WASHINGTON — Detroit U.S. Rep. Shri Thanedar this week introduced seven articles of impeachment against Donald Trump, saying he's doing so in response to Michigan constituents who are demanding that Democrats push back against the Republican president.

The Democratic congressman's impeachment effort is unlikely to advance with Republicans controlling both chambers in Congress, but it coincides with Trump's visit to Michigan on Tuesday to mark 100 days in office.

They accuse Trump of obstruction of justice, abuse of executive power and trade powers, usurpation of appropriations powers, bribery and corruption, violating First Amendment rights and "tyrannical overreach."

Thanedar is trying to get the word out about his long-shot effort by putting up four "Impeach Trump" billboards around his Wayne County district that covers parts of Detroit, the Grosse Pointes and Downriver communities.

He paid for the billboards using his taxpayer-funded official budget, saying they would remain up for a week. The Detroit News reported this month that Thanedar last year was the House's top spender of taxpayer dollars on TV spots, billboards and other ads to promote himself and his office at $930,000.

"People are saying, is this the right timing? Do you have the votes? But I can’t worry about that. I need to really call it as it is and not be fearful, not worry about other things. My duty to my constituents is that I speak out when injustice happens and not wait for what is politically right or what's the opportune time to do it," Thanedar told The Detroit News on Tuesday.

"I want my constituents to know that I am not shy. I am not sitting on my hands. Constituents of Democrats are saying, Why aren’t Democrats acting? Why are Democrats quiet? And why aren’t they doing things. My constituents are furious that nothing, not enough, has been done. ... This is my answer to them."

A White House spokesperson did not immediately respond Tuesday to a request for comment.

Thanedar, 70, is a millionaire businessman and immigrant from India who is serving his second term in the U.S. House, having largely self-funded campaigns for governor and Congress by the millions, and won a seat representing Michigan's 13th District in the U.S. House in 2022.

His election marked the first time the majority-Black city of Detroit didn’t have a Black lawmaker representing it in Congress since 1955. Thanedar is facing primary challenges from two Black candidates this cycle: Former state Sen. Adam Hollier and state Rep. Donavan McKinney, who launched his campaign Monday.

Thanedar said his announcement of the impeachment articles Monday had nothing to do with his primary challenges, noting he'd been working on the articles for two weeks. "I couldn't have cooked something up like this in two hours," he said.

Thanedar has three original co-sponsors, Reps. Jerry Nadler of New York, Robin Kelly of Illinois and Kweisi Mfume of Maryland, and said he is working to recruit other supporters.

Thanedar didn't indicate whether or when he would force the full House to vote on impeaching Trump or if he plans to push for such a vote, which requires a simple majority to pass.

Thanedar said he sent copies of the articles to eight or nine House Democratic leaders ahead of the announcement. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries of New York was asked by reporters Monday if he was discouraging such efforts, given that Democrats have focused their messaging on Trump elsewhere.

"I haven't evaluated the articles that were introduced," Jeffries said. "I haven't even had an opportunity to talk with him about it."

Republicans pounced on Thanedar's move, trying to paint all Democrats as eager to impeach Trump for a third time: "They tried to impeach him. Jail him. Assassinate him. Democrats are already working to impeach him again," House Republicans' campaign arm tweeted.

"If Democrats win in 2026, they will spend every waking minute trying to destroy President Trump instead of helping Americans."

Rep. Lisa McClain of Bruce Township, who chairs the House Republican Conference, called Thanedar's move a "pathetic" political stunt and suggested he's trying to distract voters from his Democratic primary challengers.

"What I always say is that when you can’t beat me on the issues, you got to attack the person. This is nothing new," McClain told The News.

"When you have no vision, you have no agenda, have no plan, you have no leader, you’ve got to throw crazy stuff like this up. It doesn't make sense because they don’t have any vision. They don’t have anything they’re running on. Just 'Trump is bad.'"

Thanedar is the first lawmaker to introduce articles of impeachment this session of Congress, although others, including Texas Rep. Al Green, have said they intend to do so.

Thanedar said he was moved to introduce the articles largely in response to Trump's handling of a wrongfully deported Maryland man sent back to his native El Salvador and the president's "disregarding" a 9-0 Supreme Court decision that said the Trump administration must facilitate the return of the man, Kilmar Abrego Garcia, to the United States.

The Trump administration previously admitted to the deportation being an "administrative" or clerical error but officials have said they cannot do anything to bring the man back. El Salvador President Nayib Bukele said in a visit to the White House in mid-April, "I don't have the power to return him to the United States."

"This president needs to be made aware of that this is not going to be tolerated. As a member of Congress, it is my privilege to bring this these articles, and I don't want to remain silent," Thanedar said.

"He's a Republican president, and we would expect him to have policy differences with Democrats. ... What is surprising is him intimidating law firms, interfering with their right to free speech, making a purse deal with them for them to give him $940 million worth of pro bono legal services for his own personal causes. That's not policy differences. That is an abuse of power, and that needs to be checked."

Thanedar has been attacked on social media since introducing the impeachment articles, with some individuals criticizing his looks and mocking his Indian accent, and others advocating for a ban on foreign-born people from serving in Congress.

The congressman, who is a U.S. citizen, said he anticipated the pushback.

"Did I know that was coming? Yeah. Am I afraid of that? No," Thanedar said. "All the MAGA people are just going crazy about it. I don’t want to talk about appearances and looks. I want to talk about the issues and protecting our democracy."

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