Who Would a Democratic House Impeach?

If the Democrats secure control of the House in November, they may face a critical decision: should they pursue a third impeachment of Donald Trump? The president and his supporters have signaled they anticipate an impeachment attempt. "I'm going to be impeached," Trump stated at a rally in South Carolina. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries has not ruled out impeachment, stating, "We haven't ruled anything in or out" when it comes to impeachment.

However, Representative Jamie Raskin, the lead manager of Trump's second impeachment, expressed stronger support. Raskin told Meet the Press that "Trump undoubtedly committed impeachable offenses" and emphasized that "we will not hesitate to use it if we need to use it."

The decision to impeach Trump appears to be influenced by his voters' sentiment. A recent CBS News / YouGov poll found that opposition to Trump is the leading motivator for Democratic voters in the midterms. Political consultant Sarah Longwell asserts that for Democratic voters, the priority is not ideological left-versus-right but a determination to confront and challenge Trump.

From a constitutional standpoint, evidence exists to support impeaching Trump. He has crossed congressional authority, launched unauthorized wars, defied courts, and used his position for personal and family enrichment. While Democrats are unlikely to secure the necessary Senate votes to convict and remove him this time, a third impeachment could still serve as a means to tarnish the president's reputation.

However, with Trump's already high unpopularity and the fact that he will not seek re-election, the benefits are limited, and there is the risk that an impeachment could galvanize his base, potentially strengthening his political position.