Trump Calls Impeachment Inquiry A ‘Lynching,’ Democrats React Angrily

President Donald Trump blasted House Democrats’ impeachment inquiry as a “lynching” in a scathing tweet Tuesday morning, using one of his most controversial terms so far to criticize lawmakers’ investigation into him.

“So some day, if a Democrat becomes President and the Republicans win the House, even by a tiny margin, they can impeach the President, without due process or fairness or any legal rights,” Trump tweeted. “All Republicans must remember what they are witnessing here – a lynching. But we will WIN!”

So some day, if a Democrat becomes President and the Republicans win the House, even by a tiny margin, they can impeach the President, without due process or fairness or any legal rights. All Republicans must remember what they are witnessing here – a lynching. But we will WIN!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 22, 2019

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Lynching refers to the practice of a group hanging an individual for an offense without holding a trial. Starting in the late 19th century, black Americans were often the victims of white lynch mobs. Trump’s use of the term to describe his impeachment inquiry is just the latest example of his racial insensitivity.

Several prominent African-American lawmakers, including Sen. Kamala Harris (D-California), rebuked Trump on Tuesday for comparing the impeachment investigation to an extrajudicial killing.

“Lynching is a reprehensible stain on this nation’s history, as is this President,” wrote the 2020 presidential candidate.

Lynching is a reprehensible stain on this nation’s history, as is this President. We’ll never erase the pain and trauma of lynching, and to invoke that torture to whitewash your own corruption is disgraceful. https://t.co/XOlsazwwRL

— Kamala Harris (@KamalaHarris) October 22, 2019

House Majority Whip Jim Clyburn (D-South Carolina) also condemned Trump for his remarks in an interview on CNN.

“That is one word no president ought to apply to himself,” said Clyburn, the highest-ranking African-American in Congress. “That is a word that we ought to be very, very careful about using.”

JUST NOW: @WhipClyburn aghast at @realDonaldTrump‘s use of word “lynching.”

“That is one word no president ought to apply to himself. You know, I’ve studied presidential history quite a bit, and I don’t know if we’ve ever seen anything quite like this.”pic.twitter.com/2luIJBp7in

— John Berman (@JohnBerman) October 22, 2019

Rep. Bobby Rush (D-Illinois) went even further and urged Trump to delete his post.

You think this impeachment is a LYNCHING? What the hell is wrong with you?

Do you know how many people who look like me have been lynched, since the inception of this country, by people who look like you. Delete this tweet. https://t.co/oTMhWo4awR

— Bobby L. Rush (@RepBobbyRush) October 22, 2019

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