Reagan-Era DOJ Official Calls for Trump's Impeachment

Former assistant attorney general says Trump's actions threaten the Constitution and must be stopped.

Apr. 17, 2026 at 11:22pm

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A fractured, abstract painting of the U.S. Capitol building in red, white, and blue, conveying a sense of political upheaval and instability.As calls for impeachment grow louder, the future of American democracy hangs in the balance.Chicago Today

Bruce Fein, a former assistant attorney general under President Ronald Reagan, has called for the immediate impeachment and removal of President Donald Trump, warning that Trump's actions pose a grave threat to American democracy and the rule of law.

Why it matters

Fein's comments carry significant weight as a high-ranking Republican official from a previous administration. His forceful condemnation of Trump's conduct underscores the growing bipartisan concern over the president's authoritarian tendencies and willingness to abuse the powers of his office.

The details

In an interview with The American Conservative, Fein ticked off a long list of reasons why Trump should be impeached, including exploiting his office for personal financial gain, misusing the pardon power, militarizing domestic law enforcement, retaliating against critics, and orchestrating the January 6th attack on the Capitol in an effort to overturn the 2020 election results.

  • Fein's comments were published on April 17, 2026.
  • Rep. John Larson (D-Conn.) has introduced 13 articles of impeachment against President Trump through House Resolution 1155.

The players

Bruce Fein

A former assistant attorney general under President Ronald Reagan who is now calling for the impeachment and removal of President Donald Trump.

Rep. John Larson

A Democratic congressman from Connecticut who has introduced 13 articles of impeachment against President Trump.

Donald Trump

The current President of the United States, whose actions and conduct Fein and Larson argue warrant impeachment.

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What they’re saying

“Trump has said and done appalling things no other president has dared — not even close.”

— Bruce Fein, Former Assistant Attorney General

“Congress should not idle like Nero while the Constitution is in flames... Trump must be impeached and removed from office immediately before it is too late. He is a dictator, pure and simple, who may well seek to disrupt the 2026 congressional elections by illegally invoking the Insurrection Act to dispatch the military to seize voting machines and occupy voting places.”

— Bruce Fein, Former Assistant Attorney General

What’s next

The House of Representatives will need to take up the 13 articles of impeachment introduced by Rep. Larson and determine whether to proceed with impeachment proceedings against President Trump.

The takeaway

Fein's scathing rebuke of Trump's conduct from a high-ranking Republican official underscores the growing bipartisan concern over the president's authoritarian tendencies and the urgent need to hold him accountable through the impeachment process.