Texas Democrat Pushes for Vote on Impeachment Resolution Against Trump

Democratic Representative Al Green from Texas is pushing for a House vote to impeach President Donald Trump. This marks the ninth attempt since 2017, with Green leading six of these efforts. Green, who lost his primary in May and will not return to Congress next year, introduced H.Res. 1486 on August 24.

The resolution charges Trump with abusing presidential powers by allowing Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to operate without accountability. It points to the deaths of four individuals this year as evidence: Renée Good and Alex Pretti, killed in Minneapolis in January; Lorenzo Salgado Araujo, killed in Houston in July; and Johan Sebastián Durán Guerrero, killed in Maine.

On Monday, Green informed colleagues about plans to bring the resolution to the floor, invoking Rule IX to raise a question of the privileges of the House. This requires the House to act within two legislative days, leading to a vote before Thursday’s adjournment. Green wrote to Trump, informing him of the call for a recorded vote. He accused federal immigration officers of unjustified killings and accused Trump of “condoning, supporting, and covering up” these actions.

As of Monday, no other member of Congress had signed on as a co-sponsor, according to congressional records. House Democratic leaders have not endorsed the resolution. Representative Hakeem Jeffries of New York, the House Minority Leader, avoided confirming Democrats’ stance on impeachment, stressing their focus on cost-of-living issues. On ABC’s This Week, Jeffries stated they “haven’t ruled anything in, and we haven’t ruled anything out.”

White House spokeswoman Lauren Bis criticized the resolution. She claimed it contributes to a spike in assaults against law enforcement officers, alleging a more than 1,300 percent increase. Bis defended ICE and CBP officers, stating they risk their lives to arrest criminals such as murderers, rapists, and terrorists. Newsweek reached out to Green’s and Jeffries’ offices for comment on Monday.

Overview of Past Impeachment Efforts Against Trump

December 2017: Green filed his first impeachment resolution, which the House moved to table, with 58 Democrats voting against tabling.

January 2018: Green introduced H.Res.705 after Trump’s remarks about immigrants from Haiti and African nations. The House voted 355-66 to table the resolution, with 121 Democrats joining 234 Republicans.

July 2019: Green presented H.Res.498 after Trump’s controversial comments about four Democratic congresswomen of color. The House voted 332-95 to table it. Representative Nancy Pelosi of California opposed the effort.

December 2019: The House Judiciary Committee led the first successful impeachment, indicting Trump over Ukraine dealings. The full House impeached him along party lines, but the Senate acquitted him in February 2020.

January 2021: Following the Capitol attack, the House impeached Trump again for incitement of insurrection, 232-197. The Senate voted 57-43 in favor of conviction, falling short of the necessary two-thirds threshold.

April-May 2025: Representative Shri Thanedar of Michigan filed seven articles of impeachment, which Green co-sponsored. Thanedar withdrew a vote to force after pressure from Democratic colleagues.

June 2025: Green filed an article accusing Trump of abuse of power regarding Iranian strikes, forcing a vote. The House opted to table, voting 344-79.

December 2025: Green’s H.Res.939 cited Trump’s reaction to a video from Democratic lawmakers suggesting unlawful orders shouldn’t be followed. The House voted 237-140 to table. Prominent Democrats, including Jeffries, opted to vote present.

August-September 2026: Green filed H.Res.1486 in August, making his eighth attempt to pursue impeachment.

Potential Democratic Control and Future Impeachment

Trump, the only president impeached twice, warned of further impeachment attempts should Republicans lose midterms. If Democrats win both chambers, Trump’s removal from office still requires a two-thirds Senate vote post-trial. The Senate acquitted him in prior trials, indicating that a Democratic majority alone may be insufficient.

Polling shows Democrats have an edge on the generic congressional ballot, needing a small seat gain to take the House control in November. Retaining current seats and flipping four Republican-held seats could yield Senate control. Even former Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross predicted Democrats would pursue impeachment if they win the House, asserting a Democratic Senate would support conviction.

Jamie Raskin, who spearheaded the 2021 effort, noted impeachment alone won’t resolve concerns about Trump. He emphasized past impeachments lacking efficacy in achieving removal, given Trump’s ability to avoid conviction hurdles. White House spokesman Davis Ingle, referencing polling inquiries, remarked on Trump’s 2024 election victory as evidence of his enduring popular support.