US lawmakers quash Democrat congressman's bid to impeach Donald Trump

US Representative Brad Sherman (L) and Democrat of California, and US Representative Al Green, Democrat of Texas, take questions about articles of impeachment against US President Donald Trump during a press conference on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC on June 7, 2017. US lawmakers voted against Green's motion to impeach Donald Trump. Two other House Democrats have introduced impeachment articles, but they have not reached the floor. PHOTO | BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI | AFP

What you need to know:

  • All Republicans opposed the motion, along with 126 Democrats.
  • Lawmakers voted 364 to 58 in rejection of liberal Democrat Al Green's resolution to begin impeachment proceedings against the Republican president.

WASHINGTON

The US House of Representatives overwhelmingly rejected a congressman's motion on Wednesday to impeach President Trump, as Democratic Party leaders argued that now was not the time to pursue the effort.

Lawmakers voted 364 to 58 in rejection of liberal Democrat Al Green's resolution to begin impeachment proceedings against the Republican president. The vote was not on the articles of impeachment themselves but on tabling the proposal.

TRUMP PROBE

Green had used a so-called privileged motion to force a vote on the issue. All Republicans opposed the motion, along with 126 Democrats.

House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi said that while Trump has made several statements and taken actions "that are beyond the pale for most Americans," it was important to allow congressional committees probing Russian meddling in the US election and possible Trump campaign collusion to proceed with their work.

"The special counsel's investigation is moving forward as well, and those inquiries should be allowed to continue," she added, referring to Robert Mueller. 

"Now is not the time to consider articles of impeachment."

VOTE

Green first introduced impeachment proceedings in October, but forced the vote on Wednesday.

"I love my country. For this reason I will bring articles of impeachment to a vote in the House of Representatives," Green wrote in a letter to colleagues.

In the resolution, Green argues that Trump has sown discord among Americans "by associating the majesty and dignity of the presidency with causes rooted in white supremacy, bigotry, racism, anti-Semitism, white nationalism, or neo-Nazism."

Two other House Democrats have introduced impeachment articles, but they have not reached the floor.

Democrats have debated the political merits of pressing for impeachment, and some have cautioned that an aggressive stance could provoke a backlash by Trump's conservative base at the ballot box.