Democrats in the House a little closer to dismissal: NPR

If the Democrats in the House finally initiate impeachment proceedings against President Trump, we will remember last week as a turning point.

President Trump's decision to invoke the executive's privilege over the full report of special advocate Robert Mueller incites skeptics to challenge him, as the representative Emanuel Cleaver, D-Mo. , To reconsider.

"I have to be honest with you, I already said that I would be the last person to oppose the impeachment, and now I'm squatting," Cleaver told NPR.

While some Democrats hope that the Judicial Committee's decision to convict Attorney General William Barr will force the government to return to the negotiating table, White House spokeswoman Sarah Sanders assured that the President would not give up his claim of executive privilege over the Mueller report. "This is very much in line with this precedent and the president's right to enforce the law," Sanders told reporters last week.

The apparent hard line of administration on this issue gives a new urgency to the impeachment procedure. "I think you have to consider impeachment as a mechanism to get what we want," said Raul Grijalva, D-Ariz.

More and more Democrats agree that opening an impeachment procedure may be an option if it is not only to remove Trump from his duties. . Representative Bill Pascrell, DN.J., said that it was also a formal court proceeding, which could help Democrats better protect the testimony, documents and cooperation of the administration continues to overshadow congressional control.

"I think there are more people who consider impeachment not as a way of naming the president, but as a process to start reviewing what we know should be reviewed," Pascrell told NPR.

President Nancy Pelosi, while describing the constitutional crisis, continues to advocate a cautious approach. "Indictment is one of the most controversial things you do – divide a country – unless you have really defended your case with great clarity for the American people," he said. she said.

Most Democrats are reluctant to publicly demand removal, but no one excludes it. "I think dismissal is still on the table, I still think it's a tool in the toolbox, but one of those you use when you're short of options "she said.

On the political front, Democrats have been wary of the fact that the outbreak of impeachment proceedings could ultimately benefit President Trump, who has long claimed to be the victim of a political "witch hunt".

Representative Steve Cohen, D-Tenn., Does not share this hesitation. "I understand that the big picture wins in 2020, and I do not really understand the calculation about not proceeding with the dismissal," he said. Deserves that."

Liberal activists are in agreement. A group gathered in front of the US Capitol on Thursday to hand over 10 million petition signatures calling for pressure on the House for it to begin an impeachment procedure. Representatives Rashida Tlaib, D-Mich., And Al Green, D-Texas, both drafted resolutions on dismissal and addressed the crowd.

"I say we have a duty, a responsibility and an obligation under the United States Constitution of America," he said. "We must attack, let the Senate do what it can, we must owe us!"

The week has had a negative impact on the Democrats in many ways. Representative Jaime Raskin, D-MD, a member of the Judiciary Committee and a strong critic of the administration, had a broken blood vessel in the left eye at the end of the week. "They are not sure of the cause," he said, when asked if it was due to stress. "It's just a difficult time for everyone."