Donald Trump Impeachment Efforts Ramp Up

 

Efforts to impeach Donald Trump for a third time are intensifying as he begins his second term as president.

This renewed push reflects the ongoing political divide in the U.S. and the continued fallout from his past campaign. The non-partisan group Free Speech For People has initiated a new impeachment drive.

According to the organization behind the "Impeach Trump. Again" campaign, Trump's return to the White House represents a significant threat to the nation’s democracy. They argue that, under the 14th Amendment, Trump is disqualified from holding the presidency due to his involvement in the January 6 Capitol riots. The amendment bars anyone who has taken an oath to uphold the Constitution but then engages in insurrection from holding public office.

Trump has pleaded not guilty to all charges related to the events of January 6. A ruling from the Supreme Court also established that former presidents have broad immunity from prosecution for actions considered part of their official duties, which has effectively stalled the case against him.

However, former special counsel Jack Smith’s report found enough evidence to pursue prosecution if Trump were not re-elected.

In addition to the Capitol riots, Free Speech For People accuses Trump of violating the Constitution’s emoluments clauses, which limit what gifts and titles federal officials may accept. The group claims Trump failed to divest his ownership in businesses that continue to benefit from foreign government payments, such as the Trump World Tower, which allegedly receives $2 million a month from five foreign governments.

The Trump Organization had previously announced that Trump would transfer daily management of his vast business empire to his children upon taking office. This arrangement was in place during his first term as well.

The impeachment campaign also includes allegations of campaign finance violations, such as offering tax and regulatory favors to oil and gas executives in exchange for $1 billion in contributions, concealing payments for legal services, coordinating with billionaire-funded super PACs, and accepting illegal contributions through schemes involving Elon Musk’s X platform and a lottery system.

Further, the group points to Trump's inflammatory rhetoric, including referring to immigrants as "bloodthirsty criminals," spreading false claims about Haitian immigrants, and making statements that blamed immigrants for crimes linked to their "genes." They also accuse him of threatening violence against political opponents, journalists, protesters, a U.S. military commander, and of spreading disinformation about hurricane disaster responses.

Trump was impeached twice during his first term—once in 2019 over his alleged attempt to pressure Ukraine into investigating Joe Biden, and again in January 2021 for his role in the Capitol riots. In both cases, the Senate acquitted him.

Could Trump face impeachment again? The removal of a president through impeachment remains an unlikely scenario, especially when one party controls both chambers of Congress. Currently, Republicans control both the House and Senate, making a third impeachment unlikely.

John Bonifaz, President of Free Speech For People, emphasized that Trump’s return to power poses an unprecedented threat to democracy. He stated that Trump engaged in unlawful conduct and threatened more violations of constitutional principles during his campaign and prior to his second inauguration.

However, impeachment remains unlikely while Republicans hold control of Congress. Yet, former Trump adviser Steve Bannon warned that if control of the House flips to Democrats after the 2026 midterms, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries could spearhead a new push for Trump’s impeachment. Bannon suggested that Jeffries would seek impeachment early in 2027, backed by significant funding from Democratic donors.