Wave of Washington lawmakers call for impeachment proceedings against Trump | TheHill - The Hill

A wave of lawmakers from the state of Washington on Sunday called for an impeachment inquiry againstPresident TrumpDonald John TrumpIlhan Omar defends Cummings after Trump attacks: He 'wants to distract with his racism'Donald Trump: 'The Great Divider'De Blasio: Democratic debates should address 'why did we lose and what do we do differently'MORE, making it so that nearly half of the House Democratic Caucus now supports the move.

The call from the five Washington state Democrats — Reps.Derek KilmerDerek Christian KilmerSenate committee advances 'deepfakes' legislationHouse Democrats delete tweets attacking each other, pledge to unifyBerkeley professor warns deepfake technology being 'weaponized' against womenMORE,Kim SchrierKimberly (Kim) Merle SchrierNo. 3 Senate Democrat calls for House to begin impeachment proceedings against TrumpLawmakers put spotlight on youth homelessnessDemocrats 'shooting holes in their own boat' with single-payer planMORE,Suzan DelBeneSuzan Kay DelBeneTrump unveils plan to help kidney patients in push to lower health costsDemocrats struggle with repeal of key Trump tax provisionNewDems put ideas over politics at 'NEXT' — a policy conferenceMOREandDenny HeckDennis (Denny) Lynn HeckExclusive: Guccifer 2.0 hacked memos expand on Pennsylvania House racesHeck enjoys second political windIncoming lawmaker feeling a bit overwhelmedMOREas well as Sen.Patty MurrayPatricia (Patty) Lynn MurrayAdvocates face tough path to OTC birth controlOvernight Health Care: Faith-based health clinics spurn contraceptives under Trump rule | Senate punts vote on bipartisan health costs bill | Azar calling GOP senators to back Grassley drug price planSenate will not vote on bipartisan health costs bill before leaving for AugustMORE— came four days after former special counselRobert MuellerRobert (Bob) Swan MuellerTrump calls for probe of Obama book dealDemocrats express private disappointment with Mueller testimonyKellyanne Conway: 'I'd like to know' if Mueller read his own reportMOREtestified to Congress.

Although Mueller revealed little that wasn't already included in his 448-page report on Russian interference in the 2016 election, 11 lawmakers have moved to begin supporting an impeachment inquiry since the testimony.

The investigation did not find sufficient evidence to prove conspiracy between the Trump campaign and Russia during the election, and it neither implicated nor cleared Trump on the question of obstruction of justice.

Trump touted the hearings as a success, declaring the “phony cloud” cast by the investigation had been lifted and insisted “there was no defense to this ridiculous hoax, this witch hunt.”

Over the weekend, however, he took aim at House Oversight and Reform ChairmanElijah CummingsElijah Eugene CummingsIlhan Omar defends Cummings after Trump attacks: He 'wants to distract with his racism'Tlaib: Trump's 'hate agenda' seeping into policymakingGOP rep on Trump's Cummings tweets: 'I wouldn't be tweeting this way'MORE(D-Md.), an African American lawmaker whose committee is conducting several investigations into the Trump administration. Trump's comments about Cummings and the city of Baltimore were widely condemned by Democrats as racist.

