Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee, a Senior Member of the House Committees on Judiciary, Homeland Security, and Budget, issued this statement following the introduction of Articles of Impeachment against the President of the United States:

“This morning, the House of Representatives unveiled two Articles of Impeachment against the President of the United States, Donald J. Trump. As I have long maintained, this is a sober and somber time for our Union.

“The Articles announced this morning by Speaker Nancy Pelosi are grounded in the Constitution, comprehensive as to the President’s wrongdoing, and compelling—the President’s behavior has left the Congress no choice but to act. The first Article, Abuse of Power, is warranted beyond doubt—the uncontroverted facts unequivocally demonstrate that the President solicited a foreign ally to interfere in an American election and used foreign military aid appropriated by the Congress as leverage. This act affects different aspects of our social compact and the historical underpinnings of our Union. As an initial matter, this is a bribe, and therefore one of the enumerated offences in the Constitution as worthy of Impeachment. Second, it invites a foreign nation to interfere in our elections. Few concerns surpass the fear that the Framers of our Union had about their newly formed republic: that it could be overtaken by foreign interests. Third, this conduct violates the federal election laws. And, it is an affront to the will of the American people, which is truly the greatest offense.

“The second Article, Obstruction of Congress, is self-evident. The President has repeatedly thwarted the prerogative of a coordinate, coequal branch of government in categorical, unprecedented and indiscriminate fashion. He has thwarted the will of Congress through contrived privileges not recognized by any court. For the first two years of this President’s term in office, he evaded accountability for his misconduct, and was not held accountable by a pliant Congress constituted by members of his own political party. That time has ended and he will now be held to account, For The People. Today’s introduction of Articles of Impeachment is another step in that endeavor.”