment." Turley testified against Clinton in that impeachment hearing and added "Many of my Republican friends joined in that hearing and insisted that this was a matter of defending the rule of law, and had nothing to do with political antagonism. I'm surprised that many of those same voices are silent. The crime in this case was a knowing and premeditated act. This operation violated not just the federal statute but the United States Constitution. For Republicans to suggest that this is not a legitimate question of federal crimes makes a mockery of their position during the Clinton period. For Republicans, this is the ultimate test of principle."
*{{cite web |title=Every Which Way But Wyndham |url=https://www.dailycardinal.com/article/2010/02/every-which-way-but-wyndham |website=The Daily Cardinal |access-date=3 December 2024 |language=en |date=February 14, 2010}}</ref>

===Authors===

*A rundown of authors talking about impeachment was published in Editor and Publisher on ], ].

===Organizations===
*Numerous Democratic groups and writers for their websites, such as ], ] and , have called on Congress to impeach Bush.

*On March 1, 2006 the ] passed a resolution 7-3 calling on the congressional delegates representing ] to impeach ]. The mayor of the city has said he does not know whether he will sign it, and in either case, it will remain a low priority for him even if he does.

*The left-wing ] passed a resolution calling for impeachment of Bush and Cheney at its national meeting on ], ], citing a "pattern of making false statements to Congress, the American people, and the world to win support for actions by the American government and military forces", "quandering the resources of the American people to serve the interests of transnational corporations"; and war crimes, including the use of depleted uranium and cluster bombs in the preemptive invasion of Iraq." This was the first known call for impeachment by a mass membership organization.

*At the most recent state convention, the ] cited the Downing Street Memo in calling for the Impeachment of George Bush, ] and ].

*BuzzFlash.com a Chicago based news service, in a call for impeachment on ], ], editorialized that the administration had “deliberately ignored impending 9/11 hijacking attacks and led us into a disastrous war that has created more terrorism and united feuding religious sects in Iraq against us, that piles lies upon lies in an effort to prolong its stolen reign of power”

*''AfterDowningStreet'', an organization begun by liberal activists ] and ] and constitutional attorney John Bonifaz, advocates a congressional Resolution of Inquiry into evidence related to what has become known as the ], involving the Bush administration's military operations in ]. Such a resolution would be the first step toward a possible impeachment.

*''Impeach Central'' is dedicated to the impeachment of ] and ] for violating the laws of the United States. While the group says the Bush administration has violated the Constitution on numerous occasions, the group is focusing on what it sees as the lies they told the American people and Congress which led the country into the Iraq War.

*] has .

*] blog founded a grass roots united coalition of bloggers for the impeachment of ] with fellow blogger ]. The coalition is now known as the ].

*The liberal group ] sent a bus to ], TX emblazoned with the words "Impeachment Tour" in August of 2005. The group is seeking to hold the ] accountable for his actions in ].

* On ], ], the ] repeated its call to begin impeachment proceedings against Bush and Cheney as soon as possible, calling evidence that Bush has abused power "so overwhelming that failure to undertake impeachment would make Congress even more complicit in this administration's lawlessness."

===Media Editorials and Opinion Pieces===
*Barron's, the conservative business journal published by the Wall Street Journal, editorialized in favor of impeachment on ], ], "Unwarranted Executive Power: The pursuit of terrorism does not authorize the president to make up new laws" or , "Putting the president above the Congress is an invitation to tyranny. ...The most important presidential responsibility...is that he must 'take care that the laws be faithfully executed.”

:The editorial further stated, "Willful disregard of a law is potentially an impeachable offense. It is at least as impeachable as having a sexual escapade under the Oval Office desk and lying about it later. The members of the House Judiciary Committee who staged the impeachment of President Clinton ought to be as outraged at this situation. They ought to investigate it, consider it carefully and report either a bill that would change the wiretap laws to suit the president or a bill of impeachment."

:It adds, "It is important to be clear that an impeachment case, if it comes to that, would not be about wiretapping, or about a possible Constitutional right not to be wiretapped. It would be about the power of Congress to set wiretapping rules by law, and it is about the obligation of the president to follow the rules in the Acts that he and his predecessors signed into law."

