Dec 6, 2019

House Democrat plans to oppose articles of impeachment

Jeff Van Drew. Photo: Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call via Getty Images

Rep. Jeff Van Drew (D-N.J.), one of the two House members who voted against the resolution establishing impeachment procedures in October, told The Hill he will oppose the forthcoming articles of impeachment against President Trump.

The big picture: Van Drew’s opposition goes against the majority of House Democrats. His district was held by the GOP prior to 2018. "I'll look at new information that's presented. I'll always have an open mind. But where I am now is where I was before," Van Drew said.

Go deeper: More than 500 professors say Trump "engaged in impeachable conduct"

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Orion Rummler

Rep. Jeff Van Drew expected to switch parties, become Republican

Rep. Jeff Van Drew in the Capitol on Dec. 4. Photo: Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images

New Jersey Rep. Jeff Van Drew, a moderate freshman Democrat who said he plans to oppose articles of impeachment against President Trump, is expected to flip parties and become a Republican, a White House official briefed on the matter tells Axios' Jonathan Swan.

The big picture: Van Drew has voted against Trump on nearly all issues except impeachment, according to data gathered by FiveThirtyEight. The congressman did side with the president when the House voted to hold Attorney General William Barr and Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross in criminal contempt of Congress over the failed 2020 Census citizenship question. Van Drew represents a congressional district that Trump won by nearly five points in the 2016 election.

Go deeper: House Democrat plans to oppose articles of impeachment

Keep ReadingDec 14, 2019

Rashaan Ayesh

More than 500 professors say Trump "engaged in impeachable conduct"

President Trump. Photo: Mandel Ngan NGAN/AFP/Getty Images

More than 500 legal scholars and law professors signed a letter saying President Trump has "engaged in impeachable conduct," and that lawmakers would be well within their rights to pursue impeachment.

Why it matters: The academics said the evidence surrounding the impeachment inquiry shows that Trump betrayed the oath "to help him distort an American election, for his personal and political benefit" at the expense of American national security interests.

Go deeperDec 6, 2019

Jonathan Swan, Alayna Treene

Scoop: House Dems attend Trump's holiday party amid impeachment

President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump greet guests at the Congressional Ball at the White House. (Photo: Mark Wilson/Getty Images)

Half a dozen House Democrats attended the White House Congressional Ball last night while their colleagues on the Judiciary Committee worked late into the night on articles of impeachment, according to two sources familiar with the event.

Why it matters: If you're looking for clues about which House Democrats might vote against impeaching President Trump next week, one tempting place to start is with those who chose to be Trump's guests at the annual ball — but that doesn't mean the two lists will totally overlap.

Go deeperDec 13, 2019