BURSTHouse Democrats on Wednesday pressed hard on Rep. Shri Thanedar (D-Mich.) to abandon his effort to force a vote on impeaching President Trump.
During the day's first series of House votes, a host of influential Democratic lawmakers — including Reps. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.), Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) and Debbie Dingell (D-Mich.) — approached Thanedar and engaged in intense conversations with the second-term Democrat, both on the chamber floor and in the Speaker's lobby just outside of it.
A day earlier, Thanedar had filed a motion to force a House vote on his seven impeachment articles, even as most Democrats — including party leaders — are fervently opposed to the idea. The opponents think they have a winning strategy in attacking Trump's domestic agenda, which is moving through the House, and want to keep the focus on the internal GOP disputes over that massive proposal.
But Thanedar said the lobbying — including the suggestion he skip Wednesday's second series of votes, when his resolution is expected to be tabled — hasn't dissuaded him.
"I intend to show up," he said after speaking with the other lawmakers. "Everybody has their opinions, but that's what I'm going to do."
Pressed if he will still force the issue on the floor, he was clear.
"Yes, yes," he said.
Raskin, who led the Democrats' second impeachment of Trump in 2021, said his message centered on the importance of having the support of colleagues before bringing such an explosive measure to the floor. Not only is impeachment sure to fail, since Republicans control the chamber, but even most Democrats want to avoid an impeachment vote, which could play into the Republicans' long-running argument that Democrats have a visceral hatred for Trump and will do anything to hurt him politically.
"Consensus is the critical factor," Raskin said.