Rep. Darrell Issa Introduces Resolution to Expunge Trump's Two House Impeachments

Rep. Darrell Issa of California introduced a resolution Thursday to reverse the House impeachments of former President Donald Trump in 2019 and 2021. The measure, H.Res.1211, was referred to the House Judiciary Committee. It calls for both impeachments to be expunged as if the articles had never passed the full House.

Issa said the move corrects Democrats' use of knowingly false claims in a partisan effort to ruin Trump's reputation. "The fact is that the Constitution doesn't spell out what to do when you've wrongfully indicted somebody," Issa told Fox News Digital. "An impeachment is basically an indictment and it's an indictment that you can't really be acquitted from. If you are impeached by the House, famously where do you go to get your reputation back, is the question."

He added that withheld and false information has since emerged. "And that’s sort of a problem that we're dealing with, which is that the president was wrongfully accused, the evidence is now out that there was withheld information and false information, but where do we go to unring this bell? And the answer is we go back to Congress and we go to the House floor and we have a vote."

Issa hopes the process ensures misconduct in the impeachment gets a hearing before Congress and the public. The resolution claims the 2019 impeachment relied on unreliable, biased information from an anonymous whistleblower whose complaint started the inquiry. Newly declassified documents undermine the whistleblower's credibility, the measure states. It says the whistleblower had no firsthand knowledge, received help from biased officials, and House investigators mishandled evidence while blocking Trump from facing accusers.

Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard declassified documents this year showing a coordinated intelligence community effort to create a conspiracy for the 2019 impeachment, according to a press release. Issa charged that Democrats broke House rules in both impeachments. A source close to Issa's office said prominent Democrats privately admit post-impeachment revelations reflect poorly on the House and show Capitol dysfunction.

For the 2021 impeachment, the resolution notes the House rushed from introduction to passage in two days without full evidence or witnesses. Lawmakers held a short hearing with constitutional experts, but skipped fact witnesses and deeper probes, denying Trump due process, it argues. "They impeached him for essentially an insurrection, a true high crime, and it's false," Issa said.

Past efforts to reverse the impeachments in 2022 and 2023 failed without hearings or votes. Issa said his version makes a stronger case by putting the accusers' misconduct on trial, using evidence they knew was flawed. House Judiciary Chair Jim Jordan of Ohio backs the resolution. "Democrats weaponized impeachment against President Trump with politically motivated charges," Jordan told Fox News Digital. "We applaud Chairman Issa for leading the fight to expunge this sham from the record."

More than 20 House Republicans cosponsor, including Reps. Claudia Tenney of New York, Scott Fitzgerald of Wisconsin, Russell Fry of South Carolina, Mark Alford of Missouri, Tim Burchett of Tennessee, Tom McClintock of California, David J. Taylor of Ohio, Harriet Hageman of Wyoming, Rick Allen of Georgia, Rich McCormick of Georgia, Michael Rulli of Ohio, Mary Miller of Illinois, Mike Collins of Georgia, Glenn Grothman of Wisconsin, Jimmy Patronis of Florida, Tracey Mann of Kansas, Tim Walberg of Michigan, John Rose of Tennessee, Joe Wilson of South Carolina, David Rouzer of North Carolina, Diana Harshbarger of Tennessee and Ronny Jackson of Texas.

The resolution revives debate on whether the House can nullify its own impeachments under its sole impeachment power. Supporters say it controls its records. Critics, including some scholars, call it symbolic since history cannot be erased. "Our goal is to show that it's false and it was maliciously false and, as a result, it should no longer stand as a legitimate accusation," Issa said. He compared it to a front-page retraction matching the original story's prominence. Fox News Digital sought White House comment.