Lawmakers DEMAND Trump to STEP DOWN or FACE Impeachment!!

本站添加: 2026-06-02

[00:00:00]Each senator when his or her name is called will stand in his or her place and vote guilty or not guilty as required by rule 23 of the Senate rules on impeachment. Article 1, section 3, clause six of the constitution regarding the vote required for conviction on impeachment provides that no person shall be convicted without the concurrence of twothirds of the me members present.

[00:00:27]The question is on the first article of impeachment. Senators, how say you? Is the respondent Donald John Trump guilty or not guilty? A roll call vote is required. The clerk will call the role.

[00:00:40]Let's break this down in a way that feels a bit more casual. So, picture this. The senators are all set to vote on whether President Donald John Trump is guilty or not guilty of the impeachment charges against him. When their names get called, each senator stands up where they are and casts their vote based on the Senate's impeachment rules, specifically rule 23. According to the Constitution, you can't convict someone unless at least twothirds of the senators present agree. Fast forward to March 9th, 2026, and we have some pretty intense news coming out of Washington. A group of lawmakers, and this is important, it's a bipartisan team, have thrown down the gauntlet to Trump.

[00:01:16]They've given him a tight deadline, 72 hours to step down voluntarily, or he'll be facing a speedy impeachment process that could boot him out of office. Brand new CNN polls out this hour on the eve of President Trump's Senate impeachment trial. And this comes as the battle over witnesses takes center stage tomorrow with more evidence coming to light on a near daily basis. CNN political director David Challion joins me now. And uh David, what are respondents saying here on the eve of the Senate trial?

[00:01:44]>> Take a look. This is the big number on the main question. Should the Senate vote to convict and remove President Trump from office? A slim majority of Americans in this poll, Briana. 51% say yes. 45% say no. I want to show you some key demographics. It'll look like uh how we've seen America sort itself when it comes to President Trump's approval. But take a look among women. You'll see here first. 59% of women in this poll say convict and remove the president. 42% of men say so. That is a pretty significant gender gap. Again, we see that time and again in all polling related to President Trump, you'll see when you check out what Representative Green is proposing, it's essentially a high misdemeanor based on claiming he's just a really bad person. It's the kind of move that usually signals the end for a presidency. This resolution known as HR res 247 lists abuse of power and obstruction of justice as the main reasons for impeachment. It argues that Trump's actions jeopardize national security, repeatedly misuse the powers of his office and have obstructed multiple investigations. There's even a deadline, a pretty urgent 72 hours for him to resign voluntarily. If he doesn't, the House is set to kick off the impeachment process with a vote potentially happening as soon as March 12th. A familiar pattern here among race. Take a look. 86% of African-Americans vote to convict and remove is what they want to see the Senate to do. 65% of Hispanic Americans in this poll. 42% of white Americans in this poll. And age is also a telling factor. Take a look at the age divide here. under 45 years old, 56% of those Americans want to see the president convicted and removed from office. 45 and older, only 47% want to see him convicted and removed from office. The numbers look like they're in favor of getting the needed 218 votes with all 195 Democrats on board and at least eight Republicans crossing party lines to align with them. That's enough to make a serious impact. Now, it's important to understand why we're seeing this ultimatum right now. This didn't just pop up out of the blue. It's a direct response to a swirl of scandals hitting Trump's presidency all at once.

[00:04:04]For instance, the Manhattan District Attorney's Office filed a referral for impeachment, alleging that Trump committed perjury in a fraud case.

[00:04:11]>> Uh, primarily the men that uh make these promises on the campaign trail and then never deliver them. And it's actually Thomas Massie who who was one of the few members of Congress that did follow through with his promises to his constituents.

[00:04:28]>> And that got him in some cases the direct eye of the president of the United States. Do you include him in that category of weak, pathetic men?

[00:04:37]>> Well, actually, it shouldn't. See, that's the thing is it shouldn't have gotten him in the eye of of President Trump. Marjgerie Taylor Green stirred the pot by revealing Trump's supposed plans for a third term and his tariff admissions. Then there's Christy Noom, who was fired and leaked information about a hefty $220 million ad campaign.

[00:04:56]Plus, the FBI memos that came out show Cash Patel approving illegal firings of agents investigating Trump. To top it all off, a federal judge called Trump out, labeling him a liar regarding his asset valuations. Everything is converging at once and Congress seems to be saying enough is enough. It's pretty clear that the system can't function properly with a president who's involved in so much corruption. It's a clear choice for Trump. Either he resigns or Congress is prepared to push him out.

