Democratic Senator Chris Murphy has launched a blistering attack on President Donald Trump, accusing him of committing impeachable offences on a scale far greater than during his first term and of effectively "stealing from the American people."
‘Nuclear Grade’ Corruption Allegations
In a stark interview on NBC's Meet the Press on Sunday 11 January 2026, the Connecticut lawmaker directly contradicted senior party figures, including former Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who had previously downplayed the prospects for impeachment. Murphy asserted his view was simply a matter of "common sense."
"I know that this president has committed ten times more impeachable offenses in his second term as he did in his first term," Murphy told host Kristen Welker. He described the level of alleged wrongdoing as "wildly corrupt" and "nuclear grade" compared to the previous administration.
The Evidence: Crypto Deals and Luxury Jets
Murphy pointed to two specific incidents as evidence of profound self-dealing. The first involves a $2 billion investment from the United Arab Emirates into the cryptocurrency firm Binance, utilising a digital currency co-founded by members of the Trump family. The senator characterised this as trading national security secrets for financial gain.
The second is the president's acceptance of a luxury private jet from the Qatari government, ostensibly as a replacement for Air Force One. These allegations build upon long-standing criticisms of Trump's blurring of personal business and presidential duty, dating back to charges that his properties overcharged the Secret Service.
The Uphill Battle for Impeachment
Despite the fierce rhetoric, any move to impeach President Trump faces significant constitutional hurdles. As per the US Constitution, impeachment must originate in the House of Representatives, where Democrats currently lack a majority. A successful conviction would require a two-thirds vote in the Senate.
This political reality was demonstrated in December 2025, when two dozen Democrats joined Republicans to defeat articles of impeachment filed by Representative Al Green of Texas. Murphy acknowledged the House's prerogative on the matter, indicating that a serious impeachment effort is unlikely to reach the Senate before 2027 at the earliest.
The senator's comments signal a growing divide within the Democratic Party, with younger, more progressive members like Murphy favouring aggressive confrontation. The political calculus may shift dramatically after the 2026 midterm elections. If Democrats regain control of both chambers of Congress, the appetite for launching impeachment proceedings is expected to grow substantially, though it would remain an uphill battle.
