South Bay’s Lieu serves as impeachment manager
Rep. Ted Lieu, an outspoken South Bay critic of President Donald Trump, is among Democrats leading the second impeachment effort against President Donald Trump.
The effort, which began in the House of Representatives Wednesday morning, launched hours of debate, with each party’s representatives alternating with impassioned arguments for and against.
The effort culminated by late afternoon as Trump was impeached by the U.S. House for a historic second time, charged with “incitement of insurrection.”
Though the vote mostly aligned by party, 10 Republicans joined the effort, which is expected to proceed to the Senate at some point after President-elect Joe Biden is sworn in.
Lieu was among three representatives — joined by David N. Cicilline, D-R.I., and Jamie Raskin, D-Md. — who introduced the article of impeachment Monday. Lieu’s role was announced by Pelosi late Tuesday.
“It is their constitutional and patriotic duty to present the case for the president’s impeachment and removal,” Pelosi said in a statement. “They will do so guided by their great love of country, determination to protect our democracy and loyalty to our oath to the Constitution. Our managers will honor their duty to defend democracy for the people with great solemnity, prayerfulness and urgency.”
The impeachment article itself is straightforward. It alleges that Trump violated the Constitution by breaching its Article II, which requires the president of the United States to “take care that the laws be faithfully executed.” By inciting rebellion, denying and inhibiting a lawful election and its congressional certification, representatives say Trump committed high crimes and misdemeanors.
“I am honored that Speaker Pelosi selected me to be an impeachment manager, a role where I will help argue the House’s case to convict President Trump before the U.S. Senate,” Lieu said in a statement. “Impeachment is Congress’ most solemn responsibility, and this is a position I do not take lightly. I served on active duty in the U.S. military to defend the Constitution, and I intend on doing the same before the Senate.”
Lieu’s post comes about a year after another local congressman, Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Burbank, was among managers leading the first effort to impeach Trump in December 2019 and acted as lead manager during the president’s Senate trial in January 2020.
The House adopted articles of impeachment against the president, for alleging abuse of power and obstruction of Congress. The Senate acquitted Trump on Feb. 5.
Though Schiff is not a manager in the second effort, he was among local representatives who spoke in an epic debate that began Wednesday morning — a day after Vice President Mike Pence declined to initiate an effort to remove Trump through the 25th Amendment.
“America has been through a civil war, world wars, a great depression, pandemics, McCarthyism and now a Trumpist and white nationalist insurrection,” Schiff said. “And yet our democracy endures. It endures because at every key juncture, every pivotal moment, when evil threatened to overtake good, patriotic Americans stepped forward to say ‘enough.’ This is one of those moments ... “Let us say ‘enough.’ ”
Schiff said Wednesday that he was fully supportive of the impeachment managers who were chosen.
“I’m happy to play a supportive role,” he said.
“But this is a different impeachment. The last one came out of our intelligence committee. This came out of a insurrection that was aimed at all of us,” he said.
Lieu — who is serving in his fourth term in Congress and who serves on the Judiciary Committee — joins Reps. Jamie Raskin, lead manager; Diana DeGette; David Cicilline; Joaquin Castro; Eric Swalwell; and Stacey Plaskett; Madeleine Dean; and Joe Neguse.