Democratic Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (ME-01) on Monday published a thread on X outlining what steps Congress, federal courts and the public can play to fight against what she called President Donald Trump’s “extreme actions.”
[RELATED: Pingree Opposes Bill To Deport Illegal Immigrant Sex Offenders…]
Rep. Pingree said in the thread that she frequently receives the question: “What are you going to *do* about it?” regarding President Trump’s actions taken during the first two weeks of his second term.
“It’s a fair point–especially when the President has thus far avoided any real accountability,” Pingree said of Trump, who was impeached twice during his first term, faced decades in prison and hundreds of millions of dollars in penalties for legal cases brought against him during the Biden administration, and survived two assassination attempts last year.
In her thread, Pingree emphasized the power that Congress will have in holding back Trump’s agenda, listing the power to spend taxpayer dollars, the power to investigate, the power to challenge actions in court and the power to impeach.
Pingree used the example of Trump’s recent directive to freeze certain federal assistance, which she referred to as “stealing” and has been temporarily blocked by federal judges in Rhode Island and the District of Columbia.
“The Administration’s directive to ‘impound’ funds from Congress is unconstitutional,” Pingree wrote. “While they rescinded a memo calling for a total freeze, they’re still stealing these funds.”
On investigations, Pingree said that the House Democrats, as the minority, cannot control hearings or subpoenas, but are able to call witnesses as well as “work with whistleblowers to uncover vital information,” and to release those leaks to the public.
“All these tools are on the table. And we’ll use them,” Pingree wrote.
“The courts will play a critical role, too,” Pingree continued. “The President is pushing the boundaries of the separation of powers. The only remedy is to challenge him by getting the courts to rule he’s gone too far.”
Pingree included the example of Maine Attorney General Aaron Frey filing a lawsuit against the Trump administration over his first-day executive order redefining birthright citizenship to exclude the children of illegal aliens.
“None of this is easy. We are in uncharted waters,” Pingree said. “But we *will* keep fighting the President’s actions as best we can—and we will use every tool at our disposal to keep this Administration in check. We understand the stakes. And we’re not going to back down.”
Pingree acknowledged the fact that another impeachment of Trump is unlikely to succeed while the Republicans control both the House and Senate, despite calling it an “appealing option.”
The Maine Democrat said the “most powerful tool” of Congress, however, is communication with constituents.
“I will always explain what I vote on and why. That’s my job. But legislation in the Trump era is going to be different,” she wrote, calling the recently signed into law Laken Riley Act, which she opposed, a “‘gotcha’ bill.”
The law bears the name of 22-year-old Laken Hope Riley, who was murdered by José Antonio Ibarra, 26, an illegal immigrant from Venezuela previously arrested multiple times and continuously released back into the community rather than facing detainment and deportation.
The Laken Riley Act requires the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to detain illegal immigrants arrested for theft-related crimes, and empowers states to sue the federal government over failure to enforce immigration laws.
“I know the past few weeks have been exhausting, and there is a long road ahead,” Pingree concluded her thread. “We’ll use the tools we have in Congress. We’ll stand up + push back. We’ll use our voices. And if the American people use theirs, too, we will be able to hold the Administration accountable.”
<span class="dsq-postid" data-dsqidentifier="34822 https://www.themainewire.com/?p=34822">24 Comments
Nice, she just volunteered to be audited for insider trading. Also I hear there are 51 current and former intelligence officials who say this woman is a tool for russia, china, iran and north korea. This moron does not represent the people of maine.
Fuck Chellie Pingree !
She voted against “ The Lakin Reilly Act “ .
That’s ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW about Shelly Pingree.
She will do whatever she can to destroy our state of Maine .
How can Maine be this stupid…Democrats are the cons as the national election showed… Trump has curbed illegal immigration in his first few weeks? Didn’t lying Pingree say that they were doing all they could for border security? These people lie for a living… you have been hijacked Maine! WAKE UP!
We gotcha YOUR number Chellie Pingree and the number is ZERO .