*The Capital Times, the progressive Madison Wisconsin newspaper founded in 1917, editorialized on ], ], in an editorial entitled "Talking About Impeachment" noted “The dwindling circle of right-wing defenders of the Bush-Cheney presidency would have Americans believe that only the most reckless partisans would even consider the prospect of censuring or perhaps even impeaching the president and vice president. But the prospect of officially sanctioning Bush and Cheney, as has now been proposed by U.S. Rep. John Conyers, the ranking Democrat on the House Judiciary Committee, is gaining ground in unexpected quarters."

:"The evidence shows that serious wrongdoing has occurred. And those responsible need to be held to account not just by academics, former White House aides and national publications but by the citizens who can persuade members of Congress to become the watchdogs on executive wrongdoing that the founders intended."

*The ultra-conservative ] magazine, The New American, published an opinion piece on ], ] in favor of impeachment, “It's Not Just a Piece of Paper”. Talking in the voice of Thomas Jefferson, were he alive today, it stated “'When in the course of U.S. events it becomes necessary for Americans to demand that their duly elected representatives impeach and remove from office a president, a decent respect to the opinions of their fellow citizens requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to such a course of action.’” The piece enumerates the reasons for impeachment, with links to news articles, and concludes, again in Jefferson’s voice, “’A president, whose character is thus marked by every act which may define a tyrant, is unfit to be a leader of a free people.’" Then resuming its own voice, it states, “Mr. President, when you placed your hand over the Bible, raised your arm, and swore an oath before God to "preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States" (Article II, Section I), that wasn't ‘just a book’ you put your hand on. And it certainly wasn't a mealy-mouthed ‘agreement’ you made before your Maker -- whose name you have no compunction about taking in vain. And Mr. President, the Constitution is not just a piece of paper.”

*Radio personality and syndicated columnist ] wrote a column on February 28, 2006, calling for impeachment, "What to do when the emperor has no clothes", citing reports of torture at ] ("When Americans start pulling people's fingernails out with pliers and poking lighted cigarettes into their palms, then we need to come back to basic values."), ] findings that indicate to him that "...our country is practically as vulnerable today as it was on 9/10," and the failure of the Iraq war to provide security for Americans ("Our adventure in Iraq, at a cost of trillions, has brought that country to the verge of civil war while earning us more enemies than ever before."

*], columnist and contributing editor at the Los Angeles Times and The Nation, has repeatedly called for impeachment.

* In an ], ] column, "Hold Bush Accountable," ], of the Washington Post, accused Bush of impeachable offenses and called on the American electorate to figuratively "impeach" Bush by voting against him.


==Summary of impeachment resolutions introduced==
{| class=wikitable
|+ Impeachment resolutions introduced in the ]
! Resolution #
! Date introduced
! Sponsor
! Number of co-sponsors
! Action called for
! Reason
! Actions taken
! Citation
|-
|
| December 18, 2005
| ] (D–MI)
| style="text-align: center"|38
| Launch of an ]
| Allegations against the Bush administration including, "intent to go to war before congressional authorization, manipulation of pre-war intelligence, encouraging and countenancing torture, retaliating against critics"
| Referred to ] on December 18, 2005
| <ref>{{cite web |title=H.Res.635 - Creating a select committee to investigate the Administration's intent to go to war before congressional authorization, manipulation of pre-war intelligence, encouraging and countenancing torture, retaliating against critics, and to make recommendations regarding grounds for possible impeachment.
|url= https://www.congress.gov/bill/109th-congress/house-resolution/635 |website=congress.gov |publisher=United States Congress |access-date=4 January 2023}}</ref>
|-
|
| December 8, 2006
| ] (D–GA)
| style="text-align: center"|0
| Impeachment of Bush
| {{small|Alleged "high crimes and misdemeanors" outlined in three articles of impeachment:
<br>{{Smalldiv|{{hidden| |
*Article I: "Failure to preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution," in violation of ] by, "manipulating intelligence and lying to justify war"
*Article II: "Abuse of office and of executive privilege," in violation of his oath of office, through, "disregard for that oath by obstructing and hindering the work of Congressional investigative bodies and by seeking to expand the scope of the powers of his office," and additionally, failing to, "investigate or discipline those responsible for an ongoing pattern of negligence, incompetence and malfeasance to the detriment of the American people (including by Vice President ] and National Security Advisor ])
*Article III:"Failure to ensure the laws are faithfully executed," in violation of his duties under Article II, Section 3 of the United States Constitution by having, "violated the letter and spirit of laws and rules of criminal procedure used by civilian and military courts, and has violated or ignored regulatory codes and practices that carry out the law," in conduct including, "illegal domestic spying," that is, "in violation of the ]"
}}}}
| Referred to ] on December 8, 2006
| <ref>{{cite web |title=H.Res.1106 - Articles of Impeachment against George Walker Bush, President of the United States of America, and other officials, for high crimes and misdemeanors. |url=https://www.congress.gov/bill/109th-congress/house-resolution/1106 |website=congress.gov |publisher=United States Congress |access-date=4 January 2023}}</ref>
|}


