Most House Democrats Now Support Impeachment Inquiry

118 members are on the record now
By Bob Cronin,  Newser Staff
Posted Aug 2, 2019 1:40 PM CDT
Balance Tips: House Democrats Mostly Back Impeachment Step
Speaker Nancy Pelosi and other House Democrats arrive for a news conference last week.   (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)

Speaker Nancy Pelosi is not among them, but most House Democrats now want to launch an inquiry into impeaching President Trump. Rep. Salud Carbajal of California tipped the balance Friday, NBC News reports, saying Trump's actions are criminal, as he "evaded truth, encouraged his staff to lie repeatedly to investigators, and engaged in obstruction." That makes it 118 of the 235 Democrats in the House who've put their support of an impeachment inquiry on the record. At least 23 of the Democrats in favor have switched since special counsel Robert Mueller testified last week before House committees, per CNN. An inquiry would fall under the Judiciary Committee, where, by NBC's count, 16 of 24 Democrats support the idea.

Pelosi hasn't embraced moving toward impeachment, before or after Mueller's testimony. She's encouraged investigations and in effect told members they should do what they need to do. But Pelosi has suggested the results won't necessarily change her position, per the Washington Post. "I'm willing to take whatever heat there is," she said. In a Post-ABC News poll last month, 59% of Americans opposed beginning an impeachment inquiry, while 37% backed it. (More Trump impeachment stories.)

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