House Democrats face new furor over Trump impeachment

• But the Democrats' grassroots base is putting pressure on lawmakers to pursue a campaign of maximal opposition to Trump.

State of play: The debate is resurfacing again this month as Democrats prepare to elect a new House Oversight Committee ranking member, with candidates for the key investigative role divided on the issue.

• Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-Texas), asked in a local news interview if she would pursue impeachment if Democrats retook the House in 2026 and she became Oversight Committee chair, said she would "absolutely at least do an inquiry."
• But the other three candidates for the role, Reps. Robert Garcia (D-Calif.), Stephen Lynch (D-Mass.) and Kweisi Mfume (D-Md.), told Axios they wouldn't go that far.

Between the lines: Crockett told Axios the term "impeachment inquiry" would stress to the public the "next level of gravity" of the subject matter — such as his pardons for big money allies and the Qatari jet scandal.

• She said she wouldn't seek a vote to formalize her inquiry as Republicans did in 2023 or follow the lead of Reps. Shri Thanedar (D-Mich.) and Al Green (D-Texas) in trying to hold a vote on actually impeaching Trump.
• "People may be getting a little shaky on my language, but from a procedural standpoint it is not my intention to do anything that would require a vote," she said — instead pointing to the "extra special powers that you get from a formal impeachment inquiry."
• Republicans' primary reasoning for opening an impeachment inquiry was to give Congress better standing in court battles to enforce subpoenas.

Crockett also argued that Republicans calling their investigation into the Biden family's finances an impeachment inquiry "worked for them" even though it never led to an actual impeachment vote.

• "A lot of times we as Democrats can overthink stuff," Crockett said. "A lot of people ... felt like [Oversight Committee chair] James Comer was an embarrassment. But at the end of the day, who won the House?"

The other side: Garcia told Axios opening such an inquiry would be a "caucus-wide decision" and that Democrats "should take our cues from leadership."

• Said Lynch: "I think each of us in our districts has a certain number of 'impeachment now' advocates, and I understand that frustration ... but you have to temper that with reality and thoughtful process."
• Mfume said there are "inquiries that are not necessarily tied to impeachment that have to be carried out and carried through."

What we're hearing: "Turning this ranker race into a proxy for impeachment is unhelpful and unfair to her colleagues," said one House Democrat, who predicted Republicans will "try to motivate their base by saying that a Democratic majority will inevitably lead to impeachment."

• Said a senior House progressive: "That probably wouldn't be popular. People don't really want to have those conversations publicly right now."
• "I think she's going to turn off a lot more people than gain ... that's not what members look for," said a third House Democrat.
• A fourth told Axios: "I think it will definitely be an issue for her. Just look at what happened with Thanedar."

Yes, but: There is a crop of younger, more grassroots-oriented Democrats who believe an impeachment inquiry may be warranted. Whether it's a large enough bloc to get Crockett elected is another question.

• "One could argue that we do need to open up an inquiry into all the corruption that's going on, so maybe it makes sense for that to umbrella under an impeachment inquiry," Rep. Maxwell Frost (D-Fla.) said.
• Rep. Don Beyer (D-Va.), who is supporting Garcia, said there are "probably some members who will go to her because of that" — though he added "personally, I don't think it's time to do impeachment."

The bottom line: "This probably isn't the right thing to say, but I don't know that I would be right for my caucus if my caucus thinks we would be better if we didn't delve into these things," Crockett told Axios.

• As for the precise wording, the Texan suggested she is more flexible.
• "Ultimately, for some reason, if we receive some information that that particular language is harmful, then I wouldn't use it," she said.