If a majority of House Democrats do not support an impeachment inquiry by the end of the August recess, it will be time to “shut it down,” said a leading advocate to punish President Trump.
CNN’s Jake Tapper pressed Rep. Jackie Speier of California on the lack of sufficient support for impeaching Trump, given the failed effort earlier this month and the small number of Democrats who have changed their mind since the Mueller testimony.
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Citing what she argued is “compelling” evidence of conspiracy between the Trump campaign and Russia and the intent to obstruct justice, Speier said she still feels the need to take action but qualified that September would be her deadline.
Speier said there are “easily another 20 to 30 that would” support an impeachment inquiry, “given the opportunity to do so.”
She added that these members are “holding back” partly out of respect to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who has resisted impeachment because it would likely go nowhere in the GOP-led Senate.
“But I would say that after going home and spending five weeks in their constituencies, if that doesn’t motivate them to do it, I think we need to shut it down,” Speier said, adding that “frankly none of the other work we’re doing is getting any traction whatsoever.”
The House voted in mid-July against a resolution to bring articles of impeachment against Trump. Ninety-five of 235 Democrats voted against tabling it, demonstrating that about 40% of the House Democratic caucus backs impeachment.
With 30 more Democrats on board, that would bring it to roughly 53% of the caucus. However, with all Republicans voting to table Rep. Al Green’s resolution last time, it remains an uphill battle for those fighting for impeachment.
One significant hurdle for liberal Democrats to clear is convincing Pelosi to come around on impeachment. Speier said in an interview with MSNBC late Wednesday that Pelosi is “softening” on the issue.
