Democratic leaders have a message for rank-and-file members of the party — cool your jets on cries for impeachment of President Donald Trump.
Ranking Democrat in the House Intelligence Adam Schiff on Thursday said the word should not even be uttered without "hard evidence" that proves Trump tried to obstruct justice.
"No one ought to, in my view, rush to embrace the most extraordinary remedy that involves the removal of the president from office," Schiff said at a press conference one day before, The New York Times reports.
House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi agreed.
"I hope some would curb their enthusiasm until we have all of the facts and have confidence that when the American people understand what is there, whether it's grounds for impeachment or grounds for disappointment, then they'll know," Pelosi said Thursday.
First things first, Democrats say — let the independent investigation play out.
"I'm not afraid of the I-word," Democratic Rep. Joseph Crowley said at a press conference earlier this week. "It's independent. Independent commission, independent investigator."
Sen. Angus King, an independent who caucuses with Democrats, urged that people "slow down and take a breath."
"There's a long way to go before we start talking about changing the presidency or removing someone from office. … High crimes and misdemeanors is a very high bar," King said.
Screaming for impeachment only reinforces a notion that Democrats still don't accept the election results. However, an investigation that ostensibly showed malfeasance on behalf of the president makes it non-partisan issue.
"What needs to happen is that we have got to go forward with an absolutely bipartisan investigation," Sen. Bernie Sanders was quoted by The Times. "The public must understand this is not a Democratic issue."
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