Speaker Nancy Pelosi told reporters Thursday that she’s not set a time frame for six investigating committees to reach a conclusion on whether the House should move forward with articles of impeachment against President Donald Trump.
“No, the facts will determine the timeline,” the California Democrats said when asked if she had set a deadline to conclude the impeachment inquiry she announced Tuesday.
[ Democrats focusing impeachment inquiry on Trump pressuring Ukraine ]
Pelosi did, however, acknowledge there is some impatience among some House Democrats.
“There are some in our caucus who think, ‘Let’s just have an impeachment.’ No, we have to have an inquiry” to gather the facts, she said.
“There is no rush to judgment,” she added.
Pelosi also confirmed that House Democrats are focusing the impeachment inquiry on Trump pressuring Ukraine to investigate former Vice President Joe Biden, a potential 2020 opponent.
“Our focus now is on this allegation. We’re seeing the evidence in front of us,” she said.
“That the president thinks this proves his innocence only goes to further show he doesn’t understand right or wrong,” she added.
Pelosi also acknowledged that with the Ukraine matter as the focus, the evidence-gathering will occur in the House Intelligence panel.
“Our consensus in our caucus is that we will proceed under the auspices of where this matter is relevant and that is in the Intelligence Committee,” Pelosi said.
“Our timeline will spring from them,” she added.
The Judiciary Committee’s work on obstruction, corruption and the rest “will be considered later,” Pelosi said.
She declined to say what would or would not be included in the articles of impeachment, saying Democrats first have to get the facts.
