Freshman Democrats are leading the charge on impeachment talks following the release of special counsel Robert Mueller’s redacted report on Russian interference in the 2016 U.S. election.
The response is in contrast with high-ranking Democrats in the House, who quickly pumped the brakes on any talk of impeaching President Donald Trump after the report was made public Thursday. Mueller’s report detailed at least 10 instances in which the president acted to interfere with the special counsel’s investigation.
Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-MI), who earlier this year was criticized for telling supporters she would “impeach the motherfucker,” referring to Trump, tweeted Thursday evening that it was “#TimeToImpeach,” noting she introduced a resolution to start the process last month.
“The first step? The House Judiciary Committee launching an investigation into whether Trump committed impeachable offenses,” she wrote.
Last month, I introduced a resolution calling on them to do just that, which I was honored to have @RepAlGreen support. Read more about it below. #InvestigateNow https://t.co/93y0SLYIbT
— Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib (@RepRashida) April 18, 2019
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) confirmed she would be adding her name to Tlaib’s impeachment resolution, saying Mueller’s “report squarely puts this on our doorstep.”
“Mueller’s report is clear in pointing to Congress’ responsibility in investigating obstruction of justice by the President,” she wrote. “It is our job as outlined in Article 1, Sec 2, Clause 5 of the US Constitution.”
While I understand the political reality of the Senate + election considerations, upon reading this DoJ report, which explicitly names Congress in determining obstruction, I cannot see a reason for us to abdicate from our constitutionally mandated responsibility to investigate.
— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) April 18, 2019
Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN) also shared her support for Tlaib’s effort, tweeting “Impeachment is part of our constitutional responsibility.”
Impeachment is part of our constitutional responsibility. We have an obligation to investigate whether the President committed impeachable offenses, including:
-Obstruction of justice
-Violating the Emoluments Clause
-Collusion
-Abuse of power https://t.co/Sq907gs7eF— Ilhan Omar (@IlhanMN) April 18, 2019
Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley of Massachusetts used Tlaib’s hashtag, “#TimeToImpeach,” calling on Mueller to testify before Congress.
— Rep Ayanna Pressley (@RepPressley) April 18, 2019
Though Rep. Katie Hill (D-CA) indicated she would want to read the entire report and hear from constituents before deciding how to move forward, the California Democrat referenced a line from Mueller’s findings.
“If there was any question on whether or not our job on Oversight was necessary, it was answered by the President of the United States saying, “This is the end of my Presidency. I’m f——d,” when an impartial investigator started looking into his conduct,” she tweeted.
If there was any question on whether or not our job on Oversight was necessary, it was answered by the President of the United States saying, “This is the end of my Presidency. I’m f——d,” when an impartial investigator started looking into his conduct.
— Rep. Katie Hill (@RepKatieHill) April 18, 2019
By contrast, House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-MD) told CNN Thursday that “impeachment is not worthwhile at this point” because “there is an election in 18 months and the American people will make a judgment.”
Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA), the chairman of the powerful House Intelligence Committee, indicated he wouldn’t support a motion to impeach Trump “barring a bipartisan consensus,” claiming “you don’t bring a case if you don’t think you’re going to be successful just to try the case.”
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), who said that impeaching Trump was “just not worth it” during an interview last month, has scheduled a Monday conference call with House Democrats, telling colleagues that “Congress will not be silent” in the wake of Mueller’s report.