Yeomans Work: Dems Can’t Ignore Impeachment

WASHINGTON, D.C., December 7, 2018 – In the latest edition of Yeomans Work, AFJ Senior Justice Fellow Bill Yeomans writes that it’s time for incoming House Democrats to think about the “I” word. Notes Yeomans: “While the new House majority must proceed carefully, the 2018 electorate, the Mueller investigation, and the economy have all signaled that the new House majority must prepare for impeachment.”

Yeomans writes that the incoming House majority will have plenty of responsibilities, in such areas as health care and strengthening the electoral system as well as investigating various transgressions of Trump and other officials. But he says that it won’t be long before the issue of impeachment becomes unavoidable.

“Democrats’ default campaign position has been that any consideration of impeachment must await the resolution of Mueller’s investigation,” Yeomans says. “That position worked well for the midterms, but it isn’t a legitimate governing strategy. First, much of Trump’s misbehavior is at or barely below the surface. As soon as the committee starts digging into issues such as Trump’s acceptance of emoluments or his obstructive firings and statements, it will have in hand powerful evidence supporting articles of impeachment. It can sit on the evidence for political reasons or it can start discussing its relevance to impeachment.”

In the end, Yeomans suggests, Trump’s fate may well be decided at the ballot box. But it’s also possible that constitutional duty will force the House to consider impeachment first, and members should not shy away from it.

Yeomans Work focuses on the challenges to the justice system in the era of Trump. Bill Yeomans is available for media interviews. Contact Laurie Kinney, Communications Director, at laurie@afj.org or 202-464-7367.