Pelosi Inches Closer to Impeaching Trump Again: ‘Abuse of Power’
House Speaker accuse Trump of 'interfering' with Justice Department
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House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has accused President Donald Trump of interfering with the Justice Department amid the recent withdrawal of Roger Stone's lengthy prison sentence, calling it an "abuse of power" -one the charges brought against him in his impeachment trial which he was acquitted from earlier this month.
Democrats claimed Trump used the office of the presidency to withhold foreign aid from Ukraine until they investigated Joe Biden and his son Hunter Biden.
But the House speaker is now stirring up similar rhetoric of "abuse," which suggests Democrats could be positioning to impeach Trump again.
Speaking to ABC News, Pelosi said:
“This is an abuse of power that the president is again trying to manipulate federal law enforcement to serve his political interest."
“And the president is what he is. He thinks he’s above the law, he has no respect for the law, but where are the Republicans to speak out on this blatant violation of the rule of law?” Pelosi asked.
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The House speaker said the integrity of the DOJ was "deeply damaged” because of Attorney General William Barr’s compliance with Trump’s request.
“This all must be investigated,” Pelosi continued.
“What a sad disappointment to our country. The American people deserve better.”
“Well, it should be investigated,” she added.
“Our committee, the Judiciary Committee, as you know, has invited and he has accepted the attorney general come before the Judiciary Committee, and that will be the end of March.
"I wish it were sooner, but he did accept the invitation, so we don’t have to go another step there.”
Nancy Pelosi says President Trump is trying to manipulate federal law enforcement in the criminal case of his friend Roger Stone https://t.co/51uQAfVKnx pic.twitter.com/aDjgUAFLSK
— Reuters (@Reuters) February 14, 2020
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But House Republicans disregarded the notion that Trump interfered with the Justice Department, arguing Trump's tweet did not influence the departments' decision.
House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy said:
"The president is not interfering because if you listen to the Department of Justice, they made the decision [to change the sentencing recommendation] before the tweet ever went out.”
“There’s no issue here,” he added, maintaining the party “do not have facts.”
“All they have is a mission to impeach, and this is all they continue to drive when the rest of America would like to move on from their nightmares they put us through, and let’s start working on issues that America cares most about,” he concluded.
“You have the Department of Justice clarify saying they made the decision before any tweet went out. So you have no proof of any information.”
Democrats demanded Barr resign following the lighter sentence for Roger Stone.
“Congress must act immediately to rein in our lawless Attorney General," Elizabeth Warren tweeted.
"Barr should resign or face impeachment."
Hillary Clinton responded to the DOJ's decision saying that democracy is “in crisis."
In November last year, Stone was convicted of lying to Congress, obstructing an investigation, and intimidating a witness.
