Pelosi Throws Temper Tantrum, Storms Out of Presser Over Questions About Trump
Democratic House speaker loses it when reporter asks about impeachment - WATCH
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Democratic House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) exploded during a Thursday presser when a question from a reporter about President Donald Trump's impeachment seemingly pushed her over the edge.
Pelosi appeared to have to bite her own tongue as she threw a temper tantrum and stormed off stage after ranting about Republican Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell.
The speaker ripped into reporters who were peppering her with questions about impeachment after the House Judiciary Committee approved rules for its investigation into President Trump.
“I’m not answering any more questions on investigations,” Pelosi told reporters, after saying she supported the committee’s work, during her weekly press conference
“I’m not answering any more questions on this subject,” she snapped as the questions kept coming.
The issue has divided her caucus between those pushing for Trump’s impeachment and those preaching caution.
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Pelosi’s frustration led her to walk away from the podium, cutting her press conference short after calling for the media to focus on the Senate GOP’s refusal to take up a Democratic proposal to expand background checks for gun purchases.
“Why is it that you are hung up with a word over here when lives are at stake over there?” the California Democrat said, walking out of the room.
Pelosi has resisted a formal House vote that would authorize the House Judiciary Committee to launch an official impeachment inquiry.
House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerry Nadler has nonetheless declared the panel is conducting an official investigation.
According to the New York Post, the committee’s 24-17 party-line vote does not begin formal impeachment proceedings but broadens the panel’s investigative powers — which could eventually lead to articles of impeachment against the president.
The procedures would allow Manhattan Rep. Jerrold Nadler, the committee’s chair, to hold hearings on the "evidence" against the president.
In addition to members being able to question witnesses, staff counsel would be able to grill them for an additional hour instead of the five minutes lawmakers typically get.
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Nadler opened the meeting by trying to clear up any confusion about the goal of the panel.
”Some call this process an impeachment inquiry. Some call it an impeachment investigation,” he said.
"There is no legal difference between these terms, and I no longer care to argue about the nomenclature.
“But let me clear up any remaining doubt: The conduct under investigation poses a threat to our democracy.
"We have an obligation to respond to this threat. And we are doing so.”
Rep. Doug Collins, the ranking Republican on the committee, said Nadler was just putting on a show.
“My colleagues know very well they don’t have the votes to authorize impeachment proceedings on the House floor, but they want to impeach the president anyway,” he said.
“So, they are pretending to initiate impeachment.”
The number of House Democrats who support impeachment or an impeachment inquiry stands at 137, far less than needed for passage in the 435-member chamber.
No Republicans back the effort.
