Topline
Rep. Shri Thanedar, D-Mich., introduced seven articles of impeachment against President Donald Trump alleging “a sweeping abuse of power, flagrant violations of the Constitution and acts of tyranny that undermine American democracy”—though the impeachment articles, the first formal impeachment effort of Trump’s second term, are essentially certain to fail and come as the congressman faces growing competition in his next primary.
Rep. Shri Thanedar, D-Mich., listens to comments before the NAACP Detroit branch Fight for Freedom … More
Key Facts
Thanedar announced the seven articles of impeachment Monday afternoon, saying in a video posted to his X account that Trump has “done real damage to our democracy” and has “ignored the very checks and balances that keep our democracy intact.”
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffires, D-N.Y., said Monday he hadn’t “evaluated the articles” or “even had an opportunity to talk with” Thanedar about them, Axios reported.
Thanedar, in his second term from a Detroit-area district, introduced the impeachment articles after he drew a second challenger Monday—State Rep. Donavan McKinney—for the district’s next Democratic primary.
Thanedar said the most important of his seven impeachment articles was for “tyrannical overreach,” also noting the Trump administration’s refusal to return Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a Maryland man who was mistakenly deported to El Salvador, and give him due process “has to be the final straw.”
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Who Is Rep. Shri Thanedar?
Thanedar represents Michigan’s 13th Congressional District, which includes Detroit and much of Wayne County. He was first elected to Congress in 2022 and took office the following year, though he served in the Michigan State House of Representatives before that for two years. Thanedar was born in India and came to the U.S., where he later became a citizen, around 1980 to get a Ph.D. in chemistry. He worked as a researcher and then opened his own labs and businesses that “helped in the development of life-saving pharmaceutical drugs,” according to his website. He had a failed Michigan gubernatorial run in 2018 during which he campaigned on things like universal health care and a higher minimum wage and said he was the only candidate running who voted for Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., Politico reported. Thanedar made headlines in 2023 when he renounced his membership in the Democratic Socialists of America after the New York City chapter promoted a rally in support of Palestinian territories after Hamas attacked Israel. He said the group’s promotion of the “hate-filled and antisemitic rally” meant he couldn’t continue, though the DSA—which denied organizing the rally—told Forbes Thanedar’s “views are not—and have never been—representative of Detroit DSA” and that he had been removed from the chapter the month prior.
What Are The Seven Impeachment Articles?
- Obstruction of Justice and Abuse of Executive Power
- Usurpation of Appropriations Power
- Abuse of Trade Powers and International Aggression
- Violation of First Amendment Rights
- Creation of an Unlawful Office
- Bribery and Corruption
- Tyrannical Overreach
Crucial Quote
“I won’t be silent, and I’m calling on all my colleagues—Democrats, Republicans and Independents—to stand up with me,” Thanedar said in the video. “Enough is enough. Donald J. Trump must be impeached.”
Key Background
Trump was impeached twice during his first term in office, making him only the third president to be impeached and the only one to be impeached multiple times, but both times the Senate voted to acquit him of the charges. Articles of impeachment were first brought against him in 2019 for abuse of power and obstruction of Congress charges related to his withholding of funds from Ukraine to allegedly pressure it into investigating Joe Biden. The second time he was impeached in 2021, shortly before he left office, was for a count of incitement of insurrection related to the statements he made on Jan. 6 ahead of the Capitol riot.
What To Watch For
Other Democratic lawmakers have suggested they would support a move to impeach Trump, NBC News reported, though Thanedar is the first to introduce formal impeachment articles.
Further Reading
Congressman Leaves Democratic Socialists Of America For Promoting Pro-Palestinian Rally After Hamas Attack (Forbes)
House Democrat unveils articles of impeachment against Trump (Axios)
Supreme Court Orders Trump Administration To Facilitate Return Of Mistakenly Deported Maryland Man (Forbes)
Trump Becomes First President Impeached Twice After Fomenting Capitol Riot (Forbes)
