House Judiciary Democrat backs impeachment inquiry

Rep. Mary Gay Scanlon (D-Pa.), the vice chairwoman of the House Judiciary Committee, called for an impeachment inquiry into President Trump on Tuesday, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer.

“The President’s refusal to produce evidence or permit witness testimony defies not only the rule of law but the basic protections of our Constitution,” Scanlon said Tuesday in a statement. “No one is above the rule of law. The time has come to start an impeachment inquiry because the American people deserve to know the truth and to have the opportunity to judge the gravity of the evidence and charges leveled against the President.”

{mosads}An inquiry, distinct from actual impeachment, would involve a formal House investigation into potential impeachment charges, with the House potentially voting to impeach if a majority believes it is warranted.

Scanlon’s comments reflect a heightening debate between leaders in the Democratic House. Last night, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and her allies in House leadership reportedly sparred with other leaders including Reps. David Cicciline (D-R.I.) and Jamie Raskin (D-Md.) about the wisdom or necessity of impeachment proceedings. Pelosi reportedly argued in favor of allowing the various House investigations into Trump and the White House to take their course.

Raskin, Scanlon’s colleague on the Judiciary committee, told The Washington Post Tuesday that “most of us have been led to the position that an impeachment inquiry is warranted,” citing the White House’s repeated defiance of House subpoenas, most recently by former White House counsel Don McGahn Tuesday.

Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerrold Nadler (D-N.Y.) has also reportedly recommended an impeachment inquiry to Pelosi, but after she rebuffed the idea and said it could undermine other House investigations, expressed agreement with Pelosi’s position.