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| Democrats Fear Impeachment Is Blurring Their ‘Kitchen Table’ Focus | Democrats Fear Impeachment Is Blurring Their ‘Kitchen Table’ Focus |
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| WASHINGTON — The impeachment inquiry that has imperiled President Trump and captured the attention of a divided nation is now threatening to overshadow House Democrats’ attempts to show that they can govern, posing a political dilemma that deepens as the investigation marches on. | WASHINGTON — The impeachment inquiry that has imperiled President Trump and captured the attention of a divided nation is now threatening to overshadow House Democrats’ attempts to show that they can govern, posing a political dilemma that deepens as the investigation marches on. |
| Democrats returned to Washington this week determined to spotlight the popular domestic initiatives, like lowering the cost of prescription drugs and education, that helped to sweep them into the majority last year. But instead of focusing on those, their first private gathering on Capitol Hill was dominated by a debate over whether they should cast a formal vote to authorize the impeachment inquiry they began three weeks ago. | Democrats returned to Washington this week determined to spotlight the popular domestic initiatives, like lowering the cost of prescription drugs and education, that helped to sweep them into the majority last year. But instead of focusing on those, their first private gathering on Capitol Hill was dominated by a debate over whether they should cast a formal vote to authorize the impeachment inquiry they began three weeks ago. |
| The meeting in the basement of the Capitol on Tuesday night made it clearer than ever that many Democrats — particularly those from conservative-leaning districts who flipped Republican seats and now face difficult re-election races — have no interest in spending time on the House floor calling attention to the impeachment push. | The meeting in the basement of the Capitol on Tuesday night made it clearer than ever that many Democrats — particularly those from conservative-leaning districts who flipped Republican seats and now face difficult re-election races — have no interest in spending time on the House floor calling attention to the impeachment push. |
| The idea of having a vote, which had been floated by leadership earlier in the day, was quickly shot down, according to a Democratic aide in the room, speaking on condition of anonymity without authorization to describe the private meeting. While many Democrats are open to a vote, nervous freshmen in swing districts were opposed, fearing it would be a distraction. | |
| Representative Abigail Spanberger of Virginia, who recently conducted an “education tour” in her home district, urged colleagues who go on television to pivot to the Democrats’ economic agenda, the aide said, while Representative Anthony Brindisi of New York said a vote was not required by the Constitution and warned that it would play into Republicans’ hands. | Representative Abigail Spanberger of Virginia, who recently conducted an “education tour” in her home district, urged colleagues who go on television to pivot to the Democrats’ economic agenda, the aide said, while Representative Anthony Brindisi of New York said a vote was not required by the Constitution and warned that it would play into Republicans’ hands. |
| “You said it perfectly,” Ms. Pelosi told him, according to the aide, effectively ending the discussion. | “You said it perfectly,” Ms. Pelosi told him, according to the aide, effectively ending the discussion. |
| The meeting — Democrats’ first in-person get-together after a two-week recess — underscored the delicate task they face as they investigate Mr. Trump’s efforts to pressure Ukraine’s leader to dig up dirt on his political rivals. Official Washington is obsessed with the impeachment inquiry, which is barreling ahead, with daily revelations about the president’s shadow policy in Ukraine and breathless news coverage at all hours. | The meeting — Democrats’ first in-person get-together after a two-week recess — underscored the delicate task they face as they investigate Mr. Trump’s efforts to pressure Ukraine’s leader to dig up dirt on his political rivals. Official Washington is obsessed with the impeachment inquiry, which is barreling ahead, with daily revelations about the president’s shadow policy in Ukraine and breathless news coverage at all hours. |
| But for many Democrats — especially those in competitive districts like Ms. Spanberger and Mr. Brindisi — impeachment is the proverbial elephant in the room. It looms large, but they don’t want to talk about it. | But for many Democrats — especially those in competitive districts like Ms. Spanberger and Mr. Brindisi — impeachment is the proverbial elephant in the room. It looms large, but they don’t want to talk about it. |
| “One of the things I’ve really been pushing with leadership is: We don’t have to be like kids to a soccer ball, all running and talking about impeachment all the time,” said another freshman Democrat, Representative Elissa Slotkin of Michigan. Her advice to colleagues: “If you’re not on a committee of jurisdiction, go and work on legislation.” | “One of the things I’ve really been pushing with leadership is: We don’t have to be like kids to a soccer ball, all running and talking about impeachment all the time,” said another freshman Democrat, Representative Elissa Slotkin of Michigan. Her advice to colleagues: “If you’re not on a committee of jurisdiction, go and work on legislation.” |
