Saying President Trump has “violated the very principles upon which our country was founded,” Rep. Mikie Sherrill (D-11th Dist.) said on Tuesday she will join fellow House Democrats this week in voting for Trump’s impeachment.
The former Navy helicopter pilot and federal prosecutor said those roles taught her to put country over politics, and to honor the rule of law and justice.
“After reviewing the testimony and the statements of the President himself, it is clear that he used his office for his own personal gain. He withheld critical military aid in an effort to coerce Ukraine, a security partner, to investigate an opponent of his in the 2020 elections. Furthermore, he used every opportunity to place himself and the executive branch above the law by refusing all congressional subpoenas,” Sherrill said in a statement.
“He put his own political interests before our country, and has disregarded the rule of law and the powers granted to Congress by our Founding Fathers. I believe these actions undermine the values of our country, the ideals I have sworn to protect, and our Constitution.”
The freshman Congresswoman has proceeded cautiously on the impeachment question, saying she needed more evidence after this summer’s release of Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s report into Russian interference in the 2016 election.
Sherrill won decisively last year in a district that was a GOP stronghold for decades. Greater Morristown and most of Morris County are in the 11th District, along with portions of Essex, Sussex and Passaic counties.
Facing a drumbeat of protests over his refusal to publicly defend his support for Trump’s policies, 12-term incumbent Rodney Frelinghuysen, scion of a New Jersey Republican dynasty, retired rather than face the first tough election of his career. State Assemblyman Jay Webber of Morris Plains then lost to Sherrill, who resides in Montclair.
Kinnelon Republican Larry Casha announced last month he will challenge Sherrill in 2020.
The lawyer and real estate manager has accused Congressional Democrats of promoting socialism, and of “ignor(ing) the Constitution by ignoring due process in these clandestine impeachment proceedings.”
In a statement on Tuesday, Casha further accused Sherrill of playing “follow the leader” (House Speaker Nancy Pelosi) by invoking a potential bribery charge against Trump when it appeared politically advantageous, and then dropping it.
Democrats were unconcerned when President Obama waffled on supporting Ukraine, Casha said, asserting they “have dramatically shifted their position from the Obama years because of their 2016 Presidential loss and 2020 political considerations.
“When the Trump administration held up security assistance from mid-July to mid-September of 2019 (two months), Congress erupted in a new impeachment frenzy to try and remove a President before he can run for re-election. Something they vocalized since the moment the President was elected.”
Rep. Jeff Van Drew, a conservative Democrat from New Jersey’s 2nd District, where voters gave Trump a 4-point win in 2016, is one of only two Democrats in the House to come out against impeaching Trump.
His flip has drawn fire from Democrats–including some of his own staffers, who quit– and praise from the president. Van Drew reportedly will switch parties soon.
The House impeachment vote is anticipated for Wednesday. If the House votes to impeach, the case will be tried in the Senate — where Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) has said there is “zero chance” of Trump being removed from office.
EDITOR’S NOTE: This story has been updated with new comments from candidate Larry Casha.
Below is Sherrill’s full statement.
From Rep. Mikie Sherrill (D-11th Dist):
“I have served this country most of my life, both in uniform and out, here at home and abroad, in wartime and in peace. I have been honored to enter into service once again in the United States House of Representatives.
“My military service taught me to put our country — not politics — first, and my time as a federal prosecutor taught me about the importance of the rule of law and of justice.
“On Wednesday, as a member of the House, I will be called upon to vote on Articles of Impeachment. After reviewing the testimony and the statements of the President himself, it is clear that he used his office for his own personal gain. He withheld critical military aid in an effort to coerce Ukraine, a security partner, to investigate an opponent of his in the 2020 elections. Furthermore, he used every opportunity to place himself and the executive branch above the law by refusing all congressional subpoenas.
“In short, the President has violated the very principles upon which our country was founded. He put his own political interests before our country, and has disregarded the rule of law and the powers granted to Congress by our Founding Fathers. I believe these actions undermine the values of our country, the ideals I have sworn to protect, and our Constitution. Therefore, I will be voting in favor of the Articles of Impeachment.”
Ukraine got the military side nd nothing else was given to the US. How does that compromise the US? Trump did nothing wrong. Now Obama bartered with terrorists, and paid them BIG BUCKS for the release of prisoners. The US should never pay terrorists for anything. Doesn’t measure up.