WASHINGTON — Two national advocacy groups have renewed calls for the impeachment and removal of President Donald J. Trump, citing what they describe as “a pattern of constitutional violations and abuse of power” following the administration’s deployment of federal and National Guard forces in several U.S. cities.
The campaign—led by Free Speech For People and Citizens’ Impeachment, a coalition of constitutional advocacy groups—was announced days after federal judges in Illinois and Oregon issued restraining orders limiting Trump administration actions. Both rulings questioned the legality of domestic military deployments, which have drawn national scrutiny and widespread protests.
The organizations’ new 25-count Case for Impeachment, released this week, alleges that Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth violated their oaths of office by using the military and federal law enforcement “to suppress dissent and override state authority.” The groups call this a “clear and continuing breach of the Constitution’s separation of powers and federalism principles.”
Allegations Rooted in Military Overreach and Constitutional Duty
At the center of the campaign is the claim that Trump’s recent use of armed federal agents and federalized National Guard units in cities such as Chicago, Portland, and Los Angeles constitutes “levying war” against the United States under Article III, Section 3 of the Constitution.
The organizations cite a September 30 meeting at Marine Corps Base Quantico, where Trump and Hegseth reportedly referred to urban protests as “domestic insurgencies.” They argue that subsequent troop deployments—carried out without state consent—represent “an unconstitutional use of force against the American people.”
Administration officials have rejected the allegations, calling the orders lawful. “The President is using every legal tool available to protect federal property and the safety of our citizens,” said a Department of Defense spokesperson. Trump himself dismissed the impeachment effort as “another partisan stunt,” claiming that his opponents “want chaos, not law and order.”
Impeachment Push Builds on Legal and Political Turmoil
The impeachment case expands on prior advocacy efforts but adds new material linked to the Illinois v. Trump and Chicago Headline Club v. Noem lawsuits—cases that challenge federal authority to conduct domestic operations without congressional or state approval.
Among the 25 articles, the campaign accuses the administration of:
- Violating the Posse Comitatus Act by using military personnel in civilian law enforcement roles;
- Obstructing the judiciary by defying federal court orders;
- Politicizing the Department of Justice; and
- Abusing emergency powers for political ends.
The document argues that Trump’s domestic deployments and public statements—including calls for the arrest of Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker and Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson—demonstrate “a fundamental rejection of constitutional limits.”
Mixed Response on Capitol Hill
While no formal impeachment resolution has been filed, several Democratic lawmakers have confirmed they are reviewing the advocacy filings. Republican leaders have dismissed the effort as “performative,” saying that it lacks legal standing and congressional traction.
Constitutional scholars note that while impeachment advocacy campaigns can influence public discourse, only Congress can formally initiate proceedings. “These campaigns serve as political pressure mechanisms,” said Laurence Tribe, a Harvard constitutional law professor. “But actual impeachment depends on congressional will, not public petitions.”
A Broader Reckoning on Executive Power
The latest push reflects growing concern about executive overreach amid federal-state confrontations in Illinois and elsewhere. Advocacy leaders say the campaign is about more than one administration—it’s about preserving the system of checks and balances.
“We cannot allow unchecked executive power to destroy the republic,” said Free Speech For People in a statement. “Congress must act to preserve the rule of law before it’s too late.”
The groups are urging the public to contact their representatives and support impeachment proceedings under Article II, Section 4, which allows removal for “treason, bribery, or other high crimes and misdemeanors.”
Trump, speaking at a rally in Norfolk on October 5, said his administration “will never bow to mobs or to corrupt politicians who want to weaken America from within.”
What’s Next
For now, the impeachment effort remains a civic campaign rather than a formal congressional process. Organizers plan to hold forums, collect signatures, and promote the campaign through the hashtags #ImpeachTrumpAgain and #DefendDemocracyNow.
Legal observers say the debate underscores a defining test for the Constitution in an era of political polarization. As one constitutional attorney put it: “Every presidency tests the limits of power—but few have pushed those limits as far as this one.”