| Ms. Spanberger made a similar pitch. “We are focused on all of these top priority issues,” like education and health care, she said. “My appeal to my colleagues is just: Let’s make sure that is known. Just because other people don’t want to talk about it as much doesn’t mean we shouldn’t.” | Ms. Spanberger made a similar pitch. “We are focused on all of these top priority issues,” like education and health care, she said. “My appeal to my colleagues is just: Let’s make sure that is known. Just because other people don’t want to talk about it as much doesn’t mean we shouldn’t.” |
| Representative Josh Gottheimer, a centrist from New Jersey who like Ms. Slotkin resisted an impeachment inquiry until the Ukraine news broke, said he used his time over the recess to talk about prescription drugs and health care. At a town hall in the rural part of his district, he said, people were more interested in Lyme disease than impeachment. | Representative Josh Gottheimer, a centrist from New Jersey who like Ms. Slotkin resisted an impeachment inquiry until the Ukraine news broke, said he used his time over the recess to talk about prescription drugs and health care. At a town hall in the rural part of his district, he said, people were more interested in Lyme disease than impeachment. |
| He likened the balance that Democrats are trying to strike to a juggling act, with two balls in the air. “My takeaway from being home,” Mr. Gottheimer said, “is that people want to make sure we are keeping our eye on both balls.” | He likened the balance that Democrats are trying to strike to a juggling act, with two balls in the air. “My takeaway from being home,” Mr. Gottheimer said, “is that people want to make sure we are keeping our eye on both balls.” |
| The result is a kind of split-screen existence in the Capitol, with Democrats trying to talk up their solutions to pressing issues, while behind closed doors, the impeachment inquiry intensifies, commanding the airwaves and the attention of a scoop-hungry press corps. | The result is a kind of split-screen existence in the Capitol, with Democrats trying to talk up their solutions to pressing issues, while behind closed doors, the impeachment inquiry intensifies, commanding the airwaves and the attention of a scoop-hungry press corps. |
| On Wednesday, cable news carried images of the arrival on Capitol Hill of the former top aide to Secretary of State Mike Pompeo for his closed-door deposition with House impeachment investigators. But the Democrats’ weekly caucus meeting was focused on legislation, and Ms. Pelosi attended a news conference to promote a bill to lower the cost of prescription drugs, which got little notice. | On Wednesday, cable news carried images of the arrival on Capitol Hill of the former top aide to Secretary of State Mike Pompeo for his closed-door deposition with House impeachment investigators. But the Democrats’ weekly caucus meeting was focused on legislation, and Ms. Pelosi attended a news conference to promote a bill to lower the cost of prescription drugs, which got little notice. |
| On Thursday, Ms. Pelosi plans to attend a forum on gun violence. And on Tuesday, she used her first post-recess appearance to unveil legislation aimed at reducing college costs, by providing free community college tuition for students in states that invest in their public colleges. | On Thursday, Ms. Pelosi plans to attend a forum on gun violence. And on Tuesday, she used her first post-recess appearance to unveil legislation aimed at reducing college costs, by providing free community college tuition for students in states that invest in their public colleges. |
| She has bristled publicly at being asked about impeachment instead of legislation, repeatedly inviting reporters to question her about Democrats’ “For the People” agenda, the catchphrase that they used during the 2018 midterm elections. Emerging from the impeachment discussion on Tuesday night, she addressed a roomful of journalists eager for news about whether there would be a floor vote to authorize the impeachment inquiry and pointedly asked, “Any questions about our legislative agenda?” | She has bristled publicly at being asked about impeachment instead of legislation, repeatedly inviting reporters to question her about Democrats’ “For the People” agenda, the catchphrase that they used during the 2018 midterm elections. Emerging from the impeachment discussion on Tuesday night, she addressed a roomful of journalists eager for news about whether there would be a floor vote to authorize the impeachment inquiry and pointedly asked, “Any questions about our legislative agenda?” |
| There were not many. | There were not many. |
| Ms. Pelosi has been resisting a formal vote on impeachment for weeks, well aware that it could endanger vulnerable Democrats whose constituents might interpret it as a partisan attempt to undo the 2016 election. | Ms. Pelosi has been resisting a formal vote on impeachment for weeks, well aware that it could endanger vulnerable Democrats whose constituents might interpret it as a partisan attempt to undo the 2016 election. |
| Holding such a vote might strip Republicans of one of their central talking points: that the inquiry is invalid because it was not authorized by the full House. The White House has denounced the inquiry as illegitimate and unconstitutional, and Republican lawmakers have assailed it as “a kangaroo court.” | Holding such a vote might strip Republicans of one of their central talking points: that the inquiry is invalid because it was not authorized by the full House. The White House has denounced the inquiry as illegitimate and unconstitutional, and Republican lawmakers have assailed it as “a kangaroo court.” |
