Rep. Jim Clyburn says impeaching Trump shouldn’t be Democrats’ priority if win back the House

Rep. Jim Clyburn, D-S.C., on Sunday said that Democrats should not prioritize impeaching President Donald Trump if they win control of the House in the upcoming midterm elections, but instead should focus on making life more affordable for Americans.

Clyburn told NBC News’ “Meet the Press” that if Democrats take back the House he feels confident that their first order of business would be making the country accessible and affordable for all citizens.

Pressed on whether he believes Democrats should rule out the prospect of impeaching Trump if they regain control of the House, the South Carolina lawmaker said, “I don’t rule it out, but I don’t rule it in.”

He added, “I don’t think that should be our priority if we get into office. Our priority ought to be making housing, education, energy, healthcare affordable and accessible for all of our citizens. Impeaching the president will not do that.”

His remarks come days after House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., was asked a similar question by CNN and said that he wasn’t ruling out impeaching Trump.

“We haven’t ruled anything in and we haven’t ruled anything out,” Jeffries told CNN, adding that he’s leaving those decisions up to the Democrats that would be in charge of the House Oversight and Judiciary committees if Democrats take back the House.

“As we’ve done in the past, whenever there have been moments of accountability that we’ve had to lead on, we are guided by three principles: follow the facts, apply the law and be guided by the United States Constitution,” the minority leader added.

House Democrats impeached Trump twice during his first term, but the Senate did not vote to convict him either time.

Clyburn on Sunday also spoke about Justice Clarence Thomas, who has been a crucial part of the Supreme Court’s conservative wing since he was first nominated by former President George H.W. Bush in 1991.

During the confirmation process in 1991, Clyburn advocated for Thomas to be confirmed, telling a panel of senators at the time, “It’s a pleasure for me to be here today to present testimony in favor of my good friend Clarence Thomas. I have known Clarence for 10 years, and I consider him to be a personal and professional friend, in spite of the fact that he shares a conservative Republican philosophy.”

On Sunday, Clyburn denounced his support of Thomas three decades ago, telling “Meet the Press,” “I have made mistakes in my life, and that’s one that I made, and I will own up to that mistake.”

“I had no idea that Clarence Thomas would rebel the way he has against his own background and experiences,” the South Carolina congressman added.

Asked whether he supported a proposal from former Vice President Kamala Harris to expand the Supreme Court from nine justices to 13, Clyburn said, “I do.”

He added, “I think that we are in a position now that calls for some significant actions taken by the Congress, and we ought to expand it. Thirteen is a pretty good number; a baker’s dozen will be a good number to have on the court.”