Email to my Representative re: tabling impeachment

My representative, Suzan DelBene, was one of 128 Democratic Congresspeople who voted to table impeachment charges against the “President” for the unauthorized bombing of Iranian nuclear sites. Her office’s voicemail asked for email instead 😒 fine, I’ll play along, but then I want a reply! …I’ll expect that in October 🙄

I am writing to express my extreme disappointment that you voted to table impeachment charges against the president over the bombing of Iran. I understand that the issue would never pass because of the numbers, but YOU did not have to join Republicans in their complicity with a traitor to the Constitution. Symbolic votes *are* symbolic… so right now I am skeptical of your commitment to our laws. Are you up to the task of defending us from fascist oversteps, or will you sit by and do nothing to stop the actually pretty fast erosion of separation of powers and allow the creation of an American monarch? I urge you and other Democrats to act together as a true opposition party, not collaborators. If you had held the line and all voted together, that would still send a message of unity. Symbolic votes feel like the least I should be able to expect of my Representative.

Response received July 11:

Article II of the Constitution of the United States provides for the removal of the President from office in the event of “treason, bribery, and other high crimes and misdemeanors.” Under current law, this process can only be initiated by the House of Representatives through impeachment proceedings. If the House votes in favor of the articles of impeachment, the Senate would then conduct a formal trial to decide if the President should be removed from office. On June 24, 2025, Representative Al Green introduced H.Res. 537, Impeaching Donald J. Trump, President of the United States, for high crimes and misdemeanors. H.Res. 537 stated that President Trump failed to notify or seek authorization from Congress before launching strikes against Iran, which the resolution alleges is an abuse of presidential powers.

On June 24, 2025, the House of Representatives agreed on a motion to table H.Res. 537 indefinitely, by a vote of 344-79. I strongly believe any president must come to Congress before declaring war or authorizing the use of military force, which President Trump failed to do. I have previously voted to impeach President Trump during his first term, when I believed strong cases were made for his impeachment and the resolutions passed the House of Representatives. Unfortunately, the Senate voted against impeachment both times. While you may disagree, I voted to table H.Res. 537, because I believe this impeachment resolution would fail due to the Republican majority in the House and Senate. I also have concerns that the American public would not support an impeachment effort over airstrikes on Iran. Additionally, I believe a partisan impeachment effort would have been a welcomed distraction for President Trump and Congressional Republicans. They likely would have weaponized the vote to deflect Americans’ attention from the real harm they are causing their constituents through their “One Big Beautiful Bill Act.” This disastrous law raises costs on families and slashes essential social services like the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and ends Medicaid coverage for millions of Americans. Please know that I continue to be committed to fiercely pushing back against the Trump administration in my capacity as your elected representative. Should additional impeachment resolutions come before the House of Representatives for a vote, I will be sure to keep your views in mind.

My response, sent July 13 (actually, got a bounceback and never re-sent):

Thank you for your explanation of your vote. It sounds like you are saying that, although you agree the president’s actions were unconstitutional, you believed it would be politically inexpedient to hold him accountable.

I can understand your fear about political distraction, but the House’s vote to table impeachment let slide the opportunity to hold the President accountable to his oath of office, and the BBB passed anyway.

I understand you are only a single Congressperson, but you are mine; it is a sad indictment of American democracy to have my Federal representative imply it’s unrealistic for me to expect Congress to attempt to enforce the Constitution. I don’t think it would be such a bad thing to be partisan in favor of the Constitution.

I hope you will not face another impeachment vote soon, but given the lack of consequences the President has faced for his continued abuse of the Constitution, I expect there will be more to come.