Political historian Allan Lichtman said on Thursday that even though Democrats have grounds to begin an impeachment inquiry against President Trump, he argued that it shouldn’t be a political decision.
“I don’t believe that you should base impeachment upon politics,” Lichtman, an American University professor who has correctly predicted the outcome of the previous nine presidential elections, told Hill.TV.
“But in this case, there is no rift between doing what is constitutionally and morally right and what is politically right,” he added.
Lichtman said the division among Democrats over whether to pursue an impeachment inquiry against Trump shows they are struggling over doing what is right and what is “politically expedient.”
“Impeachment now is now on everyone’s lips, although I would say some like [Speaker] Nancy Pelosi [D-Calif.] would like us to zip our lips about impeachment,” he said. “Democrats seem to be struggling between doing what is right and doing what is politically expedient.”
A growing number of House Democrats have called for an impeachment inquiry following special counsel Robert Mueller’s remarks last week when he said he didn’t have the authority to charge Trump with any crimes.
Pelosi has long resisted pursuing impeachment, and Democratic leaders are pursuing other avenues, including holding Attorney General William Barr in contempt over Mueller’s report.
Additionally, House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerrold Nadler (D-N.Y.) is looking to launch public hearings on Mueller’s investigation, even though the now-former special counsel has made it clear he does not want to testify.
—Tess Bonn
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