WASHINGTON (AP) - The threat of impeachment hangs over the White House, but it also vexes House Democrats wary of taking next steps against President Donald Trump[1] without broader public support.
Leading Democrats provided a snapshot Sunday of the party wrestling with the impeachment questions posed by special counsel Robert Mueller[2]’s findings in the Russia[3] investigation. One top leader, Rep. Jim Clyburn of South Carolina, the Democratic whip, said the president may well face an impeachment inquiry in the House. Another, Rep. Adam Schiff of California suggested it’s not likely soon, if at all.
“We’re not there yet,” Schiff said on ABC’s “This Week.”
Speaker Nancy Pelosi has stopped short of pursuing an impeachment inquiry against Trump[4] despite an increasing number of lawmakers, including some 2020 presidential contenders , clamoring to do so. She’s wary of embarking on a politically divisive debate that she worries would all but drown out the House’s policy agenda and campaign promises. Lawmakers heard mixed views during a recess week back home and Pelosi faced those favoring impeachment during the weekend California Democrats’ party meeting.
Instead, six House committees are probing deeply into Trump[5]’s business dealings, his running of the government and whether or not the president obstructed Mueller[6]’s investigation.
“What I have said time and time again is, Mueller[7] has developed the grounds for impeachment. The House has to determine the timing for impeachment. There’s a big difference,” Clyburn said on CNN’s “State of the Union.”
“We are trying to take our time and do this right,” Clyburn said. “So I don’t see this as being out of whack with what the people’s aspirations are.”
Schiff, the chairman of the Intelligence Committee, signaled the House may ultimately decline to pursue impeachment.
“I think if it is a close call, close calls go against putting the country through that,” he said.
Schiff still wants
Mueller[8] to testify, saying he has a “final duty” to appear before Congress, even though the special counsel indicated in a rare public statement last week he would prefer to simply have the report speak for itself.“It’s my hope that he will do so, and it’s my hope that he will do so voluntarily,” Schiff said. He did not indicate whether the House would try to compel
Mueller[9]’s testimony with a subpoena.The House is poised to hold Attorney General William Barr in contempt for failing to comply with a subpoena for a fully unredacted version of ...
Mueller[10]’s report. Barr has separately been given new authority by Trump[11] to disclose documents and information on the origin of the Russia[12] probe, a top