WASHINGTON — Democrats are largely lining up behind House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and her wait-and-see strategy on any impeachment proceedings against President Donald Trump.
Moderate and even some of the most liberal House Democrats said they were supportive of the speaker after she told The Washington Post that she’s not for impeachment, at least for now. Impeaching Trump is “just not worth it,” Pelosi said, unless there’s overwhelming support. While some in her caucus may disagree on certain points, the majority of Democrats endorsed Pelosi’s approach.
House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff said a unilateral pursuit of impeachment by Democrats would be an “exercise doomed for failure.”
“I see little to be gained by putting the country through that kind of wrenching experience,” he said at a breakfast hosted by the Christian Science Monitor.
House Oversight and Reform Committee Chairman Elijah Cummings said impeachment “has to be a bipartisan effort, and right now it’s not there.” Cummings said his sense is that “this matter will only be resolved at the polls.”
Even one of the strongest proponents of impeachment, freshman Rep. Rashida Tlaib of Michigan, said Tuesday that she is “absolutely not” disappointed in Pelosi. Tlaib, who attracted attention the day she was sworn in by using a vulgarity in calling for Trump’s removal, said the speaker has always encouraged her to represent her liberal Detroit district.
Tlaib stressed that she is going to continue to push for impeachment, but echoed Democratic leaders’ caution in first calling for a committee process that investigates Trump.
“That doesn’t mean we are voting on it, it means we are beginning the process to look at some of these alleged claims,” Tlaib said.
Democrats have launched multiple probes into Trump’s White House and personal businesses. Those investigations, led by Schiff and other House committee chairmen, are intended to keep the focus on Trump’s business dealings and relationship with Russia, no matter what comes from the investigation of special counsel Robert Mueller.
Rep. Pramila Jayapal, D-Wash., a member of the House Judiciary Committee and a leader of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, said Pelosi’s comments are “probably a reaction to everybody wanting to go to the end of an investigation when we haven’t started.”
Pelosi has long resisted impeachment as a drastic step that should only be broached with “great care.”
