Leon Panetta said Sunday that it would be a mistake for Democrats to immediately start impeachment proceedings against President Trump if they win back the House in November.
“No, not at all,” said Panetta, the former White House chief of staff for President Bill Clinton, when asked if beginning impeachment proceedings would be wise.
“I think the most important thing that the Democrats could do is to allow Bob Mueller to complete his work,” Panetta said. “I think Bob Mueller’s report will ultimately determine whether or not there are going to be additional steps taken against the president.”
“And they ought not to get ahead of that report because that will be the key to determining what happens in the future,” he added.
Some Democrats have increased their calls for impeaching Trump amid polls that show Democrats have a good chance of retaking the House in November.
Panetta also said Trump should be careful as he tries to undermine Mueller’s work, because that could end up contributing to an obstruction of justice charge against him. Trump lawyer Rudy Giuliani has said the White House is considering a report that counters Mueller’s work, and Panetta said that could end up backfiring.
“It’s very close to making a case for obstruction of justice, not only by the steps that were taken in terms of the president, the meeting, and attacking a ‘witch hunt,’ but also the fact that Rudy Giuliani himself has said that the whole purpose of their effort is to undermine the credibility of the special counsel,” Panetta said.
“Then when you add to that the dismissal of those that were involved in the investigation, I think you begin the piece together the kind of case that could form around an obstruction of justice charge,” he said. “I think they have to be very careful to use this tactic of trying to undermine the special counsel … because I think that could backfire.”
