By MICHAEL ARON, NJTV NEWS
SEPTEMBER 25, 2019
Congresswoman Mikie Sherrill issues statement explaining her change of opinion on topic
In the face of allegations that Donald Trump tried to enlist a foreign power for his own political gain, members of New Jersey’s congressional delegation are adding their names to the growing list of lawmakers now willing to start impeachment proceedings against the president of the United States.
U.S. Rep. Mikie Sherrill put out a statement on Monday night saying the whistleblower reports involving Trump’s dealings with the Ukrainian president had tipped the balance for her. She also joined six other military veterans in Congress in a Washington Post op-ed supporting an impeachment inquiry.
**Breaking – Transcript released**
The congresswoman talked about her decision in an interview with NJTV News.
“As you know, I’m a former Navy helicopter pilot and focused on the national security of the country and to see that we have a president who has gone to the head of a country fighting a war with Russia and withheld critical armaments and then pressured the president of Ukraine to investigate a competitor of the president’s in the election just really crossed a line for me, and I think really threatens our national security here at home,” said Sherrill.
Two other New Jersey Congressman have also flipped from “no” to “yes” on impeachment: Albio Sires and Andy Kim.
According to a whistleblower report, Trump tried to pressure Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy to investigate Trump’s political rival Joe Biden and his son Hunter Biden regarding business dealings in Ukraine that Trump calls “corruption.” Meanwhile, Trump’s administration had held back military aid to Ukraine, $391-million-worth, according to The New York Times.
Nine of New Jersey’s 11 House Democrats now favor an impeachment inquiry — Donald Norcross, Kim, Frank Pallone, Tom Malinowski, Sires, Bill Pascrell, Don Payne, Sherrill, and Bonnie Watson-Coleman.
Moderates like Sherrill, who won in districts that often tilt Republican, have stayed off impeachment for fear of backlash in their districts.
Late Tuesday, Speaker Nancy Pelosi announced that the House will launch a formal impeachment inquiry.
