Comerford files bill for Trump impeachment

NORTHAMPTON — Massachusetts could become the first state to call on the U.S. Congress to begin impeachment proceedings against President Donald Trump, if a resolution in the State Senate moves forward.

State Sen. Jo Comerford, D-Northampton, on Thursday introduced the action that cites 10 legal reasons for drawing up articles of impeachment against Trump, including “cruelly and unusually imprisoning children and their families,” obstructing justice by firing and threatening to fire senior Justice Department officials, such as former FBI Director James Comey, and acting to interfere with the investigation into possible ties between his campaign and Russia.

Comerford said in a statement that it is a critical time to defend the U.S. Constitution and democracy, and emphasize that no one is above the law.

“People from all over the commonwealth have stood up to demand Congress do their duty and hold President Trump accountable for his abuse of power and abuse of the public trust,” Comerford said.

The resolution would follow local resolutions calling for impeachment proceedings to begin against Trump, including ones adopted in Amherst and Pelham, and is similar to a bill introduced in the California legislature.

John Bonifaz, an Amherst resident and Free Speech For People cofounder and president, said he appreciates Comerford’s action because of the threat Trump poses.

“On an almost daily basis, he attacks our Constitution, our democracy, and the rule of law,” Bonifaz said. “His conduct has created a constitutional crisis which we must confront now.”

The resolution comes two years after Free Speech For People co-launched a campaign calling for impeachment proceedings, with an initial focus on Trump’s violations of the emoluments clauses of the Constitution based on his refusal to divest fully from his business interests prior to his inauguration. That campaign, supported by 1.4 million Americans, has since expanded to include 10 legal grounds for impeachment proceedings.

Other elements of Comerford’s resolution include Trump’s violations of the foreign emoluments clause and the domestic emoluments clause, advocating illegal violence and giving aid and comfort to white supremacists and neo-Nazis, abusing the pardon power, recklessly threatening nuclear war against foreign nations, undermining the freedom of the press and making and directing illegal payments to influence the 2016 election.