Not this again.
House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries is revealing more about what Democrats could do if they regain control of the House in November, including the possibility of another impeachment battle involving President Donald Trump.
Jeffries said Sunday that impeachment has not been ruled out if Democrats win the House, while stopping short of saying the party has already decided to pursue it.
The comments offer voters a glimpse of how dramatically Washington could change depending on the outcome of the midterm elections.
Jeffries Leaves Impeachment on the Table
While appearing on ABC’s “This Week,” Jeffries was questioned about whether Democrats would move quickly toward impeachment if they regained control of the House.
Jeffries said Democrats are keeping all options open when it comes to potentially pursuing impeachment.
His answer leaves the door open to impeachment while making clear that no final decision has been announced.
Jeffries said Democrats would instead examine evidence and determine what action is appropriate under the law and Constitution.
“We’ve got to follow the facts, apply the law, be guided by the Constitution, and then let the chips fall where they may, in the best interests of the American people,” he said.
Two Democrats Could Take Key Roles
Jeffries specifically pointed to Democratic Reps. Jamie Raskin of Maryland and Robert Garcia of California.
Raskin is the ranking Democrat on the House Judiciary Committee, while Garcia holds the top Democratic position on the House Oversight Committee.
If Democrats capture the House, Democratic lawmakers would gain control of committees and considerably more authority to conduct oversight of the Trump administration.
That could mean additional hearings, investigations and subpoenas.
Whether those investigations would eventually produce impeachment proceedings remains uncertain. Jeffries’ comments indicate that Democrats are keeping the option available rather than committing to it before the election.
Trump Has Already Faced Impeachment Twice
Trump is no stranger to impeachment battles.
During his first term, the Democratic-controlled House impeached him twice.
The first impeachment came in December 2019 following the controversy surrounding Trump’s dealings with Ukraine. The House approved articles alleging abuse of power and obstruction of Congress.
The Senate later acquitted Trump.
A second impeachment followed the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol. Trump was charged with incitement of insurrection.
The Senate again acquitted him.
As a result, Trump was impeached twice by the House but was never convicted by the Senate.
Trump Has Predicted Another Impeachment Fight
Trump has previously suggested that Democrats could make another attempt to impeach him if they win back control of the House.
Speaking at a South Carolina rally last month, Trump predicted impeachment would follow a Democratic victory.
“They’re going to impeach me,” Trump told the crowd.
Jeffries’ latest comments are likely to add new attention to that possibility as voters prepare to determine control of Congress.
But impeachment is only one part of the agenda Democrats are discussing.
Democrats Have Other Plans for a House Majority
Jeffries also identified several policy priorities Democrats could pursue if they take control of the House.
One involves Trump’s tariffs on foreign trading partners.
Democrats could attempt to reverse or limit those policies, setting up a major economic confrontation with the White House over trade.
Jeffries also said Democrats would seek action aimed at bringing the prolonged Iran conflict to an end.
Health care would be another priority. Democrats want to restore Affordable Care Act subsidies that expired earlier this year, putting the future of health insurance costs back into the congressional spotlight.
Those issues — trade, foreign policy and health care — could become major sources of conflict between a Democratic-controlled House and the Trump administration.
Jeffries Promises an Aggressive Legislative Push
Jeffries made clear that Democrats would not limit their ambitions to the traditional first 100 days after taking power.
He described a legislative effort that would continue throughout the next Congress.
Jeffries said these proposals would be only the beginning, adding that Democrats would need to maintain an ambitious and forceful legislative push over the long term.
Winning the House, however, would not give Democrats complete control of Washington.
Even with a House majority, legislation would still have to clear the Senate and, in many cases, receive Trump’s signature or attract enough congressional support to overcome a presidential veto.
That means a Democratic House could have greater power to investigate the administration and advance legislation, but it could not automatically put its entire agenda into effect.
Why the Midterm Elections Matter
Control of the House could determine much more than which party holds the speaker’s gavel.
A Democratic victory would give the party control over House committees, investigations and much of the chamber’s legislative agenda.
That could lead to substantially greater scrutiny of the Trump administration beginning in January.
Jeffries has now confirmed that impeachment remains one possible course of action, although he has not committed Democrats to pursuing it.
At the same time, Democrats are preparing to challenge major Trump policies involving tariffs, foreign affairs and health care if voters return them to power.
The result could be a very different political environment in Washington after the midterms, with the White House and House of Representatives potentially headed for a series of major confrontations.
For voters, that makes the fight for control of Congress about far more than individual House races. The outcome could shape Trump’s agenda, congressional investigations and the direction of Washington for the remainder of his term.