Rep. Albio Sires Throws Support Behind Trump Impeachment Inquiry

HUDSON COUNTY, NJ — U.S. Rep. Albio Sires of New Jersey’s 8th District has officially thrown his support behind an impeachment inquiry for President Donald Trump.

Earlier this week, Sires called for an impeachment inquiry, joining a growing chorus of lawmakers in the House of Representatives, including House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. Read his full statement.

Trump is accused of offering hundreds of millions of dollars in stalled military aid to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, under the condition that the country launches a probe into former vice president Joe Biden, one of his main challengers in the 2020 election.

Trump has denied the accusation, calling the ensuing controversy “presidential harassment” and a “witch hunt.”

The president and his administration are also accused of trying to cover up a whistleblower complaint about his call to Zelensky.

• See related article: Official Impeachment Inquiry To Begin Against Trump
• See related article: Maguire Testifies; Whistleblower Complaint Released

According to Sires, if true, the accusations against Trump are a direct violation of the law.

“The Constitution gives Congress the sole power to impeach an official, including the president,” Sires wrote. “In our system of checks and balances, this authority is one that must be used with careful deliberation to hold officials accountable for their actions. I do not take this responsibility lightly, but the president’s past obstruction of Congressional investigations combined with the revelations of the last 24 hours have made it clear that we must begin an impeachment inquiry.”

Sires continued:

“Not only did President Trump order a withholding of funds to a foreign nation until it acquiesced to his demands, he is also attempting to block the whistleblower’s complaint from coming to Congress. These direct violations of the law, and egregious abuses of power, must be treated like the national security threats that they are. Up until now, I wanted to follow the ongoing congressional investigations to their conclusions and using the facts uncovered to make a decision about impeachment. However, these developments raise the urgency to a new level and I join many of my colleagues, and our constituents, in calling for an impeachment inquiry – we must uphold our oaths to protect the country, even if the president will not.”

Sires represents the following municipalities in Bergen, Essex, Hudson and Union counties: Fairview, Belleville, Newark (part), Bayonne (part), East Newark, Guttenberg, Harrison, Hoboken, Jersey City (part), Kearny (part), North Bergen, Union City, Weehawken, West New York, Elizabeth.

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• See related article: Rep. Sires Calls President Trump A 'Fearmonger' After Speech
• See related article: Albio Sires Boycotting Trump's 1st State Of Union

The idea of impeaching Trump has inspired fierce support – and opposition – in the Garden State.

New Jersey Citizen Action issued a statement in favor of an impeachment inquiry on Tuesday.

“President Trump stands accused of attempting to coerce a foreign government to influence our democracy, and attempting to block a whistleblower’s complaint from coming to Congress,” said Executive Director Phyllis Salowe-Kaye.

“If these allegations are true, they are violations of the law, abuses of power and impeachable offenses.”

On the flip side of the coin, Steven Rogers, Nutley town commissioner and head of the Trump-boosting America Winning Coalition, said the impeachment inquiry is not only a waste of time, it’s a “nail in the political coffin” of the Democratic Party.

“Calling for the impeachment of President Trump is absolutely ridiculous, a waste of time, and a waste of taxpayers’ dollars,” Rogers told New Jersey Globe. “The president committed no impeachable offenses, let alone no offenses at all.”

Other people said that regardless of what you think about Trump, impeachment proceedings will only divide the country and distract from more important issues.

According to Livingston High School Hall of Fame member and U.S. Senate candidate Shiva Ayyadurai:

“Whether you are Left or Right, Democrat or Republican, pro-Trump or anti-Trump, the impeachment proceedings aim to divide our country, distract us from addressing real problems & uniting us around real solutions. Who does this serve? Surely not you or I - the American Worker.”

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