{| class=wikitable
|+ Impeachment resolutions introduced in the ]
! Resolution #
! Date introduced
! Sponsor
! Number of co-sponsors
! Action called for
! Reason
! Actions taken
! Citation
|-
|
| June 11, 2008
| ] (D–OH)
| style="text-align: center"|11
| Impeachment of Bush
| Alleged "high crimes and misdemeanors" in violation of his oath of office outlined in 28 articles of impeachment
| Referred (by a vote of 251–166) to ] on June 11, 2008
| <ref>{{cite web |title=H.Res.1258 - Impeaching George W. Bush, President of the United States, of high crimes and misdemeanors.
|url= https://www.congress.gov/bill/110th-congress/house-resolution/1258 |website=congress.gov |publisher=United States Congress |access-date=4 January 2023}}</ref>
|-
|
| July 15, 2008
| ] (D–OH)
| style="text-align: center"|4
| Impeachment of Bush
| "Deceiving Congress with fabricated threats of ] to fraudulently obtain support for ]"
| Referred (by a vote of 238–180) to ] on December 8, 2006
| <ref>{{cite web |title=H.Res.1345 - Impeaching George W. Bush, President of the United States, of high crimes and misdemeanors.
|url= https://www.congress.gov/bill/110th-congress/house-resolution/1345 |website=congress.gov |publisher=United States Congress |access-date=4 January 2023}}</ref>
|}


==See also== ==See also==
* ]
* ]
* ]
* ]
* ] * ]
* ] * ]
* ]
* ]
* ]
* ]
* ] * ]
* ] * ]
* ]
* ] status
* ] * '']''
* ]
* '']''

==References==
{{reflist|colwidth=30em}}


==Further reading== ==Further reading==
* ], ''Warrior King: The Case for Impeaching George Bush'', (2003) ISBN 1560256060 * ], ''Warrior King: The Case for Impeaching George Bush'', (2003) {{ISBN|1-56025-606-0}}
* ] & ], ]: The Legal Argument for Removing President George W. Bush from Office, (2006) {{ISBN|0-312-36016-9}}
* ], ''Worse Than Watergate: The Secret Presidency of George W. Bush'', (2004) ISBN 031600023X
* Dennis Loo & Peter Phillips, Eds., ''Impeach the President: the Case Against Bush and Cheney'', (2006) {{ISBN|978-1-58322-743-5}}
* ], ''The Genius of Impeachment: The Founders' Cure for Royalism'', (2006) {{ISBN|978-1-59558-140-2}}
* Elizabeth de la Vega, ''U.S. v. Bush'', (2006) {{ISBN|978-1-58322-756-5}}
* ], ''Impeachment: A Handbook (Yale Fastback Series)'', (1998 Reissue) {{ISBN|0-300-07950-8}}
* ], '']'', (2006) {{ISBN|0-9779440-0-X}}
* ] with Cynthia Cooper, ''The Impeachment of George W Bush'' A Practical Guide for Concerned Citizens, (2006) {{ISBN|1-56025-940-X}}
* ], ''Cowboy Republic: Six Ways the Bush Gang Has Defied the Law'', (2007) {{ISBN|0-9778253-3-7}}
* ], ''Takeover: The Return of the Imperial Presidency and the Subversion of American Democracy'', (2007) {{ISBN|0-316-11805-2}}
* ], '']'', (2008) {{ISBN|978-159315-481-3}}


