House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has named nine mangers for the likely impeachment trial of President Trump. The news comes just minutes after Vice President Mike Pence rejected calls to remove Trump from office using the 25th Amendment.
“Tonight, I have the solemn privilege of naming the Managers of the impeachment trial of Donald Trump,” Pelosi said in a statement. “It is their constitutional and patriotic duty to present the case for the President’s impeachment and removal. They will do so guided by their great love of country, determination to protect our democracy and loyalty to our oath to the Constitution. Our Managers will honor their duty to defend democracy For The People with great solemnity, prayerfulness and urgency.”
Congressman Jamie Raskin has been named the lead manager. Other managers include Reps. Diana DeGette, David Cicilline, Joaquin Castro, Eric Swalwell, Ted Lieu, Stacey Plaskett, Joe Neguse, and Madeleine Dean.
Raskin, who represents Maryland’s 8th Congressional District, recently announced the death of his 25-year-old son, who died by suicide. He is now leading the others in impeaching the president for an unprecedented second time after Trump was previously impeached and later acquitted last year.
The nine impeachment managers tasked with prosecuting the president this time around are entirely different from the lawmakers who unsuccessfully attempted to get the Senate to convict Trump on abuse of power and obstruction of Congress charges a year ago. That group was led by House Intelligence Chairman Adam Schiff of California.
The new group includes some of Trump’s most strident critics, including Lieu, a California lawmaker known for his active presence on social media.
Also among the impeachment managers is Swalwell, a member of the powerful judiciary and intelligence committees, who also briefly ran for the Democratic nomination for president back in 2019. Swalwell has recently gained criticism for his relationship with Fang Fang, a suspected Chinese spy, and has faced calls for his resignation. Last month, 17 GOP lawmakers sent a letter to Pelosi demanding Swalwell be stripped of his committee assignment.
Given that Democrats have a majority in the Congress, it appears likely impeachment efforts will succeed. It’s unclear how many Republicans will join their colleagues on the other side of the aisle and endorse the move, although three Republicans have announced their support for Trump’s impeachment: New York Rep. John Katko, Rep. Adam Kinzinger of Illinois, and GOP conference Chairwoman Rep. Liz Cheney of Wyoming, the No. 3 ranking House Republican.