A single word uttered by Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-Texas) has sent ripples through the Democratic caucus, exposing a deep divide on how to confront President Donald Trump if Democrats reclaim the House in 2026. The word? “Impeachment.”
Crockett’s recent interview, where she stated she would “absolutely at least do an inquiry” into Trump if she became House Oversight Committee chair, has touched a raw nerve among many of her colleagues. After impeaching Trump twice, only to see him return to power, a significant portion of Democrats are wary of revisiting the “I” word.
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The debate resurfaces as Democrats prepare to elect a new House Oversight Committee ranking member, a pivotal role for future investigations. The party’s grassroots base, however, is clamoring for a more aggressive stance against Trump, pushing lawmakers to pursue “maximal opposition.”
The four candidates vying for the key investigative role are split on the issue. While Reps. Robert Garcia (D-CA), Stephen Lynch (D-MA), and Kweisi Mfume (D-MD) have indicated they wouldn’t pursue an impeachment inquiry, Crockett stands firm.
Crockett embraces her public persona, emphasizing that “Every hearing, every investigation, every public moment must serve the dual purpose of accountability and must demonstrate why a House Democratic majority is essential for America’s future.” Her objective, she stated, is to “elevate each of our members and coordinate our efforts with leadership as we gear up to retake the House Majority.”
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On “Inside Texas Politics,” Crockett solidified her intentions regarding President Donald Trump, stating, “I would absolutely at least do an inquiry. Absolutely. I mean, I think that there’s more than enough to inquire about.”
She outlined potential targets for investigation, including Elon Musk’s dealings with the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), Trump’s alleged pressure on institutions like Harvard, and his past interactions with law firms. She cited instances of inspector generals investigating Musk’s firings and alleged pressure on companies like Verizon regarding diversity initiatives. Crockett also accused Trump of attempting to “pull back resources from the likes of Harvard” and “shaking down so many of these law firms for free legal fees,” asserting that “History needs to know the truth.”
Crockett argues that an “impeachment inquiry” would convey the “next level of gravity” regarding these issues. She clarified she wouldn’t seek a formal vote to impeach, but rather leverage the “extra special powers” an inquiry grants, such as enhanced standing in court for subpoena enforcement. She even pointed to Republicans’ use of an impeachment inquiry into the Biden family, asserting, “it ‘worked for them’ even though it never led to an actual impeachment vote.”
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“A lot of times we as Democrats can overthink stuff,” Crockett said. “A lot of people…felt like [Oversight Committee chair] James Comer was an embarrassment. But at the end of the day, who won the House?”
Crockett believes that President Donald Trump’s public criticisms, including calling her a “low-IQ person,” are indicative of her growing influence.
She told former CNN host Jim Acosta that she believes Trump is “listening to the polling” and cited instances of Republicans privately expressing admiration for her “fighting for the people.”
As she actively campaigns among her Democratic colleagues for the Oversight Committee leadership, Crockett recently expressed confidence to MSNBC that Democrats will retake the House. Should this occur, she is prepared to utilize the committee’s power to investigate Trump’s “crypto acquisitions,” potential Emoluments Clause violations, and other business dealings.
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Many Democrats fear that even mentioning impeachment could backfire. One House Democrat, speaking anonymously to AXIOS, called it “unhelpful and unfair to her colleagues,” predicting Republicans would “try to motivate their base by saying that a Democratic majority will inevitably lead to impeachment.”
Rep. Lynch acknowledged the “impeachment now” advocates in his district but stressed the need to “temper that with reality and thoughtful process.” Rep. Garcia emphasized that such a decision would be a “caucus-wide decision” and that Democrats “should take our cues from leadership.”
While many seasoned Democrats are hesitant, a younger, more grassroots-oriented faction believes an impeachment inquiry may be warranted.
Rep. Maxwell Frost (D-FL.) stated to AXIOS, “One could argue that we do need to open up an inquiry into all the corruption that’s going on, so maybe it makes sense for that to umbrella under an impeachment inquiry.”
Whether this progressive bloc is large enough to propel Crockett to the Oversight Committee leadership remains to be seen. As Crockett herself stated, “This probably isn’t the right thing to say, but I don’t know that I would be right for my caucus if my caucus thinks we would be better if we didn’t delve into these things.”
The debate surrounding Jasmine Crockett’s comments highlights the ongoing struggle within the Democratic Party to balance the demands of its energized base with the political realities of a deeply polarized nation. The “I” word, it seems, continues to hold a potent, and often divisive, power.
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