==External links== ==External links==
{{Wikisource|Representative Kucinich announced his intention to offer a privileged resolution|Congressional&nbsp;Record, Volume&nbsp;154, pp.&nbsp;H5088–H5107 (June&nbsp;9,&nbsp;2008)}}
* , by Congressman ]. .
* (July 22, 2007)
*
* {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060318101931/http://www.thenation.com/doc/20060130/holtzman |date=2006-03-18 }} an article in the January 30, 2006, issue of ''The Nation'' magazine


{{Presidency of George W. Bush}}
* from the Center for Media & Democracy's SourceWatch
{{Federal impeachment in the United States}}
*
**
* by John Dean
* by Virginia Rodino
* Group organizing events to publicize the Downing Street Memos and advocate a congressional resolution of inquiry into the possible crimes of George Bush.
*, which reports a Zogby Poll which shows 42% of Americans agree that "if President Bush did not tell the truth about his reasons for going to war with Iraq, Congress should consider holding him accountable through impeachment?"
*
*
*
* raises money for candidates that support impeachment
* organizes flyering, ]ging, and ]
*
* an article in the January 30, 2006 issue of The Nation magazine
*
* by ], a private U.S. citizen who is running for U.S. Senate in 2006 as a Democrat in Rhode Island.
*
* by Garrison Keillor
* Why Bush's pre-9/11 conduct is best characterized as criminal negligence, by historian and former State Department intelligence analyst Kenneth J. Dillon.


] ]
]
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Latest revision as of 20:23, 3 December 2024

Talks and activities of a possible impeachment of George W. Bush
A protester calling for the impeachment of Bush on June 16, 2005.
Window display in New Orleans calling for impeachment in March 2006
Man protesting in Albuquerque, New Mexico in support of impeaching both Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney in July 2008

During the presidency of George W. Bush, several American politicians sought to either investigate Bush for possible impeachable offenses, or to bring actual impeachment charges on the floor of the United States House of Representatives Judiciary Committee. The most significant of these efforts occurred on June 10, 2008, when Congressman Dennis Kucinich, along with co-sponsor Robert Wexler, introduced 35 articles of impeachment against Bush to the U.S. House of Representatives. The House voted 251 to 166 to refer the impeachment resolution to the Judiciary Committee on June 11, where no further action was taken on it. Bush's presidency ended on January 20, 2009, with the completion of his second term in office, rendering impeachment efforts moot.

Kucinich–Wexler impeachment articles

The Kucinich–Wexler impeachment resolution contained 35 articles of impeachment covering the Iraq War, the Valerie Plame affair, creating a case for war with Iran, capture and treatment of prisoners of war, spying and or wiretapping inside the United States, use of signing statements, failing to comply with Congressional subpoenas, the 2004 elections, Medicare, Hurricane Katrina, global warming, and 9/11.

The 2003 invasion of Iraq was the most substantial portion of the articles of impeachment introduced by Kucinich and Wexler. Fifteen of the 35 articles directly relate to alleged misconduct by Bush in seeking authority for the war, and in the conduct of military action itself. Five other articles address allegations partially or tertiarily relating to the war, including the "outing" of Valerie Plame, treatment of prisoners (both in Iraq and from operations in Afghanistan and other countries), and building a case for Iran being a threat based in part on alleging Iranian actions in Iraq.

Justification for invasion

Further information: Iraq and weapons of mass destruction, Saddam Hussein and al-Qaeda, Downing Street memo, Bush-Blair memo, Legitimacy of the 2003 invasion of Iraq, and Bush-Aznar memo

The first four impeachment articles charge the president with illegally creating a case for war with Iraq, including charges of a propaganda campaign, falsely representing Iraq as responsible for 9/11, and falsely representing Iraq as an imminent danger to the United States.

