Lone Democrat pushes to impeach

The U.S. WASHINGTON —

House of Representatives on Wednesday voted to scuttle a resolution to impeach President Donald Trump.

The proposal to impeach came from a maverick Democrat’s drive spurred by the president’s recent racial insults against lawmakers of color. Democrat party leaders consider the impeachment effort a premature exercise that needlessly forces vulnerable swing-district lawmakers to cast a perilous and divisive vote.

The scuttled resolution by Texas Rep. Al Green risked deepening Democrats’ already raw rift over how aggressively to pursue impeaching Trump in the shadow of the 2020 elections. Liberal Democrats itching to oust Trump have been pitted against Speaker Nancy Pelosi, other leaders and party moderates, who prefer waiting to see if a stronger case for removal can be developed. Recent polling has shown solid majorities oppose impeachment.

Pelosi noted that six House committees are investigating Trump and said, “That is the serious path we’re on.” Democrats are also eagerly awaiting next week’s scheduled public testimony to two House committees by special counsel Robert Mueller.

With Democrats preparing to defend their House majority in next year’s elections, Green’s measure puts incumbents in closely divided districts in a difficult spot. Democrats owe their House majority to 39 challengers who won in 2018 in what had been GOP-held districts.