NY Rep. Backs Impeachment After Trump Call With Foreign Leader

NASSAU COUNTY, NY — Rep. Tom Suozzi, the Democratic U.S. representative for northern Nassau County and parts of northwest Suffolk County, has released a statement saying he now backs the impeachment of President Donald Trump. Suozzi cited the president's recent conversation with Ukrianian President Volodymyr Zelensky as the reason for his shift.

Trump admitted to a conversation with Zelensky in which he urged the Ukranian president to investigate Joe Biden, the front-runner for the Democratic ticket to run against him.

Suozzi explained the reason behind his reluctance to support impeachment, saying doing so would further divide the country and government. He said the move would give the president a reason to claim his opponents are more interested in stopping him than in serving the country.

However, Suozzi said, Trump's conversation with Zelensky was "eerily reminiscent" of accusations against the president's conduct concerning foreign interference in the 2016 presidential election.

A whistleblower brought up concerns about the president's phone call, but the Trump administration has blocked the complaint from Congress, Suozzi said. "This refusal is in outright contravention of the law and is again similar to the President’s and his administration’s refusal to comply with other mandates. I cannot ignore this flagrant disregard for the law," he said.

See the full statement below:

Melanie D'Arrigo, a Democrat running against Suozzi, said the representative's support for impeachment was too little too late. "Long Island deserves a leader who fights for Democratic values — not a follower who waits until the absolute last second, and safest possible political moment, to join calls for impeachment," she said in a statement.

"By waiting this long to call for impeachment, Suozzi ignored a clear threat to our safety and national security for the sake of his Republican allies," she said.

Patch reached out to Rep. Suozzi regarding D'Arrigo's statement and is awaiting response.

Another Democratic challenger to Suozzi, Michael Weinstock, contacted Patch with a statement on the Congressman as well:

Tom Suozzi thinks the voters are knuckleheads. He's pretending to be a Democrat because he has a progressive challenger in the Primary. New York voters are a smart bunch - and we will remember that Tom Suozzi opposed impeachment, opposed the Green New Deal and staunchly opposed gay marriage.

I will always remember Tom Suozzi running for Governor - he traveled up and down New York State - telling voters that he was opposed to gay marriage. Mr. Suozzi made me feel terribly conflicted about being gay and that's part of the reason that I'm challenging him in the Democratic Primary.