Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi said Monday that the House vote on a resolution to formalize the next steps of the impeachment inquiry into President Donald Trump will not be an “impeachment resolution.”
Pelosi was asked by NBC News about the resolution, which she announced earlier in the day, and responded by saying “it’s not an impeachment resolution.” The legislation will be the first floor vote on impeachment since Pelosi and House Democrats launched their inquiry a month ago.
WATCH:
Speaker Pelosi, asked by @AlexNBCNews to comment on the impeachment resolution:
“It’s not an impeachment resolution.” pic.twitter.com/9A6qBan9mf
— Rebecca Kaplan (@RebeccaRKaplan) October 28, 2019
“We are taking this step to eliminate any doubt as to whether the Trump Administration may withhold documents, prevent witness testimony, disregard duly authorized subpoenas, or continue obstructing the House of Representatives,” Pelosi said in a letter to Democrats early Monday.
Despite Pelosi’s early reluctance to push for impeachment, there are currently 228 Democrats who support impeachment or an impeachment inquiry. Pelosi has said she believes Trump is “goading” Democrats to impeach him because he thinks it will help him fire up his base.
The Republican National Committee (RNC) raised approximately $1 million dollars the day after Pelosi came out in favor of the impeachment of Trump for the first time after meeting with her caucus. (RELATED: EXCLUSIVE: We Asked Every GOP Senator About Impeachment. Seven Ruled It Out.)
Democrats have continued to send congressional subpoenas to those close to Trump for documents related to the ongoing scandal regarding Trump’s phone call with the President of Ukraine and whether Trump asked him to investigate former Vice President Joe Biden in exchange for U.S. military aid to Ukraine. The House Intelligence, Foreign Affairs, and Oversight committees are all investigating Trump, his cabinet members, and closest allies.
Many of Pelosi’s Democratic colleagues previously pushed for impeaching Trump, including Democratic Texas Rep. Al Green, who broke with Pelosi when he vowed to force a vote to impeach Trump in late March. Green, who previously had several bills to impeach Trump overwhelmingly rejected by the House of Representatives, called for a third impeachment vote. Pelosi said impeachment was “just not worth it” in a March interview. (RELATED: Nancy Pelosi Comes Out In Favor Of Impeachment)
Pelosi previously said she would not hold a full vote to authorize an impeachment inquiry, which Trump has continued to call for.