By Robin Bravender | Arizona Mirror
Some Arizona Democrats see it as a real possibility that President Donald Trump will face impeachment proceedings in the U.S. House.
In the wake of the release of Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s report last month, some House Democrats are stepping up calls to launch a formal effort to oust the president, despite pleas from some Democratic leaders and moderates to tread carefully on the issue to avoid a political backlash.
“I think we should start moving in that direction,” Rep. Ruben Gallego (D-7th) told the Arizona Mirror on Thursday, when asked how aggressively House Democrats should move toward impeaching President Trump.
“There’s clearly been obstruction (of justice) that has occurred. I do think we have to work to build the public opinion to actually have that support, but I don’t think we’re that far away, and I’m not afraid to actually go down that road,” Gallego added.
He wants House lawmakers to bring Mueller in to testify about his findings and to force Attorney General William Barr to testify. Barr was slated to appear Thursday before the House Judiciary Committee, but backed out amid a spat over Democrats’ intention to have committee lawyers question the attorney general.
“At this point I am in support of actually impeaching Barr,” said Gallego. Democrats in both chambers have called for Barr’s resignation after news reports revealed earlier this week that Mueller had written to the attorney general to criticize his March summary of Mueller’s report.