Rep. Shri Thanedar Introduces Articles of Impeachment Against Trump
By Romen Basu Borsellino | 01 May, 2025

An Indian American congressman’s courageous move to impeach the President over “a sweeping abuse of power” hasn’t been endorsed by cautious colleagues on Capitol Hill.

Second-term Congressman Shri Thanedar, an Indian-born Democrat from Michigan’s 13th District, has filed seven articles of impeachment against President Donald Trump.

On Monday, via a pre-recorded video, Thanedar cited “a sweeping abuse of power, flagrant violations of the Constitution and acts of tyranny that undermine American democracy” among the reasons for the President’s impeachment. “The final straw,” the Congressman stated, is Trump’s refusal to return Kilmar Abrego Garcia, the Maryland man who was wrongfully deported to El Salvador.

Legal scholars have generally agreed that Trump's refusal to comply with the Supreme Court's ruling to facilitate Abrego Garcia's return to the US sets up a potential constitutional crisis.

Despite the valid legal and constitutional grounds on which the articles are founded, if they somehow make it to the House floor for a vote, they will likely fail, given the current Republican majority.  

Under Democratic control of the House during his first term, President Trump was impeached twice, setting the record for presidential impeachments. The initial impeachment was over Trump’s threat to withhold aid to Ukraine in exchange for dirt on his political opponent, Joe Biden. The second impeachment followed Trump’s incitement of the January 6 insurrection. Both impeachments failed to achieve the necessary two-thirds majority in the senate required to remove Trump from office.

As expected, Thanedar’s impeachment attempt has drawn ire from Republicans, including the President himself, who referred to Thanedar  as “a lunatic” and a “dumb guy.”  

He might have added “gutsy”.  While many Americans have expressed outrage at Trump’s abuses of various powers — which mostly don’t belong in the executive branch — few congressional leaders have had the courage so far to make such views public.  Thanedar said he was prompted to file the articles due to demands from constituents at recent town halls.

Ultra-conservative media personality Dinesh D'Souza responded with both racism and classism, tweeting "If this guy lived in India, he would be a municipal clerk or waiter. Here he thrives because of ‘diversity.’ On the Left, his broken English and semi-illiterate solecisms are seen as positive traits. We need fewer people like him in this country.”

“I did grow up in India," Thanedar responded.  "My dad was a clerk. Then I found my American Dream. Now I’m helping many other Americans achieve their dreams. If you need help recovering from your felony, please let me know. Happy to help.” In 2014 D’Souza pleaded guilty to one felony count of making illegal campaign contributions. He was later pardoned by President Trump. 

Even members of Thanedar’s own Democratic Party have either shrugged off his impeachment efforts or anonymously expressed outright scorn toward them, according to several news outlets. While it is fair to assume that most Democrats in Congress would like to see Trump removed from office, many fear that Thanedar’s rogue attempt will undermine more practical opportunities for impeachment in the future. Congressional Democrats are also irked by Thanedar’s refusal to notify House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries of his announcement.

The announcement also had the internet buzzing for reasons other than its content: The Congressman’s perceived likeness to Tonight Show host Jimmy Fallon. Fallon’s name quickly became a top 10 trending topic on Twitter, with many weighing in on their similar facial structure and referring to Thanedar as the “Indian Jimmy Fallon.”

Congressman Thanedar, born in the Indian state of Karnataka, is one of seven South Asians currently serving in Congress, which is the most at any point in history. The seven members playfully refer to themselves as “The Samosa Caucus”.