Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D., Mich.) published an op-ed Wednesday saying "now is the time" to impeach President Donald Trump, the same week Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D., Calif.) balked at such an effort.
"Now is the time for impeachment," Tlaib wrote for In These Times. "People in D.C. ask: What would it mean for our 2020 strategy? But I ask what it means for the people I grew up with, the residents of my district, and what it means for all of us, as Americans, to have Donald Trump remain our president."
Tlaib said in January, after her party took back the House majority, Democrats were going to "impeach the motherf—er."
Tlaib laid out a list of perceived offenses and "racist actions" that merited impeachment—impeachment is not the same as removing the president—and took aim at politicians who were making "political calculations" rather than doing what she felt was right. Some observers feel Pelosi is providing cover for more moderate members of her caucus, who may represent districts where impeachment is unpopular.
"It is irresponsible for members of Congress to ignore these transgressions because of their political calculations or worries about 2020," Tlaib wrote.
"This corruption in our democracy creates anxiety. That’s why people like me got elected. People want someone who will represent them fearlessly and unapologetically. They want someone to say, "That’s wrong. That’s illegal. And we need to fix it right away."
Pelosi told the Washington Post in a story published this week that Trump was "just not worth" the process of impeaching.
"Impeachment is so divisive to the country that unless there’s something so compelling and overwhelming and bipartisan, I don't think we should go down that path, because it divides the country," Pelosi said. "And he's just not worth it."
Tlaib isn't the only new member of Congress to object to Pelosi's take. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D., N.Y.) said "I happen to disagree" with the stance.
Trump tweeted he appreciated Pelosi's statement and added "everyone must remember the minor fact that I never did anything wrong."
https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1105783270262927360
https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1105783271412113409
Tlaib is one of several freshman, far-left members of the new Democratic majority that have caused issues for party unity in the early days of the 116th Congress. Tlaib was among those who supported freshman Rep. Ilhan Omar (D., Minn.) after she made anti-Semitic remarks and faced a second rebuke in as many months from Pelosi and Democratic leadership.