Tennessee Democratic Congressman Steve Cohen of Memphis said on MSNBC the real reason he wants to see U.S. Republican President Donald Trump impeached is so Trump can have a “scarlet letter on him.”
“We’re moving along [on impeachment],” Cohen told host David Gura.
“This is a lawless president who should be impeached, and that’s our job under the Constitution if we see violations. It’s a political decision, but we ought to be making a decision in the best interest for democracy, and that’s to impeach the man.”
Cohen, who represents Memphis, also said “I’m not suggesting we impeach for politics.”
“I’m saying we ought to do it because he deserves it,” Cohen said.
“We need to put a scarlet letter on him. We need to do our duty.”
The Scarlet Letter is a novel that took place in 17th century Boston about a young woman forced to wear a scarlet letter “A” on her breast as punishment for adultery.
Elsewhere in the interview, Cohen said more of his Democratic colleagues in Congress support impeaching Trump. Cohen said that sentiment is strong in highly Democratic and African-American districts.
As The Tennessee Star reported last week, Cohen evidently embarrassed himself last week as former special counsel Robert Mueller wrapped up his testimony before the House Judiciary and Intelligence committees.
And this time the awkwardness had nothing with a bucket of chicken.
According to a video on C-Span.org, House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerold Nadler, a Democrat representing New York’s 10th Congressional District, brought last week’s hearing to a close, but before he did he requested the following:
“Before we conclude I ask everyone to remain seated and quiet while the witness exits the room,” Nadler said.
At that point, Mueller got up to leave.
A person out of the camera’s line of sight applauded, regardless, for a few seconds. Then that person stopped after realizing no one else had followed his or her lead.
According to journalists and one Capitol Hill employee who posted on Twitter, that person was none other than Cohen.
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Chris Butler is an investigative journalist at The Tennessee Star. Follow Chris on Facebook. Email tips to [email protected].
Cohen is the Tennessee Political Train Wreck.
Why on earth is he in Washington? I know Memphis is a mess, but….
Cohen is consistently an embarrassment to the dignity of the State of Tennessee. Is he really the best that Memphis has to offer?