AOC Bashes Pelosi, Top Dems For Not Impeaching Trump

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is now, apparently, leading House Democrats.

The newcomer, who has been in Congress for five months, on Tuesday accused top Democrats of “sitting on their hands” on whether to move ahead with impeachment proceedings against President Trump.

Asked whether she is satisfied with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s stance on impeachment, Ocasio-Cortez said, “Personally, I am not.”

“I think that an impeachment inquiry is right on our doorstep,” the Democratic socialist said on CNN. “If now isn’t the time … what is the bar, what is the line that we’re waiting to be crossed for an impeachment inquiry, and so far it doesn’t seem like there is one.”

The former bartender said that currently there is no “clear boundary” on when to move forward with impeachment. With Democrats in charge in the House, Ocasio-Cortez said “it seems as though we’re kind of sitting on our hands.”

“If now isn’t the time, then I think a lot of folks would like to know, when is the time?” she said.

Trump was investigated for 675 days by Mueller and a team of 19 lawyers. Despite 2,800 subpoenas and 500 witness interviews, the counsel’s office found no evidence “that any U.S. person or Trump campaign official or associate” conspired or “knowingly coordinated” with the Russians.

But some 60 House Democrats have called for beginning an impeachment inquiry. That number means that 375 lawmakers in the House are not ready to move on impeachment. What’s more, the Senate — where any trial to decide whether to oust the president from office would take place — is controlled by Republicans, which means an convicting Trump is likely a non-starter.

Meanwhile, Pelosi is on record saying an effort to impeach Trump without Republican support would not be a good move.

“I’m not for impeachment,” Pelosi said in March. “Impeachment is so divisive to the country that unless there’s something so compelling and overwhelming and bipartisan, I don’t think we should go down that path because it divides the country. And he’s just not worth it.”

On Tuesday, Pelosi told CNN that proceeding with impeachment is “not off the table,” but added that “I don’t think you should impeach for political reasons, and I don’t think you should not impeach for political reasons.”

Pelosi has, though, accused Trump of “engaging in a cover-up” and said she wants to see Trump “in prison.”

Ocasio-Cortez has repeatedly called for impeachment.

“It is just as politicized a maneuver to not impeach in the face of overwhelming evidence as it is to impeach w/o cause,” she tweeted in May. “Congress swore an oath to uphold the Constitution. That includes impeachment. We have a duty to preserve our institutions + uphold the rule of law.”

In April, she also said: “Mueller’s report is clear in pointing to Congress’ responsibility in investigating obstruction of justice by the President. It is our job as outlined in Article 1, Sec 2, Clause 5 of the US Constitution.”

 

 

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