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By Kevin Diaz, Washington Bureau

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Image 2 of 15 | How to impeach a president

Congress can get rid of a president they don't like, through impeachment. It isn't easy, though.

The Founding Fathers left America with a way to get rid of a president - impeachment. It's necessarily a difficult process and has only been done twice in the country's history.

Click through the gallery to see how impeachment works and when it has been tried on the president.

Congress can get rid of a president they don't like, through impeachment. It isn't easy, though.

The Founding Fathers left America with a way to get rid of a president - impeachment. It's necessarily a difficult

Image 3 of 15 | How to impeach a president

Impeachment proceedings start in the U.S. House of Representatives, where Congressmen must agree on articles of impeachment. If those are voted out of committee and approved by the full House, the president is considered impeached.

Impeachment proceedings start in the U.S. House of Representatives, where Congressmen must agree on articles of impeachment. If those are voted out of committee and approved by the full House,

Image 4 of 15 | How to impeach a president

The U.S. Senate serves as the jury for impeachment proceedings. They also set the rules for the trial. If 66 Senators vote to remove the president, he's booted from office. Anything less and the president stays.

The U.S. Senate serves as the jury for impeachment proceedings. They also set the rules for the trial. If 66 Senators vote to remove the president, he's booted from office. Anything less and the

Image 5 of 15 | How to impeach a president

The Constitution doesn't spell out what an impeachable offense is. The founding document only lists "high crimes and misdemeanors" as grounds for impeachment. The rest is up to Congress to decide what fits that definition.

The Constitution doesn't spell out what an impeachable offense is. The founding document only lists "high crimes and misdemeanors" as grounds for impeachment. The rest is up to Congress to decide

Image 6 of 15 | How to impeach a president

Once a president is impeached, the House designates members as managers of the case. In a nutshell, they go to the Senate and argue for the president's removal. Now U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., (pictured) served as one of the House managers during the proceedings against President Bill Clinton.

Once a president is impeached, the House designates members as managers of the case. In a nutshell, they go to the Senate and argue for the president's removal. Now U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C.,

Image 7 of 15 | How to impeach a president

Image 8 of 15 | How to impeach a president

The Chief Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court presides over any impeachment trial. In the last such proceedings, then-Chief Justice William Rehnquist oversaw the trial. If Donald Trump were to face impeachment and removal, current chief Justice John Roberts would preside.

The Chief Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court presides over any impeachment trial. In the last such proceedings, then-Chief Justice William Rehnquist oversaw the trial. If Donald Trump were to face

Image 9 of 15 | How to impeach a president

Image 10 of 15 | How to impeach a president

A Republican-controlled Congress went after Democrat Bill Clinton in 1998, after he admitted to lying in a civil lawsuit about having an affair with an intern. The impeachment charges didn't focus on the sex, but rather the civil suit. Clinton was acquitted in the Senate in early 1999 and finished his term.

A Republican-controlled Congress went after Democrat Bill Clinton in 1998, after he admitted to lying in a civil lawsuit about having an affair with an intern. The impeachment charges didn't focus on

Image 11 of 15 | How to impeach a president

President Bill Clinton had a fling with White House intern Monica Lewinsky in the 1990s. His lies about it in a politically-motivated civil lawsuit were cited by Republicans as the basis for Clinton's impeachment in 1998.

President Bill Clinton had a fling with White House intern Monica Lewinsky in the 1990s. His lies about it in a politically-motivated civil lawsuit were cited by Republicans as the basis for Clinton's

Image 12 of 15 | How to impeach a president

A House committee in 1974 voted out articles of impeachment against President Richard Nixon related to his involvement and cover-up of the Watergate scandal. Nixon resigned in August 1974 rather than face removal from office.

A House committee in 1974 voted out articles of impeachment against President Richard Nixon related to his involvement and cover-up of the Watergate scandal. Nixon resigned in August 1974 rather than

Image 13 of 15 | How to impeach a president

During President Barack Obama's eight years in the White House, Republicans talked frequently of impeaching him. They never did, but it didn't stop the GOP from using the idea to rev up conservative voters.

During President Barack Obama's eight years in the White House, Republicans talked frequently of impeaching him. They never did, but it didn't stop the GOP from using the idea to rev up

Image 14 of 15 | How to impeach a president

Controversy has swirled around President Donald Trump since he came into office. Now he is under increased scrutiny amid allegations that his campaign colluded with Russians to influence the presidential election.

Controversy has swirled around President Donald Trump since he came into office. Now he is under increased scrutiny amid allegations that his campaign colluded with Russians to influence the

Texas Democrat joins long-shot Trump impeachment bid

WASHINGTON Houston Democrat Al Green, the first member of Congress to call for President Donald Trumps impeachment on the House floor, signed his name to a resolution Wednesday to do just that.

Green joined a long-shot bid initiated by California Democrat Brad Sherman that accuses Trump of obstructing justice by firing then-FBI Director James Comey over an investigation into Russian meddling in the 2016 presidential election.

I dont see this as a long shot or a sure shot, Green said in an interview. I see this as the right thing to do. Ive always felt that if Im doing the right thing, my conscience is clear. And I think history will vindicate me regardless of how the House votes.

Sherman said in a statement that the article of impeachment in a Republican-led Congress is the first step on a very long road.

So far, the only sponsors of the impeachment resolution are Sherman and Green. Democratic leaders generally have distanced themselves from impeachment talk, fearing it could be either premature or politically counterproductive.

Houston Democrat Sheila Jackson Lee has called for the House Judiciary Committee to launch an impeachment inquiry but has stopped short so far of calling for impeachment. She also has called on Trump to resign on his own.

Greens calls for Trumps impeachment in May were met with racist death threats, prompting protests by black community leaders in Greens defense.

Green said his motives are not political.

This is not about the right or the left, he said. Its not about Democrats, its about democracy. Its not about Republicans, its about the republic.

He suggested that he and others in the House may eventually file additional impeachment resolutions but that, in any case, he is committed to his course.

I dont know what the vote will be if I bring this to the floor of the House, he said. But I can assure you of this: There will be one vote for impeachment because I will vote for the resolution.

Calls for impeachment have become an increasingly common part of presidential politics since President Bill Clintons various sex scandals, which led to impeachment charges in the House but acquittal in the Senate.

His successor, George W. Bush, faced 35 articles of impeachment filed by Democratic U.S. Reps. Dennis Kucinich and Robert Wexler. The House voted to refer the impeachment resolution to the Judiciary Committee, but no further action was taken.

There also were frequent calls for the impeachment of President Barack Obama, including one by former GOP vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin. But no formal resolutions were filed.

The Trump impeachment bid comes as the Senate Judiciary Committee holds hearings on Christopher Wray to replace Comey as FBI director.

It also comes amid reports that the presidents son Donald Trump Jr. met with a Russian lawyer during the campaign in the belief that she would have damaging information from the Russian government about Democrat Hillary Clinton.

But Green said it was Comeys firing and Trumps threatening admonitions to Comey on Twitter that form the basis of the impeachment case against the president.

When you combine those things, you have an impeachable act, and for that the president has to answer to Congress, he said.

Read more from the original source:
Texas Democrat joins long-shot Trump impeachment bid - mySanAntonio.com