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That pronouncement came at the close of a press conference Tuesday afternoon, in which the Speaker announced that the House would open a formal impeachment inquiry into Donald Trump’s conduct as President.
Pelosi, of course, knew what she would be starting if she allowed a formal impeachment inquiry to go forward. The genie is out of the bottle now. The wheels have begun turning and churning to the near-inevitable outcome: A President impeached by the House.
But how does all of this land with a public that generally speaking views Trump dimly, but also has to this point opposed impeaching him? Does this simply affirm their view that politics is broken and that a pox is deservedly cast on both party houses? Do they eventually conclude that Democrats overreached, fueled by their hatred of Trump? Or maybe they decide that Trump’s conduct in office — and particularly his conversation with the Ukrainian president about unproven allegations regarding Joe Biden — is so beyond the pale that impeachment, as opposed to the 2020 election, is the only recourse for the country?
What’s abundantly clear is that this impeachment fight — both during the investigation and after the near-inevitable House vote and Senate trial — will blot out the sun in Washington. Gun legislation now takes a backseat. Immigration, too. Everything but must-pass legislation will be affected.
The media coverage coming out of Congress — and Washington more generally — will be all about impeachment. The 2020 Democratic campaign will be dominated by it.
Trump’s presidency — and the way in which the two political parties react to it — has been fundamentally altered by Pelosi’s announcement on Tuesday. This is as big as it gets in politics: Massive stakes with neither side certain of how it all ends, but absolutely sure that whatever happens will have consequences that extend long beyond this year — or even Trump’s presidency.
The Point: The train has left the station. It’s buckle-up time.
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