Democratic senator calls on House to form impeachment committee

Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) said Tuesday that the House should start a committee to begin impeachment proceedings against President Trump.

“I am calling today for a House Select Committee to investigate and move forward with impeachment proceedings against the President. I reached this decision with sadness, but also anger,” Blumenthal said in a statement. 

“Congress must demand accountability,” he added. “At this moment, the threat to the rule of law and our democracy has reached a new height and requires all of us to step forward.”{mosads}

Blumenthal is the latest Senate Democrat to back impeachment proceedings, in some form, in the wake of reports that Trump and his personal lawyer Rudy Giuliani tried to pressure Ukraine to investigate former Vice President Joe Biden or his son. 

Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) also called for the House to start an impeachment inquiry over the whistleblower complaint. 

Neither Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) nor Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) have taken a position in the wake of the whistleblower complaint. 

House Democrats are expected to meet on Tuesday to discuss next steps as Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) faces growing pressure to formally start impeachment proceedings.