Articles of Impeachment

July 1, 2003
(updated January 26, 2004, with link to Impeach Central)

There are a number of web sites popping up discussing the possibility of impeaching Bush. One of the best is Vote to Impeach, which lists Articles of Impeachment written by former U.S. Attorney General Ramsey Clark. Another, Impeach Central, is organizing a grassroots impeachment movement.

There is no real chance of impeachment with a Republican Congress. Impeachment and removal would require a number of Republicans to come aboard, and that just won't happen. Enough people are signing on, though, to get the attention of the media. This movement could then have an effect on next year's election.

I could add a few points to Clark's articles of impeachment.

  • Violation of Article I Section 9 Clause 7 of the Constitution by refusing to turn over to the GAO documents that account for expenditures of Cheney's Energy Policy group.
  • For aiding and abetting Enron and others in stealing billions of dollars from California by removing protections in the energy market in force at the time Bush took office.
  • For covering up illegal activities of members of his administration. This includes Kenneth Lay, the Enron Chairman who served in the Bush transition team and advised the Energy team. It includes Thomas White, Secretary of the Army and former Enron VP. It includes SEC Chair Harvey Pitt, Treasury Secretary Paul O'Neill, and White House senior advisor Karl Rove.
  • By lying to Congress and thus failing to truthfully provide the State of the Union as required by Article II Section 3. Bush deserves his day in court to answer these serious charges. A full investigation and impeachment hearings are the only way for Bush to try to prove he is not guilty and the only way for the People to properly oversee what our government is doing for us or to us.

    Richard M. Mathews
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