Pelosi Rebuffs Nadler On Impeachment After Mueller Flop

(Politico) JOHN BRESNAHAN HEATHER CAYGLE and KYLE CHENEY 07/24/2019 08:08 PM House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerry Nadler pushed to launch impeachment proceedings against President Donald Trump during a closed-door meeting Wednesday only to be rebuffed by Speaker Nancy Pelosi according to four sources familiar with the discussions. At a caucus meeting following the hotly anticipated testimony of special counsel Robert Mueller Nadler suggested that several House committee chairs could begin drafting articles of impeachment against Trump. Pelosi called the idea premature said the sources. Muellers appearance was a disappointment to many Democrats as the former FBI director stumbled at times even seeming unsure of the contents of his 448-page report on Russian election interference and Trumps efforts to obstruct the investigation. Pelosi convened the Democratic caucus following Muellers appearance before the Judiciary and Intelligence panels. A lengthy animated discussion about the impeachment process followed. Sources said rank-and-file lawmakers asked about the technical aspects of an impeachment inquiry including whether it would require a full vote of the House or could be initiated by the Judiciary Committee. Nadler indicated that the committee could launch proceedings on its own. Articles filed by Rep. Brad Sherman (D-Calif.) at the outset of this Congress have already been referred to the panel giving Democrats a vehicle to begin the hugely controversial proceedings. The technical discussion also included a question about how an impeachment case is presented to the Senate.