President accuses Pelosi of violating oath of office
WASHINGTON: Donald Trump accused Nancy Pelosi of turning the House of Representatives into a medieval “star chamber” in pursuit of his impeachment, lashing out at the speaker in a blistering, six-page letter and vowing her party would be punished by voters in the 2020 election.
Mr Trump’s letter, on the eve of an expected House vote to approve two articles of impeachment, laid out his defence against charges he abused his power and obstructed Congress while also ridiculing Democrats’ allegations.
He punctuated his missive with occasional exclamation marks and hyperbole, minimising the behaviour that had led him to the brink of becoming the third US president to be impeached while repeating a false claim about former Vice President Joe Biden.
“Your legacy will be that of turning the House of Representatives from a revered legislative body into a Star Chamber of partisan persecution,” Mr Trump wrote on Tuesday. “I have no doubt the American people will hold you and the Democrats fully responsible in the upcoming 2020 election. They will not soon forgive your perversion of justice and abuse of power.”
One White House aide started a draft last week, then multiple officials played roles in the review and rewriting, including adviser Stephen Miller, legislative aide Eric Ueland and Michael Williams, counsel to the chief of staff.
Mr Trump contributed language and direction, according to people familiar with the matter. White House Counsel Pat Cipollone and his deputy Pat Philbin were also involved.
“Good marks and reviews on the letter I sent to Pelosi today,” Mr Trump tweeted on Tuesday night. “She is the worst! No wonder with people like her and Cryin’ Chuck Schumer, D.C. has been such a mess for so long.”
Ms Pelosi said on Tuesday that she hadn’t “fully read” Mr Trump’s letter. “I’ve seen the essence of it, though, and it’s really sick,” she said.
Mr Trump’s likely impeachment will add an unpredictable wrinkle to what is already shaping up to be one of the most rancorous elections in modern history. The country is roughly split on whether the president should be removed from office, according to recent polls. Soon after the House was to vote, Mr Trump was expected to offer a rebuttal during his first campaign rally as an impeached president seeking re-election, in the formerly Democratic stronghold of Battle Creek, Michigan.
Ms Pelosi said in a letter to colleagues on Tuesday that “no member came to Congress to impeach a president”. But she said: “If we do not act, we will be derelict in our duty.”
Republicans have tried to cast Democrats as singularly focused on impeachment while ignoring other issues that are important to voters.