Legitimacy of invasion

Further information: UN Charter, War of aggression, Jus ad bellum, and Legitimacy of the 2003 invasion of Iraq

Articles 5–8 and 12 deal with the invasion of Iraq and include charges that funds were misspent before the war, that the war was in violation of HJRes114, that Iraq was invaded without a war declaration, that the war is a violation of the UN Charter, and that the purpose of the war was to control the country's oil supplies.

Conduct of the Iraq War

Further information: 2003 invasion of Iraq

Articles 9, 10, 11 and 13 deal with conduct of the war, including failing to provide troops with body armor, falsifying US troop deaths and injuries, establishing a permanent military base in Iraq, and creating a secret task force to develop energy and military policies with respect to Iraq and other countries. Articles 15 and 16 cover contractors in Iraq and charges that the president misspent money on contractors and provided them with immunity.

Valerie Plame

Further information: Plame affair

Article 14 is about the revelation of the identity of CIA agent Valerie Plame.

Treatment of detainees

Further information: Abu Ghraib torture and prisoner abuse, Bagram torture and prisoner abuse, United Nations Convention Against Torture, Geneva Conventions, Command responsibility, and Hamdan v. Rumsfeld

Articles 17–20 concern the treatment of detainees, the "kidnapping" and detention of foreign nationals, and the use of torture.

Attempt to overthrow the government of Iran

Article 21 claims that the president misled Congress and the American people about threats from Iran, and supported terrorist organizations within Iran, with the goal of overthrowing the Iranian government.

NSA warrantless surveillance controversy

Further information: NSA warrantless surveillance controversy and Separation of powers

Articles 24 and 25 charge the president with illegally spying on American citizens, directing US telecom companies to create databases of citizens, and violating the Fourth Amendment of the US Constitution.

Signing statements

Further information: Signing statement § Controversy over George W. Bush's use of signing statements

Article 26 concerns the presidential use of signing statements.

Congressional subpoenas

Article 27 is about failing to comply with congressional subpoenas.

2004 elections

Further information: 2004 United States election voting controversies

Articles 28 and 29 charge the president with tampering with the 2004 elections and violating the Voting Rights Act of 1965.

Medicare

Article 30 states "Misleading Congress and the American People in an Attempt to Destroy Medicare."

Katrina

Further information: Criticism of the government response to Hurricane Katrina

Article 31 concerns the supposed failure to plan and respond to Hurricane Katrina.

Global warming

Article 32 charges the president with "Systematically Undermining Efforts to Address Global Climate Change."

9/11

Articles 33, 34 and 35 concern 9/11, alleging that the president failed to respond to prior intelligence, obstructed post-9/11 investigations and endangered the health of 9/11 first responders.

Political views and actions

An early effort to impeach Bush was begun by Lyndon Johnson administration Attorney General Ramsey Clark.

Democrats in Congress

On June 16, 2005, Rep. John Conyers (D-MI) assembled an unofficial meeting to discuss the Downing Street memo and to consider grounds for impeachment. Conyers filed a resolution on December 18, 2005, to create an investigative committee to consider impeachment. His resolution gained 38 co-sponsors before it expired at the end of the 109th Congress. He did not reintroduce a similar resolution for the 110th Congress.

Keith Ellison (D-MN) was the leading figure behind the resolution to impeach Bush brought to the Minnesota State House of Representatives in May 2006. Ellison was elected to the United States House of Representatives in November 2006. During the campaign and when he was named to the House Judiciary Committee, Ellison repeatedly called for an investigation into a possible impeachment. In support of his candidacy, he "received a $1,000 contribution from ImpeachPAC". Ellison would later note that his "opinions really have not changed over time, but the circumstances" regarding his position in Congress had, and he was a "step before impeachment".

At another unofficial hearing convened by Conyers on January 20, 2006, Rep. Jerrold Nadler (D-NY) called for the committee to explore whether Bush should face impeachment, stemming from his decision to authorize domestic surveillance without court review.

