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Harris advises Democrats against attempting to impeach Trump
Developed over time first seen 2 weeks ago
Former US vice-president Kamala Harris has advised Democrats against trying to impeach President Donald Trump if they gain control of Congress. Asked about the party’s priorities in an interview with Aaron Parnas on 27 October, Harris said an impeachment effort would draw on limited time and resources. She urged Democrats to focus on investigations and holding the administration accountable instead. Recalling her time in the Senate during an earlier Trump impeachment, she said the votes needed to convict him were not there.
Harris also called on Democrats to use any new congressional power to deliver results, including action on Medicaid cuts and checks on the war with Iran. Her remarks add to a debate within the party ahead of the midterm elections over how it should respond to Trump if it wins a majority. They do not rule out scrutiny of his administration: Harris’s argument was that investigations and legislation would be a more effective use of Congress’s time than another impeachment attempt. Trump was impeached twice during his first term and acquitted by the Senate both times.
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In short
- Harris advised Democrats against another Trump impeachment attempt.
- She urged them to prioritise investigations, accountability and legislation.
- She said the Senate votes needed to convict Trump were lacking.
How this story developed
- 2 weeks ago Former US vice-president Kamala Harris has advised Democrats against trying to impeach President Donald Trump if they gain control of Congress.
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The case for
Democrats who favour impeachment could argue that if Trump has committed serious abuses of office, Congress has a constitutional duty to respond, even when conviction is unlikely. A formal process can establish a public record, signal that such conduct has consequences and meet the expectations of voters seeking a forceful response.
The case against
Those who oppose another impeachment effort could argue that it would consume scarce congressional time while a Senate conviction remains improbable, as in Trump’s earlier trials. Investigations, oversight and legislation may deliver more immediate results on issues such as Medicaid and the war with Iran, while still holding the administration to account.
Explained simply
In the United States, Congress makes federal laws and oversees the president and the executive branch. The House of Representatives can impeach a president, but removal from office requires a two-thirds vote in the Senate.
Donald Trump was impeached twice during his first presidency, and the Senate acquitted him both times. Kamala Harris, a Democrat, served in the Senate before becoming vice-president, so she took part in one of those impeachment trials.
Democrats are weighing how to use Congress if they win control of either chamber in the midterm elections. Their choices include investigating the administration, passing legislation and pursuing impeachment; each uses political time and support in different ways.
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