You won’t be re-elected by Maine voters ever again .
Chellie just sit this one out and shut the f up!!! You have done nothing for Maine and have not had an original thought that was not put there by the Communist-DemocRATs for decades. Just go away.
Shelly Pingree IS THE “ USEFUL TOOL “ of the democrats in Washington
She does NOTHING for the people of Maine except embarrass us .
We need to watch out for her daughter , who is like a tick in Janet Mills ‘ armpit .
If Mills recognizes certain party favorites in he state of the budget speech , you KNOW they represent a danger to the people of Maine .
”I know the past few weeks have been exhausting,” said Pinhead. Why? What accomplishments have you achieved compared to Trump? You ain’t seen nuthin’ yet, you useless quisling!
Chellie, what you are proposing- busing migrants to Maine, will enrage right wingers, especially those who claim illegals are stealing their jobs. Many who claim that don’t even make the effort to work! Though I’m a “progressive, lib, commie Democrat” I do believe illegals need to be vetted, have background checks, & be approved for citizenship, before working in our country. In some cases illegals are housed, while Mainers search for affordable housing. I agree it’s not fair, but also that our citizens should stop buying & selling illegal drugs, so that illegals can keep their families safe in their own countries & not have them over run by cartel activity.
Because everyone knows having open borders is not extreme, right. Send every single one back where they came from. Let them come in the front door. I bet her house is sitting empty, maybe some illegals can break in, make themselves at home and she can take some of her insider trading money and pay for them.
If this fascist-nihilist twat Pingree resists federal law or enables law-breakers, report her activity immediately:
(866) DHS-2ICE
or
(866) 347-2423
That’s the federal number for Immigration and Customs Enforcement. A New England regional spokesperson of theirs interviewed on Howie Carr last week said, “Call us anytime!”
“ We will use every tool at our disposal “ to insure you never hold office in Maine again .
Too late, the Portland democratic socialists and coastal mass-holes just reelected her. We can only hope for an unfortunate accident, like Suuusan Cooollins pushing her down the stairs like she did to Piglosi. You heard it hear first folks!
Yes, what are we voters going to due about you!!!
Preegre, pay attention to Dollar General.
“The Hat Stays On” Pingree.
How’s that private jet running, still pumping massive amounts of carbon into the atmosphere ? You and your clone daughter are the ultimate hypocrites ! After the next election don’t let the door hit you in the 🫏 on the way out !
You are stupid, listen to what you are saying. You are saying you are opposed to stopped drugs from coming in to our country, you want Pentyl to kill our kids!
You, a woman, want our daughters to be raped! You want our taxes to be spent overseas and to help storm victim’s in Carolina. We *Will* keep fighting the President’s actions as best we can to stove the above. You will fight for EV for Vietnam but not for clean drinking water in hurricane victims. Why don’t you resign now!
Pingree is a Communist Democrat hack tool of the DC Kleptocracy. We need an article 5 convention of states to propose amendments to rein in the central government kleptocracy and restore the rights of individuals and the states.
Nothing about trying to work with him, but resist everything he does???? Rochelle Johnson needs to get off North Haven Island and move back to her home in Minnesota.
What we really need is for a target to be placed on her forehead and for her to be permanently removed from office. As to the rest of the democrats, there needs to be open season all year round and no bagging limits; the only way to eliminate the liberal brain disease is to eradicate the source to prevent the spread of the disease.
Pingree, you want to support this? Massachusetts migrant staying at shelter arrested for allegedly raping his daughter
“Knewz.com is reporting that the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has revealed a new initiative to investigate state and local officials obstructing immigration enforcement. U.S. Deputy Attorney General Emil Bove issued a memo emphasizing the need for local authorities to comply with federal immigration policies. State and local officials resisting federal immigration policies may face charges under laws against defrauding the U.S. or harboring undocumented immigrants.”
Tools just got fewer Pingree.
She’s going to use every tool in the box? Have at it lady. The Democrat party is full of “tools”.
Learning is weak with this one.