Trump faces impeachment push over Iran conflict

Congressman John Larson has accused the president of waging an “illegal war,” saying the US leader is becoming “unhinged”

Democratic congressman John Larson has filed articles of impeachment against US President Donald Trump over his actions connected with the Iran war. 

Larson, a Connecticut Democrat, said on Tuesday he had filed 13 charges, accusing Trump of waging an “illegal war” and escalating threats against Iran that endangered US security and American lives. He added that Trump is becoming “more unhinged” and “more unstable by the day.”

“Donald Trump has blown past every requirement to be removed from office. And it’s getting worse,” Larson said in a statement.

Larson also pointed to threats, including “open the Strait … or you’ll be living in hell,” saying such remarks “foreshadow war crimes.” He said Trump was “unable or unwilling” to faithfully execute his duties.

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About 70 Democrats, including former Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senator Chris Murphy, have called for Trump’s cabinet to invoke the 25th Amendment to remove him from office, arguing he is unfit to serve. The amendment allows the vice president and a majority of the cabinet to declare a president unable to perform his duties, triggering a transfer of power. 

“They have an obligation to put patriotism over politics and invoke the 25th Amendment,” Larson said.

Some Democrats intensified the call. Representative Jim McGovern said the administration should “immediately invoke the 25th amendment,” while Congresswoman Lauren Underwood said Trump was “unstable, dangerous, and unable to function as Commander in Chief.”

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The move came as Trump paused planned strikes on Iran for two weeks late on Tuesday to pursue a “workable” 10-point proposal from Tehran. He reversed course following an appeal from Pakistani negotiators, hours after warning that “a whole civilization will die tonight” if the Strait of Hormuz stayed closed.

US strikes had already hit key Iranian infrastructure, including bridges, rail lines and a train station, as well as the strategic oil hub on Kharg Island, with civilian casualties among the over 1,500 deaths since late February, according to reports.

Republicans and Trump supporters defended the strikes, saying they were aimed at preventing Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons. Tehran has denied that accusation, insisting that its program was purely peaceful. 

Impeachment would require a majority vote in the House and a two-thirds vote in the Senate to remove the president.