Has Texas Congressman Al Green given up his effort to impeach Trump?
Democratic leaders voted "present" as the House turned down his latest effort. What happens next? Nothing?
Rep. Al Green, a Texas Democrat, has repeatedly introduced unsuccessful articles of impeachment against President Donald Trump.
Green argued Trump’s actions warrant renewed scrutiny despite past failed efforts.
His latest impeachment effort failed but there’s speculation he will try again, given Trump’s scathing remarks about Rob and Michele Reiner.
Rep. Al Green of Texas has tried repeatedly to impeach President Trump, and observers are wondering if Trump’s attack on murdered Rob and Michele Reiner will spur him to try again.
“This is not about politics. This is about principle, Green said earlier this month, arguing that Trump’s conduct meets the constitutional standard for such action. Green’s latest impeachment effort failed last week as the House voted 237-140 against the action.
Green counted the vote a partial victory and praised the 140 “courageous” members who voted to move the action forward.
Will he try again given Trump’s attack on the Reiners and the revelations arising from a Vanity Fair interview with White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, who referred to Trump’s “alcoholic personality” and generally dissed most senior Cabinet staffers? The Outraged Consumer asked Green’s office for comment but did not receive a reply.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries said in a statement before the vote that impeachment “requires a comprehensive investigative process” that had not been undertaken by the Republican majority. Yet the Democratic leaders notably declined to oppose the resolution outright, instead voting “present.”
A familiar push from a longtime critic
Green, a Houston-area lawmaker, was the first House Democrat to call for Trump’s impeachment during Trump’s first term. He later introduced impeachment articles that failed to advance and supported both impeachment efforts that ultimately passed the House in 2019 and 2021, though Trump was acquitted by the Senate in both trials.
“The Constitution provides a remedy when a president places himself above the law,” Green said. “Impeachment exists for moments exactly like this.”
Steep odds in a divided Congress
Any impeachment effort faces long odds, particularly if House leadership declines to take up the measure or if Republicans maintain control of at least one chamber of Congress. Even if articles were adopted by the House, conviction in the Senate would require a two-thirds vote — a threshold that has never been met against a U.S. president.
Republican leaders have dismissed impeachment talk as partisan. Some Democrats, meanwhile, have raised concerns that repeated impeachment efforts could distract from legislative priorities at a time when voters are focused on the economy and global conflicts.
Symbolic move or opening salvo
Green acknowledged the political challenges ahead but said he believes the effort is necessary regardless of the outcome.
“I would rather be on the right side of history than be silent,” he said. “If Congress fails to act, then Congress must answer for that failure.”
Whether the effort gains traction or remains largely symbolic, Green’s latest attempt — though largely ignored by mainstream media — is likely to reignite debate over accountability, executive power and the limits of congressional oversight.
A brief history of impeachment in the United States
Impeachment is a rare constitutional process intended to address serious misconduct by federal officials. The House of Representatives has the sole power to impeach, while the Senate conducts trials and votes on conviction.
Presidents impeached by the House
Andrew Johnson (1868): Impeached largely over his defiance of Congress during Reconstruction, including violations of the Tenure of Office Act. He was acquitted by the Senate by one vote.
Bill Clinton (1998): Impeached on charges of perjury and obstruction of justice related to a civil lawsuit and grand jury testimony. The Senate acquitted him.
Donald Trump (2019 and 2021): The first president impeached twice. The first impeachment centered on abuse of power and obstruction of Congress related to Ukraine; the second focused on incitement of insurrection following the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol. He was acquitted both times.
Resignations and near misses
Richard Nixon (1974): Resigned before the House could vote on impeachment after the Judiciary Committee approved articles related to the Watergate scandal. He remains the only U.S. president to resign.
John Tyler (1840s): Faced impeachment efforts that failed to advance, largely over policy disputes with Congress.
Beyond the presidency
Impeachment has been used more frequently against judges and other federal officials. More than a dozen federal judges have been impeached, with several convicted and removed from office, underscoring that impeachment is more commonly applied outside the Oval Office.
A political and constitutional tool
No U.S. president has ever been removed from office through impeachment. Still, the process has served as a central mechanism for congressional oversight and a flashpoint for debates over executive power, partisanship and constitutional accountability.
Excellent reporting on Green's persistence. The tension here is really interesting btw procedural principle and political pragmatism - launching impeachment resolutions without Democratic leadership backing almost guaratnees failure but keeps accountability on the record. I've seen similr dynamics in other contexts where symbolic gestures end up mattering more than anyone expected. The 140 votes is actually a pretty strong showing considering how hesitant most members are about appearing vengeful or partisan.