Petition to Impeach Donald J. Trump

Introduction

We, the undersigned citizens of the United States, hereby petition the House of Representatives to initiate impeachment proceedings against Donald J. Trump. We believe that recent events and ongoing efforts surrounding the possibility of allowing a third presidential term for Mr. Trump raise serious constitutional and democratic concerns that warrant a thorough investigation.

Background & Basis for Concern

1. Established Constitutional Limits

The 22nd Amendment to the U.S. Constitution clearly limits the presidency to two elected terms. This safeguard aims to prevent the concentration of power in one individual for an extended period.

2. Recent Proposal to Amend Term Limits

On January 23, 2025, Congressman Andy Ogles introduced an amendment to the 22nd Amendment to enable Donald J. Trump to serve a third term (as reported in https://ogles.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-ogles-proposes-amending-22nd-amendment-allow-trump-serve-third-term).

While pursuing a constitutional amendment is not, in itself, unlawful, public advocacy for circumventing or altering a foundational principle of limited presidential terms gives rise to serious questions about intent to undermine established democratic checks.

3. Relevance to Impeachment Standards

The Constitution grants the House of Representatives the “sole power of impeachment” in cases of “Treason, Bribery, or other high Crimes and Misdemeanors.” 

A pattern of actions or rhetoric that threatens the integrity of core constitutional principles, such as term limits, may form part of an argument for abuse of power or other misconduct, subject to congressional investigation.

Argument for an Impeachment Inquiry

1. Undermining Constitutional Norms

By entertaining or supporting efforts to remove constitutionally mandated limitations, Mr. Trump’s conduct could be viewed as seeking to expand executive power beyond what the framers intended.

Even if the formal process of amending the Constitution is lawful, the intent or effort to do so primarily to extend personal power may be seen by some as contrary to the spirit of the democratic system.

2. Past Actions and Statements

The proposal for a third term cannot be viewed in isolation. Impeachment inquiries often evaluate a pattern of conduct. If there are other incidents in which Mr. Trump demonstrated disregard for constitutional boundaries, these incidents could collectively strengthen concerns about an abuse of power.

3. Preserving the Balance of Power

The petition asserts that the House of Representatives has a responsibility to examine whether Mr. Trump’s potential involvement or support of proposals for a third term signals an intention to undermine constitutional checks and balances.

Call to Action

1. Request for a Formal Investigation

We call upon the House of Representatives to:

Open a formal inquiry into whether actions related to advocating a third term for Donald J. Trump constitute an abuse of power or a violation of his oath to protect and defend the Constitution.

Subpoena witnesses, gather documents, and hold hearings as necessary to ascertain the extent of Mr. Trump’s direct or indirect involvement in these proposals.

2. Possible Impeachment Proceedings

Should the investigation produce evidence of misconduct rising to the level of “high Crimes and Misdemeanors,” we urge the House to draft and vote on Articles of Impeachment to uphold the constitutional limitations enshrined in the 22nd Amendment.