Most Americans still have questions about President Trump’s behavior in the wake of the special counsel’s report, they’re divided on whether Congress should pick up the investigation — but majority opposes impeachment.
The conflicted feelings were revealed in a new NPR/PBS NewsHour/Marist Poll, released Wednesday as Attorney General William P. Barr was testifying to Congress about special counsel Robert Mueller’s report.
“At this point, a majority of Americans (53%) do not think Congress should impeach President Donald Trump based on special counsel Robert Mueller’s report,” the poll concluded.
Another 39% did want Congress to move forward with impeachment hearings.
Republicans are overwhelmingly opposed to impeachment, 91% to 5% in favor. Among Democrats, 70% favor impeachment but 23% do not. Independents lean against impeachment, 51% to 40%.
There is a gender gap, which shows up particularly among independents, where women do want to see impeachment proceedings, but a slim majority, and men are strongly opposed.
Give a specific choice between impeachment, more investigations, a censure or letting matters drop, a plurality of 42% of those surveyed said to let it go. The next highest was more investigation, at 33%. Just 16% said to start impeachment and only 5% said a censure is warranted now.
Impeachment is also nearly a wash when it comes to swaying support for or against a member of Congress. Some 38% of those surveyed said they’d “definitely” vote for someone who backed impeachment, while 42% said they’d be sure to vote against an impeachment advocate.
• Stephen Dinan can be reached at sdinan@washingtontimes.com.
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