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Dem Whip Clyburn's Latest Comments On Impeachment Show The Democratic Party's Division

Beth Baumann
Beth Baumann  |  June 02, 2019 4:35 PM

Democratic Majority Whip Jim Clyburn (SC) on Sunday told CNN's Jake Tapper be believes President Donald Trump will eventually be impeached, it's just a matter of timing. 

"All it takes is 218 votes to effectively impeach the president. That doesn't say it'll be the efficient way to do it," Clyburn said. "What Nancy Pelosi is trying to do and the rest of us in the House of Representatives is to develop a process by which we can efficiently move on this issue so that when we get to a vote it would be something that she calls 'iron clad,' I call 'effective.' And that's why we're trying to take our time and do this right. I don't see this with being out of wack with the peoples' aspirations are."

Tapper asked an important question: what are Democrats, especially in leadership, using as their "gauge" in this matter? Are they waiting for more people to support impeachment proceedings? What about Senate Republicans to come onboard? 

"We do believe that if we sufficiently, effectively educate the public then we will have done our job so we can move on an impeachment vote and maybe it'll be what needs to be done for the Senate to act," Clyburn said.

“But it sounds like you’re — you think that the president will be impeached, or at least proceedings will begin in the House at some point, but just not right now?” Tapper asked.

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“Yes, exactly what I feel,” Clyburn replied.

Clyburn's comments run counter to what Speaker Nancy Pelosi has said in the past. She believes President Trump wants Democrats to take the "impeachment bait" so he can use it against them. She's even told progressive members of her party she wants them to rein in their message. Her reason? If Democrats win a majority in the House or Senate or even the White House in 2020, he can challenge the results.