Top Democrat Suggests Mueller Report May Be Grounds for Impeachment

Ticker

Monika Bauerlein,
CEO

Dear Reader,

The next few months are make-or-break for Mother Jones’ fundraising, and we need more online readers to pitch in than have been of late. In "It's Not a Crisis. This Is the New Normal," we take a level-headed look at the brutal economics of journalism, why investigative reporting like you get from us matters, and why we're optimistic we can grow our base of support in a big way—starting with hitting a huge $300,000 goal in just three weeks. Please learn more and donate if you can right now.

The next few months are make-or-break for Mother Jones’ fundraising. We need to raise $300,000 quickly, and we need more online readers to pitch in than have been. Please learn more in "It's Not a Crisis. This Is the New Normal," where we go into the brutal economics of journalism, and what makes Mother Jones unique and worth supporting if you can right now.

House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerrold NadlerTom Williams/Congressional Quarterly/Newscom via ZUMA

Fight disinformation: Sign up for the free Mother Jones Daily newsletter and follow the news that matters.

The chairman of the House Judiciary Committee thinks that the possible obstruction of justice outlined in special counsel Robert Mueller’s report is grounds for the impeachment of President Donald Trump.

“If proven,” Rep. Jerry Nadler (D-N.Y.) told Meet the Press’ Chuck Todd on Sunday morning, “some of this would be impeachable. Obstruction of justice would be impeachable.”

When asked by Todd if he would go about proving it, Nadler replied, “We’re going to see where the facts take us.”

After a redacted version of the Mueller report was released on Thursday, Nadler said on Friday that he planned to subpoena a full version of the report. At the time, he did not say whether he would pursue impeachment, but left the option on the table.

Nadler is one of the highest-ranking Democrats in the House to suggest that Trump might deserve to be impeached. His new stance comes as Democrats have struggled to find consensus on whether to pursue impeachment against the president.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) has rejected calls for impeachment, but high-profile reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) and Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.) called for impeachment hearings and to investigate potential obstruction of justice.

In March, Pelosi said that pursuing impeachment would not be “worth it,” but she has dodged the question in recent days, since the release of the Mueller report. She is set to lead a meeting with House Democrats on Monday about the report and the party’s next steps.

Even if the House were to impeach Trump, the Republican-controlled Senate would be extremely unlikely to take up the case against the president. That hasn’t stopped some top Democrats in the Senate, including 2020 presidential candidate Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), from coming out for impeachment following the release of the Mueller report.

The severity of this misconduct demands that elected officials in both parties set aside political considerations and do their constitutional duty. That means the House should initiate impeachment proceedings against the President of the United States.

— Elizabeth Warren (@ewarren) April 19, 2019