[00:05:25]Unsurprisingly, Trump's reaction has been just what you'd expect. He's dismissed the resolution, calling it a loser witch hunt. It's interesting to see how Trump is handling the pressure.

[00:05:36]He claims that Democrats are out to get him just because they lost the election.

[00:05:40]He >> because actually Thomas Massiey's policies and his bills and his voting record was very America first is very America first. He'll still be there for seven more months. Um and that that is what has so many people upset. Uh in 2024 the American people delivered a mandate and the mandate was put America first, no more foreign wars. Uh we wanted accountability uh demanded accountability from the elites um and primarily the Epstein class and it was Thomas Massie that was following through on that exact mandate.

[00:06:16]>> Points out that impeachment attempts failed twice before. So he expects it to fail again this time. But instead of directly addressing any specific allegations, he takes aim at the Republicans who signed the resolution saying they'll regret it. What's telling is that he didn't bother to explain the multi-million dollar ad campaign or defend the recent FBI firings. There was no clarification on his plans for a potential third term. Instead, he just went after those calling for him to step down, which is classic Trump behavior when he can't defend his actions. He shifts the focus onto his enemies. Now, here's where it really gets interesting.

[00:06:51]A notable group of eight Republican House members is actually breaking away from the pack and calling for Trump's resignation. These aren't just random politicians. They're people who owe their positions to Trump's backing.

[00:07:02]They've stood by him through two impeachments and numerous scandals, and now they've reached a tipping point, saying they've had enough. They're ready to call it quits for him. This is a crucial moment in the political landscape. When members of a president's own party start to pull away, it signals trouble. For Trump to really face impeachment, twothirds of the Senate, 67 senators, would need to vote for conviction. Currently, there are 52 Republicans and 48 Democrats. That means 19 Republicans would need to support removal. While that seems like a sizable number, it's not outside the realm of possibility, especially if Republicans start to feel uneasy about their association with Trump. There's chatter among Senate Republicans about how they might vote. Some are suggesting they could consider conviction if the evidence is compelling enough. Plus, with Trump's approval rating sitting at 38%, pretty low for someone in his position, there's growing concern about what that means for their own re-election campaigns. Defending Trump is starting to feel less like a badge of honor and more like a liability. That's a precarious place for any politician to be. When you see Trump's approval rating sitting at 38%, it gets senators thinking about their own jobs and re-election chances. They start to wonder if voting to protect him is a smart move for their careers. At this low approval, they might even consider that voting to convict him could be the best political decision for themselves.

[00:08:23]So, we're genuinely looking at a situation where impeachment and removal from office could become a reality. This is no exaggeration. It's based on the current political landscape. Right now, there's a bipartisan group in the House calling for Trump to either resign or face impeachment. There's documented evidence of illegal firings at the FBI, a fraudulent ad campaign that Trump signed off on, and even proof that he admitted to using policies as distractions. A prosecutor is accusing him of perjury, while a federal judge has labeled him a liar. On top of that, some of his own cabinet members are stepping forward and exposing him. This is the kind of chaos that could force Trump into resigning instead of facing impeachment. Let's break down what House Resolution 247 actually says. It points out several specific instances of abuse of power and obstruction. It mentions those illegal FBI firings approved by Cash Patel along with that $220 million no bid ad campaign Trump originally endorsed but later denied. It also refers to the perjury accusation from the Manhattan District Attorney claiming Trump lied under oath. The resolution details how Trump tried to obstruct justice by firing officials and retaliating against investigators. It emphasizes that his actions threaten national security by eroding trust in government institutions. And it clearly states that he has violated the Constitution. These are the kinds of major offenses that could lead to his removal from office. What makes this even more interesting is the eight Republican lawmakers who signed on to this resolution. They really had to weigh the political cost of their actions and they decided it was worth it. They concluded that Trump's behavior was so outrageous that they needed to break away from the party line and call for his resignation. So, here's the deal. Lawmakers are really stepping up and saying it's time for Trump to either resign or face impeachment. They're pointing fingers at the ad campaign scandal and those FBI firings as key reasons for their stance. They feel like they just can't continue to stand by and support a president wrapped up in this level of corruption anymore. And they're ready to take a firm stand. Now, about the timeline, if Trump doesn't step down within the next 72 hours, the House is all set to jump into an expedited impeachment vote by March 12th. It seems House leadership has already crunched the numbers and figured out the votes.

