Rep. Kennedy, A Close Pelosi Ally, Calls For Impeachment Inquiry On Trump

U.S. Rep. Joseph Kennedy III, a Newton Democrat and close ally of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, is calling for impeachment proceedings against President Trump, saying “Congress has a responsibility to act decisively.”

The congressman representing Massachusetts’ 4th district said Friday that he made the decision after reading Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s report in full and consulting with legal experts.

“This is not a decision I made lightly, nor is it one to celebrate,” Kennedy said in a statement. “It’s a dark day for our country when its Commander-in-Chief is accused of high crimes.”

“The Mueller report makes painfully clear that our President obstructed justice on multiple occasions,” Kennedy continued. “If we fail to hold him to account, we fail the American public and the democratic system we represent in their name. Members of Congress swear a solemn oath to defend the Constitution. That is an oath we must keep.”

Pelosi has taken a more measured approach, urging House Democrats to "follow the facts" in the multiple ongoing congressional investigations into the facts arising from Mueller's report.

Kennedy joins four other members of Massachusetts' all-Democratic congressional delegation in calling for impeachment, though most members have stopped short.

Rep. Ayanna Pressley supports impeachment proceedings, telling WBUR last month that Mueller “has given Congress the breadcrumbs and the unwrap to assume our role, and that is why I have been supportive in initiating impeachment investigations.”

Sen. Elizabeth Warren, Rep. Seth Moulton and Rep. Jim McGovern have also publicly called for impeachment proceedings.

No member of the delegation has publicly opposed impeachment, but most have taken a more cautions approach.

Sen. Ed Markey has said he wants to hear testimony from Mueller, who is set to speak before a joint House hearing next month, before impeachment is considered.

Rep. Katherine Clark, vice president of the House Democratic Caucus, has not publicly called for impeachment proceedings, nor have fellow delegation members Richard Neal, Stephen Lynch, Bill Keating and Lori Trahan.