House Democrats Tuesday began grappling with a divided caucus still seeking a path to impeach President Trump after the summary of a report by special counsel Robert Mueller appeared to clear President Trump of colluding with the Russians to win the election in 2016.
Democratic leaders told rank-and-file lawmakers Tuesday to focus on healthcare, the economy, and “kitchen table” issues in a morning meeting in the Capitol basement.
“We must, with all that is going on, stay focused on our purpose: ‘For The People,'” Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., told lawmakers, according to a source in the room. “Lower healthcare costs, bigger paychecks, and cleaner government. And thank you to the Caucus for staying focused in that way.”
But others in the caucus remained focused on the Mueller investigation into Trump’s alleged collusion with the Russians in the 2016 election.
Rep. Rashida Tlaib, D-Mich., circulated a letter to Democrats asking them to sign on to a new impeachment push. She also plans to seek a vote on a new impeachment resolution she introduced earlier this month. Tlaib briefed lawmakers on the impeachment plan in Tuesday’s caucus meeting.
The House Judiciary Committee has launched a much broader investigation of President Trump that goes beyond Russia collusion that Democrats believe could lead to impeachment.
“I’ve said consistently I’m supporting the investigations that we are doing and that is where my focus is,” Rep. Pramila Jaypal, D-Wash., told the Washington Examiner Tuesday.
Democratic leaders, meanwhile, are telling the caucus to move on from impeachment, even as they are demanding the release of the full Mueller report, which remains cloaked in secrecy while Attorney General William Barr decides what can be provided to Congress and the public.
“We didn’t run on impeachment, we didn’t win the House of Representatives on impeachment, and we are not focused on impeachment,” Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, N.Y., a member of the Democratic leadership. “House Democrats are focused on kitchen table, pocketbook issues involving lower healthcare costs and increased pay for everyday Americans.”
[Related: Democrats give DOJ one-week ultimatum to hand over Mueller’s report and underlying documents]
But plenty of Democrats are still seeking a path to impeach Trump, too, or at least dig further into the collusion theory that the Mueller report rejected.
House Financial Services Committee Chairwoman Maxine Waters, D-Calif., told reporters she is waiting to read the Mueller report.
House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff, D-Calif., told the Washington Examiner he will seek a way to compel Barr to turn over the Mueller report if he does not do so voluntarily by next month.
“We’ll have to discuss what form of compulsion is necessary,” Schiff told the Washington Examiner. “It will be a decision for the leadership. The American people have every right to see that report so that we don’t have to rely on what may be a very colored summary by the attorney general.”
House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, D-Md., told reporters Tuesday the House has been simultaneously working on its “For the People” agenda and conducting oversight of the Trump administration.
The Mueller report doesn’t change that, he said.
“This does not require a pivot,” Hoyer told reporters.
Democrats won back the House by campaigning on healthcare reform, the economy, and other issues the party is tackling in House legislation. But they also promised to put a check on the Trump administration they frequently criticize.
“At the same time, we campaigned on being opposed to corruption and unethical behavior,” Hoyer said.