| Republicans have also argued that precedent dictates a vote of the full House, citing the formal votes to open impeachment inquiries into Richard M. Nixon and Bill Clinton. | Republicans have also argued that precedent dictates a vote of the full House, citing the formal votes to open impeachment inquiries into Richard M. Nixon and Bill Clinton. |
| “Unfortunately, you have given no clear indication as to how your impeachment inquiry will proceed — including whether key historical precedents or basic standards of due process will be observed,” Representative Kevin McCarthy, the Republican leader, wrote in a recent letter to Ms. Pelosi, complaining of the “swiftness and recklessness” of the inquiry. | “Unfortunately, you have given no clear indication as to how your impeachment inquiry will proceed — including whether key historical precedents or basic standards of due process will be observed,” Representative Kevin McCarthy, the Republican leader, wrote in a recent letter to Ms. Pelosi, complaining of the “swiftness and recklessness” of the inquiry. |
| Even the few Republicans who sound open to investigating Mr. Trump’s activities in Ukraine have objected to the way Democrats are conducting the investigation. Representative Mark Amodei, Republican of Nevada and a former federal prosecutor who has said he believes Congress needs to “follow the facts” on Ukraine, was critical of Ms. Pelosi’s decision not to hold a vote. | Even the few Republicans who sound open to investigating Mr. Trump’s activities in Ukraine have objected to the way Democrats are conducting the investigation. Representative Mark Amodei, Republican of Nevada and a former federal prosecutor who has said he believes Congress needs to “follow the facts” on Ukraine, was critical of Ms. Pelosi’s decision not to hold a vote. |
| “I would say, if the speaker wants to do that, that’s fine,” he said, asked during a recent interview whether he supports an inquiry. “But you should do it in a way that lends credibility to the process.” | “I would say, if the speaker wants to do that, that’s fine,” he said, asked during a recent interview whether he supports an inquiry. “But you should do it in a way that lends credibility to the process.” |
| On Tuesday, with Ms. Pelosi’s assent, Representative James E. Clyburn, the Democratic whip, began sounding out rank-and-file Democrats as they arrived back in Washington about the prospect of a vote to authorize the impeachment inquiry. He found little enthusiasm. | On Tuesday, with Ms. Pelosi’s assent, Representative James E. Clyburn, the Democratic whip, began sounding out rank-and-file Democrats as they arrived back in Washington about the prospect of a vote to authorize the impeachment inquiry. He found little enthusiasm. |
| Even Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, the firebrand liberal Democrat from New York who was among the earliest advocates of impeaching Mr. Trump, said she had “some apprehension about a vote,” which might be misconstrued by the public as a vote to remove the president — not merely to open an inquiry. | Even Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, the firebrand liberal Democrat from New York who was among the earliest advocates of impeaching Mr. Trump, said she had “some apprehension about a vote,” which might be misconstrued by the public as a vote to remove the president — not merely to open an inquiry. |
| Democratic officials said they saw no procedural or political need to hold a vote. | Democratic officials said they saw no procedural or political need to hold a vote. |
| With polls showing growing public support for an inquiry, especially among independents, Democrats are confident that voters believe they are doing the right thing. Ms. Pelosi has urged lawmakers to talk about impeachment in solemn, somber tones in order to avoid being seen as overly partisan, and to argue that Mr. Trump abused his power and endangered national security. | With polls showing growing public support for an inquiry, especially among independents, Democrats are confident that voters believe they are doing the right thing. Ms. Pelosi has urged lawmakers to talk about impeachment in solemn, somber tones in order to avoid being seen as overly partisan, and to argue that Mr. Trump abused his power and endangered national security. |
| “Every time I hear Republicans say all we’re focused on is impeachment, it is a baldfaced lie,” Representative Steny H. Hoyer of Maryland, the majority leader, told reporters on Wednesday. “They know it and you know it.” | “Every time I hear Republicans say all we’re focused on is impeachment, it is a baldfaced lie,” Representative Steny H. Hoyer of Maryland, the majority leader, told reporters on Wednesday. “They know it and you know it.” |
| At their weekly caucus meeting Wednesday, Democrats talked about the importance of lowering prescription drug prices — their big message for the week. Ms. Pelosi thanked colleagues for agreeing that now was not the time for an impeachment vote, according to one person in the room. | At their weekly caucus meeting Wednesday, Democrats talked about the importance of lowering prescription drug prices — their big message for the week. Ms. Pelosi thanked colleagues for agreeing that now was not the time for an impeachment vote, according to one person in the room. |
| When Democrats do vote on impeachment, she told them, it will be worth it. | When Democrats do vote on impeachment, she told them, it will be worth it. |
| Nick Fandos contributed reporting. | Nick Fandos contributed reporting. |