On May 10, 2006, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) indicated she was not interested in pursuing impeachment and had taken it "off the table", reiterating this phrase on November 8, 2006, after the election. In July 2007, Pelosi stated that she "would probably advocate" impeaching Bush if she were not in the House nor Speaker of the House.

On December 8, 2006 (the last day of the 109th Congress), then-Representative Cynthia McKinney (D-GA) submitted a resolution, H. Res. 1106. The bill expired along with the 109th Congress.

John Conyers brought up the subject of impeachment on the July 8, 2007, broadcast of This Week with George Stephanopoulos, stating:

We're hoping that as the cries for the removal of both Cheney and Bush now reach 46 percent and 58 percent, respectively, for impeachment, that we could begin to become a little bit more cooperative, if not even amicable, in trying to get to the truth of these matters.

Presidential candidate Dennis Kucinich's major point in the Democratic Presidential Debate on October 30, 2007, was that Bush and Cheney should be impeached for the Iraq War. On November 6, 2007, Kucinich introduced a resolution to impeach Vice President Cheney in the House of Representatives.

In November 2007, Joe Biden, then a candidate for the Democratic presidential nomination in 2008, stated that he would move to impeach if President Bush were to bomb Iran without first gaining congressional approval. However, no such bombing occurred during the rest of Bush's term.

On June 9, 2008, Representative Dennis Kucinich (D-Ohio), introduced a resolution, H.Res. 1258, to impeach president George W. Bush, which included 35 counts in the articles of impeachment. At the end of the evening on June 10, Kucinich offered a motion to refer HRes 1258 to the House Judiciary Committee. On June 11, the House voted 251-166 to send the resolution to the Committee. The effort to impeach President Bush was not supported by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who believed the move would be "divisive and unlikely to succeed."

On July 14, 2008, Kucinich introduced a new impeachment resolution (H.Res. 1345) limited to a single count.

State-level Democratic party actions

On March 21, 2006, the New Mexico Democratic Party, at a convention in Albuquerque, adopted a plank to their platform saying “the Democratic Party of New Mexico supports the impeachment of George Bush and his lawful removal from office.”

On March 24, 2007, the Vermont Democratic State Committee voted to support JRH 15, a state legislative resolution supporting impeachment, calling for its passage as "appropriate action."

On January 2, 2008, Betty Hall, an 87-year-old, fourteen-term Democratic State Representative, introduced New Hampshire House Resolution 24 in the State-Federal Relations and Veterans Affairs Committee of the New Hampshire House of Representatives. The resolution was "petitioning Congress to commence impeachment procedures" against Bush and Cheney for "high crimes and misdemeanors", including domestic spying, illegal detentions, signing statements, electioneering, the breaking of international treaties, and war crimes. The bill further asserted that "section 603 of Jefferson's Manual of Parliamentary Practice states that an impeachment may be set in motion by the United States House of Representatives by charges transmitted from the legislature of a state".

On February 20, 2008, the bill was ruled "Inexpedient to Legislate" to pass by a 10 to 5 vote within committee, which passed the resolution on to the full House for a vote. The bill was tabled in the New Hampshire House of Representatives on April 16, 2008. After three efforts to have the bill removed from the table were unsuccessful, it died on the table on September 24, 2008.

House Republicans

On July 25, 2008, Rep. Mike Pence (IN) said that Bush had not broken the law in his own interest. He further cited the Framers of the Constitution and said that we should use "our own good judgment" regarding their intent on impeachment.

Municipal and county resolutions endorsing impeachment

By early 2006, numerous municipalities (large and small, and in various regions of the United States) had begun considering resolutions endorsing an impeachment of Bush. By June 2007, 79 municipal governments had adopted resolutions expressing their support for impeachments against Bush and other Bush administration officials.

Several county governments adopted resolutions expressing their support for an impeachment of Bush. Among the first to do this was Dane County, Wisconsin in August 2007.

