Pasadena Congressman Named An Impeachment Manager in Senate Trial of President Trump

On Wednesday, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi named Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Pasadena) an impeachment manager in the Senate trial of Donald Trump.

“The House of Representatives was compelled by our duty to Constitution and country to hold President Trump accountable for his wrongdoing. President Trump abused the power of his office by pressing a foreign government to interfere in our elections, while withholding a highly sought-after White House meeting and vital military aid to an ally at war with Russia. When he was caught, President Trump obstructed – in an unprecedented and sweeping fashion – the House impeachment inquiry,” Schiff said in a prepared statement.

The charges stem from a phone call between Trump and Ukranian President Volodymyr Zelensky. In that call, Trump asks for “a favor” regarding an Internet server reportedly containing missing emails authored by 2016 Democratic nominee and former Trump opponent Hillary Clinton and an investigation into Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden’s son Hunter.

At the time, Trump was withholding nearly $400 million in congressionally approved military aid to Ukraine, which is presently at war with Russia.

Ironically, Joe Rogan who Schiff defeated in 2000, served as an impeachment manager in the Clinton impeachment.

Schiff represents Pasadena, Glendale and Burbank.

Trump’s impeachment was almost a foregone conclusion from the time he was sworn in. Less than a month into his term, he was under investigation for colluding with Russian President Vladimir Putin to turn the 2016 election in his direction.

“I am humbled by the responsibility of serving as the lead House Manager in the Senate impeachment trial of President Donald J. Trump, and thank Speaker Pelosi for the trust she has placed in me and our team. It is a solemn responsibility and one that I will undertake with the seriousness that the task requires,” Schiff said in the statement.

Trump is the third US president to be impeached. Andrew Johnson of Tennessee and Bill Clinton of Arkansas were also impeached but neither was removed from office.

In 1973, three articles of impeachment were drafted against President Richard Nixon during the Watergate scandal for obstruction of justice, abuse of power and contempt of Congress. Nixon resigned before a formal vote on the House floor after being told there were enough votes to remove him from office.