Berkeley Places Trump On Notice

(Berkeley, CA) – In a unanimous vote, the Berkeley City Council approved a Resolution that calls upon the House of Representatives to begin an investigation for the impeachment of President Donald Trump. The Resolution, introduced by Berkeley Mayor Jesse Arreguín, makes it the third and largest Bay Area City to pass such a Resolution, with the Cities of Richmond and Alameda previously passing similar calls for impeachment.

Berkeley, a Sanctuary City, has been an epicenter of resistance against the Trump administration. Two weeks ago, Berkeley became the first city in the country to divest from companies involved in the construction of Trump’s proposed border wall. The Council has also voted to oppose any registry based on ethnicity or religion, and condemned the Muslim ban which has since been overturned by the Courts. Despite threats of cuts to federal funding, the Mayor and Council have reaffirmed its commitment as a Sanctuary City.

On the Resolution, Mayor Arreguín said “from undermining Freedom of Press to the conspicuous connections with Russian officials, Trump’s actions have served to destabilize American democracy. His attempts to threaten extortion on Sanctuary Cities and create a Muslim Ban defies American values. Furthermore, many of his actions have served to advance his business both domestically and abroad, in direct violation of the Emoluments Clause of the US Constitution. It is our duty to hold the President accountable, and this Resolution serves as a notice that we will not be silent.”

The Resolution focuses on the Emoluments Clause, which prevents companies owned by an elected official from making deals with foreign governments. Lawsuits have been filed against the President for failing to fully divest from his companies while in office. The Resolution also points out various instances of abuse of executive powers, assaults on the free press, Russian communications, unlawful threats, and other ethical concerns that have been raised during thepast two months. Mayor Jesse Arreguín is available for interviews.