Summary of impeachment resolutions introduced

Impeachment resolutions introduced in the 109th U.S. Congress
Resolution # Date introduced Sponsor Number of co-sponsors Action called for Reason Actions taken Citation
H.Res. 635 December 18, 2005 John Conyers (D–MI) 38 Launch of an impeachment inquiry Allegations against the Bush administration including, "intent to go to war before congressional authorization, manipulation of pre-war intelligence, encouraging and countenancing torture, retaliating against critics" Referred to House Committee on Rules on December 18, 2005
H.Res.1106 December 8, 2006 Cynthia McKinney (D–GA) 0 Impeachment of Bush Alleged "high crimes and misdemeanors" outlined in three articles of impeachment:
  • Article I: "Failure to preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution," in violation of his oath of office by, "manipulating intelligence and lying to justify war"
  • Article II: "Abuse of office and of executive privilege," in violation of his oath of office, through, "disregard for that oath by obstructing and hindering the work of Congressional investigative bodies and by seeking to expand the scope of the powers of his office," and additionally, failing to, "investigate or discipline those responsible for an ongoing pattern of negligence, incompetence and malfeasance to the detriment of the American people (including by Vice President Dick Cheney and National Security Advisor Condoleezza Rice)
  • Article III:"Failure to ensure the laws are faithfully executed," in violation of his duties under Article II, Section 3 of the United States Constitution by having, "violated the letter and spirit of laws and rules of criminal procedure used by civilian and military courts, and has violated or ignored regulatory codes and practices that carry out the law," in conduct including, "illegal domestic spying," that is, "in violation of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act"
 Referred to House Committee on the Judiciary on December 8, 2006
Impeachment resolutions introduced in the 110th U.S. Congress
Resolution # Date introduced Sponsor Number of co-sponsors Action called for Reason Actions taken Citation
H.Res.1258 June 11, 2008 Dennis Kucinich (D–OH) 11 Impeachment of Bush Alleged "high crimes and misdemeanors" in violation of his oath of office outlined in 28 articles of impeachment Referred (by a vote of 251–166) to House Committee on the Judiciary on June 11, 2008
H.Res.1345 July 15, 2008 Dennis Kucinich (D–OH) 4 Impeachment of Bush "Deceiving Congress with fabricated threats of Iraq WMDs to fraudulently obtain support for an authorization of the use of military force against Iraq" Referred (by a vote of 238–180) to House Committee on the Judiciary on December 8, 2006

