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Efforts to impeach Dick Cheney

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House Resolution 333 is the number given to a resolution submitted to the House of Representatives during the 110th United States Congress that impeaches Vice President Dick Cheney on three articles.

Summary and Sponsors

A summary of the resolution charges that Vice President Cheney:

  1. has purposely manipulated the intelligence process to deceive the citizens and Congress of the United States about a threat of Iraqi weapons of mass destruction, and about an alleged relationship between Iraq and al Qaeda, to justify the use of the U.S. Armed Forces against Iraq in a manner damaging to U.S. national security interests; and
  2. has openly threatened aggression against Iran absent any real threat to the United States, and has done so with the U.S. proven capability to carry out such threats, thus undermining U.S. national security. [1]

The resolution was authored and submitted by Congressman Dennis Kucinich, a representative of Ohio who is also a presidential candidate in the 2008 election. Congressman Kucinich has made available more than 45 documents supporting the articles of impeachment at his Congressional website, including at least 15 for each article. [2]

Including Rep. Kucinich, the resolution has fourteen co-sponsors (in alphabetical order):

Name of Rep State/District Date Signed On Notes
Yvette Clarke New York/11 06/06/2007
William Lacy Clay, Jr. Missouri/1 05/01/2007
Keith Ellison Minnesota/5 06/28/2007 member of House Judiciary Committee
Sam Farr California/17 07/12/2007
Bob Filner California/51 07/12/2007
Hank Johnson Georgia/4 06/28/2007 member of House Judiciary Committee
Dennis Kucinich Ohio/10 04/24/2007 author of resolution
Barbara Lee California/9 06/07/2007
Jim McDermott Washington/7 07/10/2007
James Moran Virginia/8 07/10/2007
Jan Schakowsky Illinois/9 05/01/2007
Maxine Waters California/35 06/12/2007 member of House Judiciary Committee
Lynn Woolsey California/6 06/07/2007
Albert Wynn Maryland/4 05/10/2007


History

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The resolution was introduced by Congressman Dennis Kucinich on April 24, 2007. Upon introduction, this resolution -- like almost all bills and resolutions -- was automatically referred to a Committee. In this case, Resolution 333 was referred to the House Judiciary Committee.

During his press conference announcing the resolution, Kucinich stated that he had not informed his party's leadership of the resolution and had not recently spoken about the resolution with Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi or Congressman John Conyers, the Chairman of the committee to which his resolution was referred.

Kucinich is reported to have said he would not attempt to persuade other Members of Congress to support the resolution. [3] On CNN's Situation Room, Kucinich stated, "I'm not promoting [the resolution]... Members of Congress will have to search their own conscience, take counsel with their constituents, and make the decision independently." [4]

In an interview with The Raw Story on the day of H.Res. 333's introduction, Pelosi is reported to have said that impeachment proceedings against President George W. Bush would be a distraction from passing Democratic policies, but does not appear to have specifically addressed the impeachment of Vice President Cheney.[3] Pelosi is widely quoted for having stated that impeachment was "off the table" during the campaign for the 2006 midterm election. [5]

Congressman Clay signed on as a co-sponsor to the Resolution on May 1, 2007, supporting his decision by stating: "I believe that Mr. Cheney deliberately manipulated the intelligence process to deceive the Congress of the United States and the American people. The arrogant abuse of power and the complete disregard for the truth needs to stop." [6]

Congresswoman Schakowsky signed on as a co-sponsor the same day, but did not issue an immediate statement regarding her decision. [7]

The resolution was referred to the Subcommittee on Constitution, Civil Rights, and Civil Liberties on May 4, 2007. Unlike the initial referral to the Judiciary Committee, this step in the legislative process was not automatic.

On May 10, 2007, Congressman Albert Wynn also signed on as a co-sponsor, indicating that he believes Cheney is "the architect of the Administration's deception about the war" and that the Vice President "should be held accountable for purposely misleading the American people."[8]

Congresswoman Yvette Clarke became a co-sponsor on June 6, 2007, stating: "When the American people voted on November 7th, they asked for a change in direction by electing the Democratic party in the House and Senate. I have heard the loud cries of my constituents, and they want accountability. My support of HRes 333 reflects the voices of the residents of central Brooklyn."[9]

Congresswomen Lynn Woolsey and Barbara Lee both signed on as co-sponsors on June 7, 2007.

Congresswoman Maxine Waters signed on as a co-sponsor on June 12, 2007.[10] Maxine Waters is a member of the House Judiciary Committee to which the resolution has been referred.

