As Trump Digs In His Heels, Democrats Inch Towards Impeachment

WASHINGTON, DC - APRIL 30: Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) (L) and Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer (D-NY) lead fellow Congressional Democrats out of the White House following a meeting with President... WASHINGTON, DC - APRIL 30: Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) (L) and Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer (D-NY) lead fellow Congressional Democrats out of the White House following a meeting with President Donald Trump at the White House April 30, 2019 in Washington, DC. The Democratic leaders met with Trump to discuss infrastructure. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images) MORE LESS
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Since the release of the redacted Mueller report, tensions have escalated tenfold between the administration and congressional Democrats, pushing some liberal lawmakers in a more impeachment-inclined direction than they previously held.

According to the New York Times, one option on the table is lashing together multiple contempt citations of administration officials and lobbing the package to a Federal District Court, after which Trump’s obstinance would more easily catalyze impeachment proceedings (à la Nixon and the Watergate tapes).

Democrats are reportedly also feeling revved up and empowered by Wednesday’s vote to recommend citing Attorney General William Barr for contempt.

“This has had a cathartic effect on the Democrats because we have finally been able to find a way to fight back at the obstructionism,” Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-MD) told the Times. “My grandfather used to say that duck hunting is a lot of fun until the ducks start firing back. We’re starting to fire back.”

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