One of Democrats' most fraught internal fights of the year resurfaced Wednesday after Rep. Haley Stevens (D-Mich.) introduced articles of impeachment against HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
Why it matters: Stevens is part of a growing group of House Democrats effectively going rogue by mounting impeachment efforts without support from party leadership, to the frustration of many of their colleagues.
- The Michigan Democrat stressed in an interview with Axios that she "worked closely" with the House Energy and Commerce Committee, which oversees HHS.
- But Rep. Frank Pallone (D-N.J.), the top Democrat on the panel, told Axios she "approached us about joining her, and then in the end we declined."
- House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) told Axios he hasn't taken a look at Stevens' measure, adding: "You know what I'm focused on? Making sure that the American people don't have their health care ripped away from them."
State of play: Stevens is one of a handful of House Democrats who have tried to impeach Trump or one of his officials this year.
- Rep. Shri Thanedar (D-Mich.) has introduced impeachment measures against President Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.
- Rep. Al Green (D-Texas) forced a vote on impeaching Trump in June, with most House Democrats joining Republicans in blocking the measure.
In each case, many House Democrats fumed that the impeachment efforts were pointless distractions that divert from party messaging.
- Most party members acknowledge impeachment is doomed to fail, with Democratic caucus chair Pete Aguilar (D-Calif.) telling reporters: "I don't know how successful those measures would be in a Republican held Congress."
- "Do the math," said Rep. Mark Pocan (D-Wisc.), who told Axios he has had constituents suggest "we impeach every [Cabinet] secretary."
- Said a senior House Democrat: "None of these folks have come to us to figure out what's the comms plan, how do we organize members around it, how do we get some Republicans to do it?"
What we're hearing: Stevens gave Democratic leaders a heads up about her plans but did not receive their support, according to two senior House Democrats and two leadership aides familiar with the matter.
- In addition to seeing these rogue efforts as doomed to fail, party leaders fear a repeat of Rep. Rashida Tlaib's (D-Mich.) "impeach the motherf***er" soundbyte, which Republican used to paint impeachment proceedings as blatantly political, sources said.
- Said Rep. Joe Morelle (D-N.Y.): "Is there a reasonable suspicion that a cabinet member or president has met the test of high crimes and misdemeanors? ... The only way you can do that is by opening an investigation."
- "Impeachment is a serious process and has to be done in a serious evidentiary-based procedure," said Rep. Sarah McBride (D-Del.), who said she would personally vote to impeach Trump and many of his officials.
What they're saying: "You can't swing a cat without hitting an impeachable offense in this administration, but having that amount to anything productive and be a good use of our time in this Congress is a totally different question," said Rep. Jared Huffman (D-Calif.).
- "It's just deeply distracting and unproductive to make that our priority in this moment. ... Enjoy your media cycle."
- Said Rep. Don Beyer (D-Va.): "We've done this impeachment thing a lot and it hasn't achieved anything. It's purely performative ... it makes someone in your base happy, but we need to do real work."
The other side: "Look, this is something that I've gone through a real process on. This is not something I've just done fly by the night," Stevens told Axios.
- The Michigan Democrat cited congressional inquiries into HHS, efforts to reverse some of Kennedy's public health cuts and conversations with doctors and public health experts.
- Stevens' office pointed to support from outside groups such as Stand Up for Science as an example of how her effort is more serious than those of Green and Thanedar.
- They also noted that the Center for Effective Lawmaking recognized her as the most effective Michigan Democrat in Congress.
- "This is beyond political theater ... this is what Michiganders want to see, and it's what public health experts want to see," Stevens said. "I think there's a real case here."
Between the lines: Many lawmakers noted Stevens is in a competitive race for U.S. Senate in Michigan at a time when the Democratic base has been pressing lawmakers to pursue tactics like impeachment.
- "With all the AIPAC money she got before, she's clearly positioned as the centrist or the most right[-leaning]," Beyer noted.
- Thanedar is being challenged by the left in his primary. Green is also likely facing a contested primary.
The bottom line: "It feels like a lot of people are using the impeachment stuff as a campaign [tactic]," said the senior House Democrat who spoke anonymously.
- "You have to have a plan and organize a strategy to make it happen. If you don't have that, then it's just a campaign email."
