House Democrats are preparing to take 1 more step toward impeaching Trump


The House Judiciary Committee will vote Thursday on new procedures designed to expedite an ongoing investigation that could result in articles of impeachment being filed against President Trump. Thursday's resolution, if passed, will allow Chairman Jarrold Nadler (D-N.Y.) to designate special impeachment-repeated hearings in which committee lawyers can question witnesses for an extra hour, the committee could accept secret evidence in closed-doors hearings, and Trump and the White House can respond to the evidence in writing.
"The procedures change has precedent from previous impeachment probes and will more clearly define where the committee stands on its investigation," NPR News reports. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) is still publicly opposed to impeachment, arguing that the public isn't there yet, but aides say she support's Nadler's de facto impeachment inquiry. Judiciary Committee Democrats, meanwhile, are shifting the focus of their investigation from just obstruction of justice, as outlined in Special Counsel Robert Mueller's report, to corruption more generally.
"There are so many things to look at," committee member Rep. Mary Gay Scanlon (D-Pa.) told MSNBC's Rachel Maddow on Monday night. "Personally, I have been trying to focus on the things that were outlined by the authors of our Constitution, and it was things like misuse of pardons, bribery or corruption in an election, being under the sway of a foreign government, profiting off your public position."
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
"People generally understand the kind of corruption he's being accused of now better than they do arcane terms like obstruction of justice," Rep. Dan Kildee (D-Mich.) told Politico. Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.) agreed: "People understand what it means for the president to be spending millions of dollars in federal government tax dollars at his own business properties."
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.
-
How is the Trump bill changing 529 plans?
The Explainer The new bill provides a boost for people pursuing trades and vocational careers or seeking professional licenses and certifications
-
Destination unknown: the exciting ins and outs of mystery travel
The Week Recommends Surprise yourself the next time you vacation
-
'It feels less like advertising and more like brainwashing'
Instant Opinion
-
Samsung to make Tesla chips in $16.5B deal
Speed Read Tesla has signed a deal to get its next-generation chips from Samsung
-
FCC greenlights $8B Paramount-Skydance merger
Speed Read The Federal Communications Commission will allow Paramount to merge with the Hollywood studio Skydance
-
Tesla reports plummeting profits
Speed Read The company may soon face more problems with the expiration of federal electric vehicle tax credits
-
Dollar faces historic slump as stocks hit new high
Speed Read While stocks have recovered post-Trump tariffs, the dollar has weakened more than 10% this year
-
Economists fear US inflation data less reliable
speed read The Labor Department is collecting less data for its consumer price index due to staffing shortages
-
Crypto firm Coinbase hacked, faces SEC scrutiny
Speed Read The Securities and Exchange Commission has also been investigating whether Coinbase misstated its user numbers in past disclosures
-
Starbucks baristas strike over dress code
speed read The new uniform 'puts the burden on baristas' to buy new clothes, said a Starbucks Workers United union delegate
-
Warren Buffet announces surprise retirement
speed read At the annual meeting of Berkshire Hathaway, the billionaire investor named Vice Chairman Greg Abel his replacement