'A Significant Milestone': Majority of House Dems Now Support Impeachment Inquiry, Increasing Pressure on Pelosi

Over half of House Democrats now support opening an impeachment inquiry into President Donald Trump, marking the first time a majority of the caucus is on record in favor of such an action and increasing the pressure on Speaker Nancy Pelosi to back the move.

“That’s momentum,” tweeted activist group Stand Up America. “We must keep it up.”

Rep. Ted Deutch (D-Fla.) proved the tipping point, announcing his support Thursday morning in an opinion piece for Florida’s Sun Sentinel newspaper. The representative cited the Judiciary Committee’s investigations into the president as evidence that the subpoena powers of Congress mean an inquiry has already begun. 

“The stated purpose was to consider all constitutional remedies for presidential misconduct, including impeachment,” wrote Deutch. “In every meaningful way, our investigation is an impeachment inquiry.”

As Politico reported Thursday, Deutch puts the number of Democrats in favor of impeachment at 118 and indicates that the appeal of impeachment is going beyond the party’s activist and left-leaning wings to moderate members in swing districts.

“It’s a significant milestone that backers hope will change the politics inside the Democratic caucus even as Pelosi continues to resist,” said reporter Kyle Cheney.