Congressman inches toward impeachment

WASHINGTON – "There's a lot to look at and I think, at some point, if the smoking gun leads to the White House, we have to take action," Rep. Steve Stockman, R-Texas, soberly reflected.

He was talking about impeachment, and it's not the first time he's considered it.

Back in January, Stockman considered pursuing impeachment charges if President Obama implemented gun-control measures without congressional approval.

Stockman called such executive action “an existential threat to this nation,” because, “Under no circumstances whatsoever may the government take any action that disarms any peaceable person — much less without due process through an executive declaration without a vote of Congress or a ruling of a court.”

President Obama did enact a series of relatively minor gun-control measures by executive order, after losing a fight in the Senate to expand background checks on gun purchases.

Now, it's deja-vu all over again, with another shooting followed by more executive actions.

Read the details of Obama’s actions and how they don’t align with the Constitution, in “Impeachable Offenses,” by Aaron Klein and Brenda J. Elliott.

After Washington Yard shooter Aaron Alexis killed 12 people Monday, President Obama announced plans to implement two more executive orders, including expanding background checks to sales online and at gun shows.

So WND asked Stockman if he thought it is time to revisit his consideration of impeachment.

In an on-camera interview with WND, the Texan took a broad perspective, noting, "Impeachment is one of the many options, including lawsuits and other actions, we can take to defend the Constitution."

Stockman said he has attorneys investigating whether the president has violated the Constitution, and, if so, then it would be time to consider that step.

"But it's the last resort, and it's a very serious step," he cautioned.

Stockman conceded that gun control isn't the only matter Obama has handled in a questionable manner.

"Quite frankly, this president has done a lot of things that could be challenged in court," he said.

Stockman cited the president unilaterally choosing which parts of his own health-care law to enact and the possible use of the IRS for political purposes, including targeting tea-party organizations.

"On an average of every nine days, the head of the IRS was visiting the president," he noted. "Now, why? Why would you have to visit the president that many times? I mean, was he doing his taxes for him? It doesn't make sense. "

As WND reported, media giant Glenn Beck said the president's latest action on Syria is enough to warrant impeachment .

After Obama waived a provision of federal law designed to prevent the supply of arms to terrorist groups in order to arm the Syrian rebels, Beck said, "He’s taking guns away from the people while giving guns to al-Qaida.”

“What else do you need for impeachment?” he wondered.