PORTLAND, Ore. — House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) formally announced an impeachment inquiry against President Donald Trump Tuesday afternoon as more and more members of her party come out in support of the action.
According to NBC News, more than two-thirds of House Democrats now support impeaching the president, including some moderate Democrats in more Trump-friendly districts who, until recently, were hesitant to support it.
The calls come as leaders have questioned whether President Trump improperly used the office of the presidency to pressure the president of Ukraine to investigate former Vice President Joe Biden and his son Hunter.
The administration is also withholding a whistleblower complaint from Congress that is at least partly related to that matter.
President Trump tweeted he will release a transcript of his call with the Ukrainian president Wednesday. However, many Democrats say the transcripts are not enough and are demanding to see the whistleblower complaint as well.
The anonymous whistleblower is expected to testify before the House Intelligence Committee as early as this week.
WHERE DO OREGON'S MEMBERS OF CONGRESS STAND ON IMPEACHMENT?
Both of Oregon's senators, Democrats Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley, support the impeachment inquiry against President Trump.
“Beginning impeachment proceedings is not an action to be taken lightly," Sen. Merkley said Tuesday in a statement.
"Unfortunately, the gravity and extent of President Trump’s corrupt actions makes it absolutely clear that Congress must do so. President Trump has repeatedly and flagrantly violated his oath of office and disgraced the office of the presidency. Holding foreign aid hostage until a foreign leader agrees to smear a political opponent is textbook corruption, plain and simple.
“It is time for Congress, as a co-equal branch of government, to fulfill its constitutional role and hold the President accountable. Now that the House is moving forward with impeachment proceedings, I urge it to move swiftly to complete its investigation and to bring these proceedings to the floor of the House for a vote.”
Sen. Wyden also applauded Pelosi's decision on Tuesday.
Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D, OR-3), who represents Portland, supports impeachment. "I was one of the very first in Congress to support it," he tweeted on Tuesday as more and more congressional democrats came out in support of a formal inquiry.
Rep. Suzanne Bonamici (D, OR-1) first called for an impeachment inquiry in May, but on Monday emphasized the need to ramp-up the investigation.
Rep. Peter DeFazio (D, OR-4) also tweeted his support of the inquiry.
"This is a dark day for America’s representative democracy," Rep. DeFazio said in a statement Tuesday.
"I am in full support of Speaker Pelosi’s announcement today that the House will move forward with a formal impeachment inquiry. The integrity of our national security and the health of our democratic republic depend on it."
Oregon's only Republican congressman, Rep. Greg Walden (R, OR-2), said in a tweet Wednesday the president's alleged actions do not "rise to 'high crimes and misdemeanors.'"
Rep. Kurt Schrader (D, OR-5) came out in support of the impeachment inquiry Thursday morning. He was the last Democrat in Congress to weigh in.
"Sadly, the litany of activities from this President has brought us to this juncture. No one is above the law of the land," Rep. Schrader said.
KGW also reached out to Rep. Jaime Herrera-Beutler, (R, WA-3), a Republican who represents Southwest Washington. While she did not mention impeachment, she called the situation "serious."
"Americans deserve the utmost transparency with regard to the recent, serious allegations involving Ukraine," Rep. Herrera-Beutler said in a statement. "We must find the facts. I support the president’s decision to release the call transcript and believe he should do so as soon as practicable."