House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said that politics are not in play as Democrats consider impeaching President Trump, and that action is being delayed because investigators continue to find more evidence to bolster their case.
“This isn’t about politics, it isn’t about partisanship, it is about patriotism,” Pelosi said at a media roundtable hosted by the Christian Science Monitor.
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Pelosi said that the current probe by House investigators goes deep. “Every day we see more, so why would we stop with a less strong case” to open impeachment hearings,” she said.
She said that hearings will commence “when we stop finding even more information,” adding, “If the goods are there, you must impeach.”
She said that hearings should come only after impeachment is guaranteed, but did warn, “The timing is now on possible impeachment.”
Explaining the internal fight on the issue, Pelosi said that “I don’t think you should have an inquiry unless you are ready to impeach.”
Proponents want hearings into allegations the administration obstructed justice in the probe of Russian interference in the 2016 election, a claim the president dismissed at his reelection kickoff Tuesday night.
While progressive Democratic members have been pressing for impeachment, Pelosi has been reluctant to move forward. She told reporters that one reason is the expected stonewalling by Republicans in the Senate, which has the job of convicting presidents impeached in the House.
She said that House Democrats must make the case for impeachment so great that Republicans in the Senate convict. In the case of former President Bill Clinton, House Republicans won impeachment but fell short in making their case in the Senate, which did not convict the Democrat.
“It is important for the American people to see the purpose on why we’re going forward,” she said. “If you are going to go down this path you have to make sure the public has an understanding of why.”
Pelosi continued her criticism of Trump and Attorney General William Barr and noted that former President Richard Nixon, like some Trump officials, refused to honor House subpoenas.