See also

References

  1. ^ "Impeaching George W. Bush, President of the United States, of high crimes and misdemeanors. (2008 - H.Res. 1258)". GovTrack.us. Retrieved 2023-01-05.
  2. Man, Anthony (June 10, 2008). "Impeach Bush, Wexler says". South Florida Sun-Sentinel.com. Retrieved 2008-06-10.
  3. "Bill Summary & Status - 110th Congress (2007 - 2008) - H.RES.1258 - All Congressional Actions - THOMAS (Library of Congress)". Archived from the original on 2016-07-04. Retrieved 2009-01-26.
  4. "Ramsey Clark speaks out against war at college by josh davidson Staff Writer". independent.gmnews.com. Archived from the original on 17 December 2005. Retrieved 17 January 2022.
  5. "Former U.S. Attorney General Ramsey Clark Calls for Bush Impeachment". Democracy Now!.
  6. H.RES.635 - Creating a select committee to investigate the Administration's intent to go to war before congressional authorization, manipulation of pre-war intelligence, encouraging and countenancing Archived 2015-03-18 at the Wayback Machine torture, retaliating against critics, and to make recommendations regarding grounds for possible impeachment Sponsor: Rep Conyers, John, Jr. (introduced December 18, 2005)
  7. Wilson, Conrad (2006-12-08). "The Insurgent". Retrieved January 27, 2007.
  8. Pugmire, Tim (2006-08-09). "Ellison compares Bush to Nixon". Minnesota Public Radio. Retrieved January 27, 2007.
  9. Hotakainen, Rob (2007-01-25). "Will Ellison pursue impeachment? Not for now, he says". Star Tribune. Archived from the original on February 14, 2007. Retrieved January 27, 2007.
  10. Hotakainen, Rob (January 27, 2007). "Impeach Bush? Not yet, says Dem".
  11. Babington, Charles (2006-05-12). "Democrats Won't Try To Impeach President". The Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 2023-01-05.
  12. NANCY ZUCKERBROD (8 November 2006). "Pelosi Says Democrats Are Ready to Lead". The Washington Post. Associated Press. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 2023-01-05.
  13. Berman, Ari (2007-07-31). "Why Pelosi Opposes Impeachment". ISSN 0027-8378. Retrieved 2023-01-05.
  14. Evans, Ben (2006-12-08). "McKinney Introduces Bill to Impeach Bush". Associated Press.
  15. Rep. Conyers on Impeachment, retrieved 2023-01-05
  16. Spillius, Alex (2 November 2007). "US presidential candidate insists he saw UFO". Telegraph. Philadelphia. Archived from the original on 3 November 2007. Retrieved 2008-10-27.
  17. "Poll: Vermont Wants Bush, Cheney Impeached, Nearly Two-Thirds Of State's Likely Voters Want President, VP Removed Before Term Ends". CBS News. November 1, 2007. Archived from the original on July 21, 2012. Retrieved 2008-10-27.
  18. Claffey, Jason. "Dover NH, Rochester NH, Portsmouth NH, Laconia NH, Sanford ME". Durham: Fosters.com. Retrieved 2008-10-27.
  19. Leech, Adam. "Biden: Impeachment if Bush bombs Iran". Seacoastonline.com. Retrieved 2008-10-27.
  20. "Impeaching George W. Bush, President of the United States, of high crimes and misdemeanors". Thomas.loc.gov. Archived from the original on 2015-07-18. Retrieved 2008-10-27.
  21. "Kucinich effort to impeach Bush kicked into limbo - CNN.com". www.cnn.com. Retrieved 2021-02-11.
  22. "Kucinich to Introduce Sole Impeachment Resolution". Roll Call. July 10, 2008. Retrieved August 27, 2013.
  23. rtsp://video1.c-span.org/15days/e071008_kucinich.rm
  24. Jones, Jeff (2006-03-21). "N.M. Dems Call For Bush's Exit". Retrieved 2007-01-27.
  25. Vermont: 36 towns call for impeachment probe of president, by Shay Totten & Christian Avard Vermont Guardian, March 6, 2007.
  26. ^ "Bill Docket". www.gencourt.state.nh.us. Retrieved 2023-01-05.
  27. ^ "HR 0024". www.gencourt.state.nh.us. Retrieved 2023-01-05.
  28. "User Clip: Mike Pence on impeachment cspan-July 25, 2008 | C-SPAN.org". C-SPAN. July 25, 2008. Retrieved November 25, 2019.
  29. "Towns draft resolutions for Bush impeachment". NBC News. 9 March 2006. Retrieved 3 December 2024.
  30. Luhn, Alec (19 June 2007). "Council to Discuss Bush Impeachment Madison Joins the 79 Muncipalities National Discussing Impeachment Resolutions of Bush's Administration. (First Edition) Seventy-Nine Municipalities Nationwide Have Adopted Impeachment Resolutions. (Second Edition)". Wisconsin State Journal. Retrieved 3 December 2024.
  31. Multiple sources:
  32. "H.Res.635 - Creating a select committee to investigate the Administration's intent to go to war before congressional authorization, manipulation of pre-war intelligence, encouraging and countenancing torture, retaliating against critics, and to make recommendations regarding grounds for possible impeachment". congress.gov. United States Congress. Retrieved 4 January 2023.
  33. "H.Res.1106 - Articles of Impeachment against George Walker Bush, President of the United States of America, and other officials, for high crimes and misdemeanors". congress.gov. United States Congress. Retrieved 4 January 2023.
  34. "H.Res.1258 - Impeaching George W. Bush, President of the United States, of high crimes and misdemeanors". congress.gov. United States Congress. Retrieved 4 January 2023.
  35. "H.Res.1345 - Impeaching George W. Bush, President of the United States, of high crimes and misdemeanors". congress.gov. United States Congress. Retrieved 4 January 2023.

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