Congressmen Keith Ellison and Hank Johnson joined the list of sponsors on June 28, 2007. They are the second and third members of the House Judiciary Committee to endorse the resolution. Johnson later explained his decision, saying: "I wanted to send a clear and distinct message that I’m sick and tired of the incompetence, arrogance, secrecy and lawlessness in the Executive Branch and I think it’s appropriate for me to direct my ire to Cheney through the impeachment resolution."[11]

Also on June 28, Congressman Jim McDermott made remarks confirming his intention to join the effort, stating: "I have seen the Vice President repeatedly drive our nation into increasingly dire situations, in Iraq, in Iran, and within our own country as he tramples over the Constitution like it is a doormat... the Vice President holds himself above the law. And, it is time for the Congress to enforce the law. I believe the evidence is overwhelming and articles of impeachment against the Vice President should be drawn up."[12]

July 4 -- which is Independence Day in the United States -- saw the first public assembly organized by citizens specifically requesting that their elected representative co-sponsor H Res 333. The targeted official was Tammy Baldwin, representative for Wisconsin's 2nd district.[13]

In a July 6 interview, Congressman Bob Filner confirmed his intention to sign the resolution, stating: "These guys have governed with cynicism and complete contempt of the American people from the beginning," and that "The latest... [for Cheney] to say he’s above the law and he’s not part of the Executive Branch... he’s just gone too far for the average American citizen." [14]

McDermott's co-sponsorship became official on July 10. That same day, Congressman James Moran added his name to the resolution.[15] A spokesman stated that Moran "feels that the vice president has repeatedly misled the American public on Iraq and deserves to be impeached," and that Cheney's "peddling of non-existent [weapons of mass destruction] and fabricated ties with al-Qaida have led us into a disastrous war whose full costs won't be fully realized for generations."[16]

Filner's name was added to the THOMAS list of co-sponsors on July 12, as was that of Congressman Sam Farr. Farr became a co-sponsor despite his doubts about the resolution's chance of success, having earlier said: "Many residents in the Central Coast support the removal of Cheney from office, and I am proud to represent their values in Congress."[17]

Current status

The resolution has been referred to the Subcommittee on Constitution, Civil Rights, and Civil Liberties, chaired by Congressman Jerrold Nadler.

The Judiciary Committee has not yet scheduled a hearing on the resolution. Absent a positive referral from the Judiciary Committee, the only way the resolution could reach the floor of the House is with the approval of the Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi.

Failure of the Judiciary Committee and Speaker Pelosi to act favorably would result in the resolution remaining in committee indefinitely, where it would never receive a vote.

See also

References

  1. ^ Library of Congress, H.RES.333, Summary as of: 04/24/2007--Introduced, THOMAS
  2. ^ "Supporting Documents for H Res 333"
  3. ^ a b Michael Roston, Kucinich announces impeachment charges against Vice President Cheney, The Raw Story, 24 April 2007
  4. ^ CNN staff, rush transcript for The Situation Room aired 24 April 2007, CNN
  5. ^ CBS Staff, Nancy Pelosi: Two Heartbeats Away, 60 Minutes, 22 October 2006
  6. ^ Associated Press, Clay co-sponsors resolution to impeach Cheney, USAToday, May 3, 2007
  7. ^ Associated Press, Schakowsky joins Kucinich effort to impeach Cheney, Chicago Tribune, May 3, 2007
  8. ^ Matthew Hay Brown, Wynn supports effort to impeach Cheney, Baltimore Sun, May 12, 2007
  9. ^ Matthew Cardinale, BREAKING: Five US Reps Support Cheney Impeachment, Atlanta Progressive News, June 06, 2007
  10. ^ Eric Pfeiffer, Cheney ouster gains backers, Washington Times, June 14, 2007
  11. ^ Michael H. Cottman, Should Vice President Cheney Be Impeached? Hank Johnson Says Yes, Barack Obama Says No, BlackAmericaWeb, July 5, 2007
  12. ^ Eli Sanders, Rep. McDermott Calls for Impeachment of the Vice President, The Stranger, June 28, 2007
  13. ^ Kristin Czubkowski, 100-plus celebrate holiday with impeachment rally, Capital Times, July 05, 2007
  14. ^ Matthew Cardinale, APN Chat with US Rep. Bob Filner on Impeachment, Atlanta Progressive News, July 6, 2007
  15. ^ Nick Juliano, Cheney impeachment bill gains yet another co-sponsor, Raw Story, July 10, 2007
  16. ^ Impeach Cheney, Moran says, Richmond Times-Dispatch, July 10, 2007
  17. ^ Larry Parsons, Farr signs on to Cheney impeachment bill, Santa Cruz Sentinel, July 12, 2007
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