Under Cummings, the committee has voted to hold Attorney General William BarrWilliam Pelham BarrTrump campaign adviser praises Gabbard for suing Google over alleged censorshipHouse panel seeks grand jury material underlying Mueller reportBarr's talking points on the death penalty are misleadingMORE and Commerce Secretary Wilbur RossWilbur Louis RossDOJ says it won't prosecute Barr, Ross after criminal contempt voteTlaib says Trump wanted 'to distract us' with attacks on squadThe Hill's Morning Report — Trump applauds two-year budget deal with 0 billion spending hikeMORE in contempt for defying subpoenas; heard testimony from former Trump attorney Michael CohenMichael Dean CohenThe question isn't whether Trump obstructed justice, but whether Congress even caresMueller testimony draws nearly 13 million viewers, less than other high-profile hearingsMichael Cohen from prison: 'American people deserve more' from MuellerMORE; held a hearing on conditions at the southern border; and last week authorized a subpoena for official communications from senior White House advisers Ivanka TrumpIvana (Ivanka) Marie TrumpThe Hill's Morning Report — DOJ's planned executions stir new debateHouse panel approves subpoena for official White House communicationsNew York judge allows portion of lawsuit against Trump and his children to proceedMORE and Jared KushnerJared Corey KushnerDemocrats wrestle with 'tough on crime' historiesTrump slams Cummings as a 'brutal bully,' claims Baltimore district 'far worse' than southern borderDemocrats urge Graham to back down from rules change threatMORE.

It marked the second time in three weeks that Trump targeted a prominent minority Democratic lawmaker and in many ways mirrored the way his attacks on Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-CortezAlexandria Ocasio-CortezBaltimore Sun editorial board lashes out at Trump: 'Better to have a few rats than to be one'Obama says he's 'proud of' former staffers who slammed Trump for 'poisoning of our democracy' in fiery op-edBaltimore-born CNN host delivers emotional defense of city after Trump attacksMORE (D-N.Y.), Ilhan OmarIlhan OmarIlhan Omar defends Cummings after Trump attacks: He 'wants to distract with his racism'GOP rep on Trump's Cummings tweets: 'I wouldn't be tweeting this way'Baltimore Sun editorial board lashes out at Trump: 'Better to have a few rats than to be one'MORE (D-Minn.), Rashida TlaibRashida Harbi TlaibTlaib: Trump's 'hate agenda' seeping into policymakingGOP rep on Trump's Cummings tweets: 'I wouldn't be tweeting this way'Baltimore Sun editorial board lashes out at Trump: 'Better to have a few rats than to be one'MORE (D-Minn.) and Ayanna PressleyAyanna PressleyGOP rep on Trump's Cummings tweets: 'I wouldn't be tweeting this way'Baltimore Sun editorial board lashes out at Trump: 'Better to have a few rats than to be one'Obama says he's 'proud of' former staffers who slammed Trump for 'poisoning of our democracy' in fiery op-edMORE (D-Mass.) played out.

Another key committee leader, House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerrold NadlerJerrold (Jerry) Lewis NadlerWith Robert Mueller behind them, Democrats need to focus on 2020Nadler: Resolution condemning Trump's Cummings tweets 'wouldn't be a bad idea'Nadler: Mueller testimony 'broke the lie' on collusion and obstructionMORE (D-N.Y.), on Sunday said that Trump "richly deserves impeachment" but stopped short of joining a growing call for House Democrats to begin a formal inquiry.

"My personal view is that [Trump] richly deserves impeachment. He has done many impeachable offenses. He's violated the laws six ways from Sunday," Nadler said on CNN's "State of the Union."

The four Washington state representatives, who all cited Mueller's report in their statements, bring the total number of House Democrats calling for impeachment proceedings up to 103, just 15 shy of a majority of the House Democratic Caucus.

Murray, the No. 3 Democrat in the Senate, said in a statement that “as we have learned more about the gravity of the potential threats to our democracy identified in Special Counsel Mueller’s report, it has become clear the House should begin proceedings to determine whether the President’s actions necessitate impeachment.”

Democratic leadership has so far been hesitant, instead asking the caucus to focus on investigations and oversight.

House SpeakerNancy PelosiNancy PelosiWith Robert Mueller behind them, Democrats need to focus on 2020Michelle Obama shares tribute to Baltimore step team after Trump calls city's district 'disgusting'Trump doubles down on attacks against Cummings and Baltimore districtMORE(Calif.) said Friday that she has no problem with individual Democrats calling for impeachment despite her reservations about moving forward with the process.

"Their advocacy for impeachment only gives me leverage. I have no complaint with what they are doing," she said.

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