Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility
Costa, Harder Join With Pelosi, Want Trump Impeached
Bill McEwen updated website photo 2024
By Bill McEwen, News Director
Published 4 years ago on
January 9, 2021

Share

Fresno Congressman Jim Costa, a moderate Democrat, is backing the charge of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to impeach President Donald Trump — even though Trump will leave office on Jan. 20.

Costa said in a statement that Wednesday’s Capitol riots were “a direct result of an emboldened President who has never been held accountable for his lawless actions.”

The veteran House member previously voted to impeach Trump in December 2019. That effort failed when the Senate acquitted Trump of obstruction of Congress and abuse of power charges on Feb. 5, 2020.

“It is time to act. The President must resign or be removed from office to protect our Republic,” added Costa in a statement released Friday afternoon.

Another Valley lawmaker, Josh Harder, D-Turlock, announced his support for Trump’s impeachment in a tweet on Friday.

“This week’s violence at the Capitol was a tragic assault on our democracy. The President incited these actions for years and could continue to do so,” Harder said. “He should be removed from office by any legal means.”

The Associated Press reported Friday that during a private conference call with Democrats, Pelosi said, “We must take action.”

Republican Senator Backs Impeachment

In addition, a prominent Republican, Sen. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, told the Anchorage Daily News that Trump simply “needs to get out.”

As for President-elect Joe Biden, he says that impeachment is “a decision for the Congress to make.”

If Trump were to be impeached by the House and convicted by the Senate, he might also be prevented from running again for the presidency in 2024 or ever holding public office again.  A person on the call said Pelosi also discussed other ways Trump might be forced to resign, the Associated Press reported.

Pelosi and Democratic Senate leader Chuck Schumer also have called on Vice President Mike Pence and the Cabinet to invoke the 25th Amendment to force Trump from office — a process for stripping the president of his post and installing the vice president to take over.

White House: Impeachment Would Further Divide Country

Trump spokesman Judd Deere said that another impeachment “will only serve to further divide our great country.”

House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy of Bakersfield said that he opposes impeachment. However, McCarthy also said he plans to speak to Biden about working together to “lower the temperature.”

According to the 538 website, Costa has voted in support of Trump’s positions 27% of the time. However, Costa only backed the president 6.7% of the time during the last congressional session.

(The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

DON'T MISS

CHP Car Struck by Drunk Driver While Investigating Another Crash

DON'T MISS

Fresno Man Ejected From Car Dies Off McKinley Avenue

DON'T MISS

‘Leave It the Way It Is’: Off-Roaders, Hikers React to Proposal to Change 1.4M Acres of Sierra Forest

DON'T MISS

Yankees Retain Cole, Add $36 Million Extension to Keep Ace

DON'T MISS

5 Reasons Early Voting Is Overwhelmed With Falsehoods

DON'T MISS

Christian McCaffrey Returns to Practice for the 49ers From Achilles Tendon Injury

DON'T MISS

California Sues LA Suburb for Temporary Ban of Homeless Shelters

DON'T MISS

You May Have Blocked Someone on X but Now They Can See Your Public Posts Anyway

DON'T MISS

Some Republican-Led States Refuse to Let Justice Department Monitors Into Polling Places

DON'T MISS

Fresno Police Arrest Suspect in Fatal NW Apartment Shooting

UP NEXT

‘Leave It the Way It Is’: Off-Roaders, Hikers React to Proposal to Change 1.4M Acres of Sierra Forest

UP NEXT

Trump Threatens 25% Tariff on Mexico to Curb Immigration

UP NEXT

Sanger Men Arrested in Connection with Slingshot Vandalism Spree at Businesses

UP NEXT

What Is Sierra Unified’s Plan to Boost Lagging Student Achievement?

UP NEXT

Fresno State Bulldogs Stumble in Fourth Quarter, Suffer Narrow Loss to Hawai’i

UP NEXT

Challengers Seek Seats on Tulare County Irrigation District Boards

UP NEXT

Shy Pup Finds Hope with Foster Family, Evasion from Euthanasia

UP NEXT

AMOR Wellness Trunk-or-Treat Brings 700 Mendota Residents Together for Halloween Fun

UP NEXT

What Kind of Trouble Is Miguel Arias Trying to Stir Up This Time?

UP NEXT

Fresno Man Shot to Death at NW Apartment Complex Is Identified

Bill McEwen,
News Director
Bill McEwen is news director and columnist for GV Wire. He joined GV Wire in August 2017 after 37 years at The Fresno Bee. With The Bee, he served as Opinion Editor, City Hall reporter, Metro columnist, sports columnist and sports editor through the years. His work has been frequently honored by the California Newspapers Publishers Association, including authoring first-place editorials in 2015 and 2016. Bill and his wife, Karen, are proud parents of two adult sons, and they have two grandsons. You can contact Bill at 559-492-4031 or at Send an Email

Yankees Retain Cole, Add $36 Million Extension to Keep Ace

6 hours ago

5 Reasons Early Voting Is Overwhelmed With Falsehoods

6 hours ago

Christian McCaffrey Returns to Practice for the 49ers From Achilles Tendon Injury

6 hours ago

California Sues LA Suburb for Temporary Ban of Homeless Shelters

6 hours ago

You May Have Blocked Someone on X but Now They Can See Your Public Posts Anyway

7 hours ago

Some Republican-Led States Refuse to Let Justice Department Monitors Into Polling Places

7 hours ago

Fresno Police Arrest Suspect in Fatal NW Apartment Shooting

7 hours ago

Fresno Murder Suspect Stopped in Las Vegas, Others Wanted

7 hours ago

Trump’s Crowds Are Dwindling as His Campaign Winds Down

8 hours ago

Trump Threatens 25% Tariff on Mexico to Curb Immigration

8 hours ago

CHP Car Struck by Drunk Driver While Investigating Another Crash

A driver suspected of being under the influence crashed into a California Highway Patrol car early Sunday, officials said. Officers were inv...

3 hours ago

A driver suspected of DUI crashed into a parked California Highway Patrol car at a fatal crash scene in Fresno County, sustaining minor injuries and later being cited. (Fresno County SO)
3 hours ago

CHP Car Struck by Drunk Driver While Investigating Another Crash

fresno
4 hours ago

Fresno Man Ejected From Car Dies Off McKinley Avenue

4 hours ago

‘Leave It the Way It Is’: Off-Roaders, Hikers React to Proposal to Change 1.4M Acres of Sierra Forest

New York Yankees pitcher Gerrit Cole throws against the Los Angeles Dodgers during the first inning in Game 5 of the baseball World Series, Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2024, in New York. (AP/Ashley Landis)
6 hours ago

Yankees Retain Cole, Add $36 Million Extension to Keep Ace

Voters cast their ballots at Desert Breeze Community Center in Las Vegas during the last day of in-person early voting in Nevada on Friday, Nov. 1, 2024. Nearly 75 million people have cast early ballots, making their voices heard amid worry about the process, the outcome and democracy itself. (Bridget Bennett/The New York Times)
6 hours ago

5 Reasons Early Voting Is Overwhelmed With Falsehoods

6 hours ago

Christian McCaffrey Returns to Practice for the 49ers From Achilles Tendon Injury

6 hours ago

California Sues LA Suburb for Temporary Ban of Homeless Shelters

7 hours ago

You May Have Blocked Someone on X but Now They Can See Your Public Posts Anyway

Search

Send this to a friend