[00:10:44]They've got the support lined up. 195 Democrats are ready to say yes to impeachment. That's a solid start, but they need just 18 Republicans to hit that magic number of 218. Interestingly enough, it sounds like there are more than eight Republicans who might actually be on board with this idea. If impeachment does move forward, it could surprisingly have some bipartisan backing, which would mean that Trump could face impeachment with support from folks in his own party. Now, let's not forget about the Senate. That's where things get really intriguing. If Trump is impeached, they would pull together a trial to see if he gets convicted and removed. This would mark the third impeachment trial during his presidency.

[00:11:24]There was the first one in 2020, another after he left office, and now possibly a third while he's still president. During the trial, both sides will lay out their evidence and make their arguments, and then it all comes down to a vote. To convict, they need 67 votes. All 48 Democrats are already in for conviction, which gets them close. They still need 19 more from the 52 Republicans. It's not impossible, though. There are some whispers that a handful of Republicans might actually align with the conviction. Behind closed doors, senators are having discussions about whether supporting conviction is a smart move for their political future. Those from blue or purple states might lean towards voting for conviction as it could be beneficial for them back home.

[00:12:07]Retiring senators could be more open to the idea since they aren't worried about primary challenges. and those facing tough re-election battles in 2026, especially if Trump doesn't have much support in their states might also consider it. Then there are those senators who really value the Constitution and rule of law over party loyalty. So, there's a whole range of senators who might be willing to get on board with a conviction. There's been quite a stir lately with lawmakers pushing for Trump to either step down or face possible impeachment. It's honestly hard to believe he's found himself in this situation. The series of scandals piling up is pretty wild and it's essential to keep track of everything going on. Marjorie Taylor Green stepped out and revealed Trump's plans for a third term while Christy Noom got ousted and shared some details about a campaign they were working on. Then there's the Cash Patel leak which showed Trump misusing law enforcement for his personal vendettas. On top of that, a Manhattan District Attorney's referral indicated that prosecutors believe Trump committed crimes, and a federal judge had the audacity to call him a liar. All this is happening at once, creating a perfect storm that's got Congress saying enough is enough. The institutions are crumbling, and there's a real feeling that something needs to change. Either Trump steps aside or Congress will have no choice but to push him out. Now, Trump's been pretty stubborn in his public responses, but the reality is he's feeling quite alone. The support he once had within his own party is crumbling with some cabinet members even distancing themselves. His approval rating has tanked to 38% and Congress isn't holding back with their ultimatums. Prosecutors are issuing perjury referrals. Judges are questioning his integrity and several federal agencies are leaking damaging information left and right. This is when a president starts to face real threats to their position. The thought of resignation is becoming more appealing, especially when it might turn out that resigning is less damaging than staying and fighting a losing battle. If he decides against resigning and impeachment goes to a vote in the House, it's likely to pass with some members from both parties on board. That could mean Trump would be impeached for the third time, making him just the fourth president in American history to face that. That's a big moment in history, something that really defines what a presidency means. Once that impeachment passes, the case heads to the Senate where they will hold a trial lasting several weeks. Both sides will lay out their evidence and make their arguments.

[00:14:33]Then senators will cast their votes. If Trump's approval keeps declining and new scandals keep surfacing, Republican senators will start feeling the heat.

[00:14:42]They'll begin to wonder if voting to convict might actually be a safer move for their political careers than voting to let him off the hook. I mean, if they choose to acquit him and he continues to be a mess, voters in their states might not be too forgiving. But if they vote to convict, they can explain their decision as putting the country's best interests first. The situation with Trump is really heating up, and it looks like things are moving toward a House vote that's almost guaranteed to lead to impeachment. When it comes to the Senate, it's a bit less predictable, but there's actually a chance more than usual for these kinds of situations.

[00:15:16]Typically, impeachment is all about party lines with both sides sticking together for their own. But this time, it's different. There's a real sense of outrage from both sides of the aisle, fueled by actual evidence of wrongdoing, thanks in part to members of Trump's own cabinet coming forward and shaking things up. In this kind of environment, a Senate conviction could be on the table. It's not a sure thing, but the mere possibility is something Trump should definitely be sweating over.

