Rep. Rick Larsen speaks during a hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington on May 15. He has called for impeachment of President Donald Trump. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh file)

Rep. Rick Larsen speaks during a hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington on May 15. He has called for impeachment of President Donald Trump. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh file)

Democratic U.S. Rep. Larsen: Time to impeach President Trump

Everett’s congressman says Trump’s attack on four female colleagues denigrates the meaning of citizenship.

EVERETT — Democratic U.S. Rep. Rick Larsen, of Everett, on Thursday called for the impeachment of Donald Trump, saying the president’s verbal attacks on four congresswomen show he does not respect what it means to be an American and no longer deserves to be the nation’s leader.

“It does not make me happy to conclude that about any president,” Larsen said by phone in an interview with The Daily Herald.

Larsen’s announcement comes two days after the Democratic-led House of Representatives condemned Trump for tweets and public statements about the quartet of first-term Democrats who’ve been among his sharpest critics, saying the women should “go back” to where they came from. All are U.S. citizens, and three were born in this country.

“He doesn’t respect U.S. citizenship,” said Larsen, a moderate who is in his 10th term representing the 2nd Congressional District. “He doesn’t respect the dream that U.S. citizenship represents around the world. If you can’t respect that, you don’t deserve to be president of the United States.”

On Wednesday, the House rejected a resolution to proceed with articles of impeachment. Larsen was among 95 House Democrats who voted against tabling the measure filed by Rep. Al Green, D-Texas.

Larsen is the third of the seven Democratic members in the Washington delegation to endorse the pursuit of impeachment.

U.S. Rep. Pramila Jayapal, of Seattle, whose 7th District includes parts of south Snohomish County, went public in May. U.S. Rep. Adam Smith of Bellevue, who represents the 9th District, did so in June though he voted Wednesday to table Green’s offering.

U.S. Rep. Suzan DelBene, of Medina, whose 1st District includes rural areas of east Snohomish County, also voted to not move ahead with the measure.

“The resolution introduced yesterday did not address many of the egregious issues raised in the Mueller report,” she said in a statement. “Impeachment may be the direction Congress takes as the president and his administration ignore subpoenas and defy court orders. I want to hear Special Counsel Mueller’s testimony next week as we continue to gather all of the detail behind the redacted report.”

Larsen said if congressional investigations prove Trump obstructed justice, it would certainly be an impeachable offense.

But, he said, for him the president’s comments “denigrating” the dream of citizenship “were the first and last straw.”

“I just can’t tolerate that,” he said.


In an op-ed submitted to The Herald, Larsen explained why he thought the president’s verbal attacks on the congresswomen — Rashida Tlaib, of Michigan, Ilhan Omar, of Minnesota, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, of New York, and Ayanna Pressley, of Massachusetts, — amounted to an impeachable offense.

He excerpted from Federalist 65 in which Alexander Hamilton wrote that “offenses which proceed from the misconduct of public men, or in other words, from the abuse or violation of some public trust” would breach the constitutional standard for high crimes and misdemeanors.

“The violation of the public trust can take many forms. For me, the president’s fundamental lack of understanding of the American dream violates that trust,” Larsen wrote in the op-ed.

Larsen’s 2nd District covers the Puget Sound lowlands from Lynnwood to Bellingham and includes the San Juans and Whidbey Island.

When he was first elected in 2000, the district was pretty evenly split between Democratic and Republican voters. In that race, he got 50% and beat three opponents. Two years later, he garnered the same percentage in the course of beating three foes.

Over time Larsen has solidified his support and redistricting in 2010 made it a much safer Democratic seat. In 2018, the Republican Party didn’t mount a challenge. Larsen wound up facing a Libertarian in the general election and won with 71.2%.

Progressive Democrats in the district have been among his loudest critics in recent years. Larsen said Thursday that he’s been pressed by local Democrats to support impeachment.

“I don’t feel pressure to do this. You can’t think about whether it is the right thing or the wrong thing politically when considering impeachment,” he said. “It is one of the hardest and most serious decisions for a member of Congress.”

Jerry Cornfield: 360-352-8623; jcornfield @herald net.com. Twitter: @dospueblos.

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Local News

Olivia Vanni / The Herald 
The Mukilteo Lighthouse. Built in 1906, it’s one of the most iconic landmarks in Snohomish County.
The Mukilteo Lighthouse. Built in 1906, it’s one of the most iconic landmarks in Snohomish County. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Mukilteo mayor vetoes council-approved sales tax

The tax would have helped pay for transportation infrastructure, but was also set to give Mukilteo the highest sales tax rate in the state.

Marysville Mayor Jon Nehring gives the state of the city address at the Marysville Civic Center on Wednesday, Jan. 31, 2024, in Marysville, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Marysville council approves interim middle housing law

The council passed the regulations to prevent a state model code from taking effect by default. It expects to approve final rules by October.

x
State audit takes issue with Edmonds COVID grant monitoring

The audit report covered 2023 and is the third since 2020 that found similar issues with COVID-19 recovery grant documentation.

Bothell
Bothell man pleads guilty to sexual abuse of Marysville middle schoolers

The man allegedly sexually assaulted three students in exchange for vapes and edibles in 2022. His sentencing is set for Aug. 29.

Larsen talks proposed Medicaid cuts during Compass Health stop in Everett

Compass Health plans to open its new behavioral health center in August. Nearly all of the nonprofit’s patients rely on Medicaid.

A wall diagram shows the “journey of the ballot” at the new Elections Center on Tuesday, July 9, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
County Auditor: No need for feds to meddle with state or local elections

Garth Fell’s comments were in response to a report of Justice Department mulling criminal charges against election officials.

Edmonds Police Chief Loi Dawkins speaks after the city council approved her appointment on Tuesday, July 8, 2025 in Edmonds, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Edmonds City Council confirms new police chief

Assistant Chief Loi Dawkins will begin in the role Aug. 1. She has more than 23 years of law enforcement experience, including three years in Edmonds.

Community members gather for the dedication of the Oso Landslide Memorial following the ten-year remembrance of the slide on Friday, March 22, 2024, at the Oso Landslide Memorial in Oso, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
The Daily Herald garners 6 awards from regional journalism competition

The awards recognize the best in journalism from media outlets across Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon and Washington.

The Edmonds City Council discuss the levy during a city council meeting on Tuesday, July 8, 2025 in Edmonds, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Edmonds votes to place levy lid lift on the ballot

By a vote of 5-2, the council decided to put the $14.5 million property tax levy lid lift to voters in November.

A trash hauler from Republic Services. (Provided photo)
Growing Teamsters strike disrupts garbage pickup in Snohomish County

Republic Services said a temporary work stoppage is causing some customers in the county to experience “temporary service delays.”

Lily Lamoureux stacks Weebly Funko toys in preparation for Funko Friday at Funko Field in Everett on July 12, 2019.  Kevin Clark / The Herald)
Everett-based Funko ousts its CEO after 14 months

The company, known for its toy figures based on pop culture, named Michael Lunsford as its interim CEO.

‘Courageous’ teen dives into Silver Lake to rescue 11-year-old

Gauge Bryant, 13, brought the child to the surface. The 11-year-old is in stable but critical condition, authorities said.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.