 "Donald Trump deserves impeachment but no decision made yet, says Nadler")
President Donald Trump deserves to be impeached, but the House Judiciary Committee is still investigating to determine whether to report resolutions to the full House, the panel’s chairman said.
“He richly deserves impeachment. He has done many impeachable offenses. He’s violated the law six ways from Sunday,” Representative Jerrold Nadler of New York said on CNN’s “State of the Union,” one of two TV appearances on Sunday. “The question is: can we develop enough evidence to put before the American people? We’ve broken the logjam.”
Nadler spoke after former Special Counsel Robert Mueller testified July 24 before Nadler’s committee and the House Intelligence panel about his report on Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election, the Trump campaign’s willingness to accept help from Russia, and possible obstruction of justice by the president or his aides.
On Friday, House Democrats took a significant step toward opening an impeachment inquiry as the Judiciary Committee asked a federal court to force the release of grand jury information from Mueller’s investigation.
Still Investigating
Pressed on ABC’s “This Week” whether House Democrats are already pursuing a case, given his panel’s consideration of impeachment resolutions, Nadler repeated that the committee is still investigating whether to report those to the House or draft its own for the full body to consider. Speaker Nancy Pelosi has repeatedly said she wants to have the strongest possible case before pursuing impeachment proceedings.
Despite questions about whether Mueller’s appearance advanced the case for impeachment, Nadler defended calling him to testify because it “broke the lie” that Trump and Attorney General William Barr have repeated that the report showed no collusion or obstruction by Trump and completely exonerated the president.
“The hearing the other day was an inflection point because it showed quite clearly that the report did not exonerate the president,” Nadler said on CNN.
Asked whether Trump should be prosecuted after he leaves office, Nadler said that “anyone else who had done what he did would have been indicted for at least five different major crimes.”
‘Chilling’ Testimony
Anyone who’s immune from prosecution by virtue of being a sitting president “should be prosecuted” after leaving office, he said, “or at least impeached and removed from office if you can prove those crimes.”
House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff of California said on NBC’s “Meet the Press” that Mueller’s testimony had been “chilling.” There may be a point in a few months where “we decide, ‘Look, he is violating a different provision in the Constitution by obstructing the Congress in its lawful and constitutional duty,’” Schiff said.
Still, Schiff said there’s “no simple answer” to impeachment, and that he worries “about taking impeachment case to trial, losing that case, having the president acquitted and having an adjudication that this conduct is not impeachable.”
A trial would be held in the Republican-controlled Senate if the House passes articles of impeachment.
Mick Mulvaney, acting White House chief of staff, said on CBS’s “Face the Nation” on Sunday that the impeachment inquiry “is going nowhere.”
Trump also weighed in on Saturday, saying Mueller, the former FBI director, had demonstrated “ineptitude & incompetence” in his long-awaited testimony.
“He richly deserves impeachment. He has done many impeachable offenses. He’s violated the law six ways from Sunday,” Representative Jerrold Nadler of New York said on CNN’s “State of the Union,” one of two TV appearances on Sunday. “The question is: can we develop enough evidence to put before the American people? We’ve broken the logjam.”
Nadler spoke after former Special Counsel Robert Mueller testified July 24 before Nadler’s committee and the House Intelligence panel about his report on Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election, the Trump campaign’s willingness to accept help from Russia, and possible obstruction of justice by the president or his aides.
On Friday, House Democrats took a significant step toward opening an impeachment inquiry as the Judiciary Committee asked a federal court to force the release of grand jury information from Mueller’s investigation.
Still Investigating
Pressed on ABC’s “This Week” whether House Democrats are already pursuing a case, given his panel’s consideration of impeachment resolutions, Nadler repeated that the committee is still investigating whether to report those to the House or draft its own for the full body to consider. Speaker Nancy Pelosi has repeatedly said she wants to have the strongest possible case before pursuing impeachment proceedings.
Despite questions about whether Mueller’s appearance advanced the case for impeachment, Nadler defended calling him to testify because it “broke the lie” that Trump and Attorney General William Barr have repeated that the report showed no collusion or obstruction by Trump and completely exonerated the president.
“The hearing the other day was an inflection point because it showed quite clearly that the report did not exonerate the president,” Nadler said on CNN.
Asked whether Trump should be prosecuted after he leaves office, Nadler said that “anyone else who had done what he did would have been indicted for at least five different major crimes.”
‘Chilling’ Testimony
Anyone who’s immune from prosecution by virtue of being a sitting president “should be prosecuted” after leaving office, he said, “or at least impeached and removed from office if you can prove those crimes.”
House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff of California said on NBC’s “Meet the Press” that Mueller’s testimony had been “chilling.” There may be a point in a few months where “we decide, ‘Look, he is violating a different provision in the Constitution by obstructing the Congress in its lawful and constitutional duty,’” Schiff said.
Still, Schiff said there’s “no simple answer” to impeachment, and that he worries “about taking impeachment case to trial, losing that case, having the president acquitted and having an adjudication that this conduct is not impeachable.”
A trial would be held in the Republican-controlled Senate if the House passes articles of impeachment.
Mick Mulvaney, acting White House chief of staff, said on CBS’s “Face the Nation” on Sunday that the impeachment inquiry “is going nowhere.”
Trump also weighed in on Saturday, saying Mueller, the former FBI director, had demonstrated “ineptitude & incompetence” in his long-awaited testimony.
One subscription. Two world-class reads.
Already subscribed? Log in
Subscribe to read the full story →*Subscribe to Business Standard digital and get complimentary access to The New York Times
Smart Quarterly
₹900
3 Months
₹300/Month
SAVE 25%
Smart Essential
₹2,700
1 Year
₹225/Month
SAVE 46%
*Complimentary New York Times access for the 2nd year will be given after 12 months
Super Saver
₹3,900
2 Years
₹162/Month
Subscribe
Renews automatically, cancel anytime
Here’s what’s included in our digital subscription plans
Exclusive premium stories online
Over 30 premium stories daily, handpicked by our editors
Complimentary Access to The New York Times
News, Games, Cooking, Audio, Wirecutter & The Athletic
Business Standard Epaper
Digital replica of our daily newspaper — with options to read, save, and share
Curated Newsletters
Insights on markets, finance, politics, tech, and more delivered to your inbox
Market Analysis & Investment Insights
In-depth market analysis & insights with access to The Smart Investor
Archives
Repository of articles and publications dating back to 1997
Ad-free Reading
Uninterrupted reading experience with no advertisements
Seamless Access Across All Devices
Access Business Standard across devices — mobile, tablet, or PC, via web or app
SAVE 25%