Rep. Nancy Pelosi, who is expected to become the new Speaker of the House on Thursday, would not rule out impeaching President Trump and said she believes a sitting president could be indicted despite Justice Department guidance against it.
In a sit-down interview with NBC’s Today Show, which aired Thursday, the California Democrat was asked whether the House, under her leadership, will pursue impeachment against the president or whether it’s something her party should shy away from.
“We have to wait and see what happens with the Mueller report,” Ms. Pelosi said, referencing Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s probe into Russian interference in the 2016 election.
“We shouldn’t be impeaching for a political reason and we shouldn’t avoid impeachment for a political reason. We just have to see how it comes,” she added.
Ms. Pelosi also said the Justice Department’s guidance that says a sitting president can’t be indicted is not “conclusive,” suggesting she thinks Mr. Trump could potentially face an indictment while in office pending the outcome of Mr. Mueller’s investigation.
Ms. Pelosi has been leading Democratic opposition to the president’s demand for $5 billion for his border wall, which he is demanding in part of the government funding bill.
After refusing to compromise with the president on the wall money, lawmakers — including Ms. Pelosi — left Washington for the holidays ahead of Christmas, causing the government to partially shutdown. Ms. Pelosi was spotted vacationing in Hawaii, while the president stayed in the White House, calling for Democrats to return to finish negotiations.
“I observed the Christmas holiday for a few days in Hawaii,” Ms. Pelosi told NBC. “We all stood ready.”
“Hawaii is part of the United States of America. Maybe he doesn’t realize that,” she said of the president. “I don’t know if the president observed the Christmas holiday, do you?”
• Alex Swoyer can be reached at aswoyer@washingtontimes.com.
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