The third-ranked House Democrat is giving voters an ultimatum: elect us to a majority in the House or Republicans will impeach President Barack Obama.
South Carolina Rep. James Clyburn told reporters that Speaker John Boehner’s lawsuit against Obama a “precursor to impeachment” and declared that the only way to avoid that outcome is to put Democrats in control.
“If the Republicans maintain control of the House, Barack Obama will be impeached. There were 225 votes for this lawsuit — well beyond the 218 that’s needed to impeach. That’s my expectation. I hope I’m wrong. But I don’t think so,” Clyburn said, in audio posted by the South Carolina Radio Network.
He added: “They would just love to be able to open the history books years from now and say, yeah he may have been the first African-American president, but he was also an impeached president.”
Democrats are hyping instances of House Republicans floating or sympathizing with the prospect of impeachment, seeking to fundraise off the prospect. Boehner insists the GOP has no plans to impeach Obama.