[00:15:44]There are scenarios playing out where he might opt to resign instead of going through impeachment and the whole conviction process. If the evidence piles up and Republican senators start showing they'll vote to convict, or if Trump's approval ratings plummet even further, he might think that stepping down is the way to go. Resigning could allow him to spin it as a noble move for the country and he'd get to keep at least a little dignity intact. On the other hand, if he gets impeached and convicted, that's a whole different story. It leaves a permanent mark on his presidency and is about as humiliating as it gets. Not to mention, if he were to be convicted and removed, he could be barred from ever holding office again, which the Constitution allows. So, losing his position through impeachment could spell the end of Trump's political career, which is a pretty huge motivator for him to consider resignation over facing that music. After all, resigning keeps the door open for a possible comeback down the line. But whether it winds up being impeachment or resignation, Trump still has to deal with ongoing legal troubles. The Manhattan fraud case is still on, as are the classified documents case and any other potential legal issues prosecutors might decide to pursue. Once he's no longer in office, that presidential immunity of his won't mean much, making him susceptible to criminal charges. All of this could make the idea of resigning look pretty tempting for him. Plus, there are significant international repercussions in play. America's allies are definitely paying attention. There's a lot going on right now, and you can bet that both friends and foes are keeping a close eye on the situation.

[00:17:19]The allies must feel a bit relieved at the prospect of Trump being removed given their worries about his approach to foreign policy. Meanwhile, adversaries are likely waiting to see how things unfold, knowing that Trump's exit could open doors for them.

[00:17:32]Everyone's watching closely to see if American democracy can handle this moment. It puts Congress to the test.

[00:17:39]Can they really hold a president accountable? If they can pull off impeachment and potentially convict him, it'll send a clear message that America has mechanisms in place to keep a corrupt leader in check. Currently, the media is zeroing in on all the controversies and the unlawful actions tied to Trump, highlighting his corruption and abuse of power. The narrative of Congress demanding Trump's resignation or preparing for impeachment is particularly damaging for him and it's clearly shaping what people think.

[00:18:06]His approval rating is slumping around 38% and as impeachment discussions gain traction, you can expect that number to drop even lower. Public opinion plays a crucial role in how Congress behaves.

[00:18:18]And as the sentiment turns against Trump, congressional Republicans will feel the heat to distance themselves from him. This shift in public mood could push Senate Republicans to seriously consider voting for his removal. If Trump doesn't step down within the next 72 hours, the House is set to vote on impeachment around March 12th. It's almost a given that impeachment will pass, and then we'll see a trial in the Senate that could stretch on for weeks. During this time, evidence will be laid out, arguments will be heard, and votes will be taken.

[00:18:49]In the end, Trump could either be convicted and removed from office or acquitted. Right now, it seems like conviction is a possibility, though not a certainty. While an acquitt might be more likely, getting him removed this time doesn't seem as far-fetched as it usually would in an impeachment case.

[00:19:05]That's mainly because this situation is fueled by bipartisan anger and genuine evidence of wrongdoing rather than just party lines. If impeachment does lead to Trump's removal, it would be a powerful indication that American democracy works, that there are indeed checks and balances in place to hold a corrupt president accountable. It would show Congress can step up and act decisively.

[00:19:26]It's pretty clear that no president is above the law, and that's crucial for keeping American democracy healthy. When Congress doesn't step in during obvious cases of corruption or power abuse, it's a real problem for democracy. The gears of our government need to keep turning, and Congress has to be ready to hold the president accountable. Right now, it seems they're actually stepping up to do just that. This moment is a testament to how our government is supposed to work.

[00:19:52]Congress is using its constitutional right to consider impeachment and prosecutors are moving forward with cases based on solid evidence. Judges are calling out dishonesty and handling abuses of power. We even have federal agents leaking information about illegal activities and some cabinet members are breaking from the pack to tell the truth. All of this is exactly what we should expect when a president is caught up in corruption. The systems are functioning. Congress is taking action.

[00:20:19]The courts are doing their part. And law enforcement is stepping up, too. The combination of these efforts is creating real pressure on Trump, the kind that can genuinely threaten his presidency.

[00:20:30]This is what accountability looks like.

[00:20:32]This is the rule of law in action showcasing the balance the constitution is meant to