7 Democratic lawmakers who served in the military and intelligence agencies slam Trump for 'flagrant disregard for the law'

Mikie Sherrill

Rep. Mikie Sherrill of New Jersey.

• Seven freshman Democrats who previously served in the US military or with intelligence agencies penned an opinion column in the wake of new reports about President Donald Trump and a whistleblower complaint.
• The seven Democrats wrote that, if proven true, Trump's alleged attempts to exert his political influence, if proven true, crossed the line and was considered an "impeachable offense."
• "Our lives have been defined by national service," the Democrats said in the column. "We are not career politicians."
• "These new allegations are a threat to all we have sworn to protect," they wrote. "We must preserve the checks and balances envisioned by the Founders and restore the trust of the American people in our government. And that is what we intend to do."
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Seven freshman Democrats who previously served in the US military or with intelligence agencies penned an opinion column, in the wake new reports about President Donald Trump and a whistleblower complaint.

Rep. Gil Cicero's of California, a former naval officer; Rep. Jason Crow of Colorado, a former Army Ranger; Rep. Chrissy Houlahan of Pennsylvania, a former Air Force officer; Rep. Elaine Luria of Virginia, a former naval officer; Rep. Mikie Sherrill of New Jersey, a former Navy helicopter pilot; Rep. Elissa Slotkin of Michigan, a former CIA analyst; and Rep. Abigail Spanberger of Virginia, a former CIA officer, signed the column published in The Washington Post and described the recent White House scandal as an "unprecedented allegations against President Trump."

Following the whistleblower's complaint, which The Post reported centered around phone call where Trump made a "promise" to a foreign leader. The Post later reported that the phone call revolved around Ukraine.

Hunter was previously a board member of Ukrainian gas extraction company Burisma Holdings. Trump and his allies alleged without evidence that Biden attempted to stonewall an investigation into the company by forcing Ukrainian officials to fire the prosecutor leading the investigation in 2016.

A separate Washington Post story published Monday reported that Trump had temporarily withheld nearly $400 million in military aid to Ukraine prior to his July phone call he had with its newly elected president, Volodymyr Zelensky.

J. Scott Applewhite, File/AP

Rep. Jason Crow of Colorado.

Read more: 'You remain a frickin' coward': Trump taunting a 2020 Democratic candidate and retired Marine isn't a laughing matter for some veterans

Trump on Monday denied suggestions that he told the Ukrainians that the funds were conditioned upon investigating Biden, but appeared to admit that he mentioned Biden during that particular phone call.

"The conversation I had was largely congratulatory, it was largely corruption, all of the corruption taking place," Trump said of the phone call. "It was largely the fact that we don't want our people, like Vice President Biden and his son, creating to the corruption already in the Ukraine."

The seven Democrats wrote that, if proven true, Trump's alleged attempts to exert his political influence, if proven true, crossed the line and was considered an "impeachable offense."

"Our lives have been defined by national service," the Democrats said in the column. "We are not career politicians."

"We have devoted our lives to the service and security of our country, and throughout our careers, we have sworn oaths to defend the Constitution of the United States many times over," they added. "Now, we join as a unified group to uphold that oath as we enter uncharted waters and face unprecedented allegations against President Trump."

The seven Democrats said they did not "arrive at this conclusion lightly" and urged their colleagues "to consider the use of all congressional authorities available ... to address these new allegations, find the truth and protect our national security."

"These new allegations are a threat to all we have sworn to protect," they wrote. "We must preserve the checks and balances envisioned by the Founders and restore the trust of the American people in our government. And that is what we intend to do."

Calls for House Democrats to begin formal investigative proceedings on impeachment have intensified. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is expected to convene several meetings on Tuesday to discuss whether the party will issue a formal condemnation against Trump's actions.

Pelosi, who read the opinion column during her flight from New York to Washington, DC, on Monday, declined to say whether she would back an impeachment inquiry but added "we will have no choice," according to CNN.