After MSNBC host Ari Melber introduced Rep. Brad Sherman (D., Calif.) as 'a congressman who's calling for impeachment' during a Thursday segment of The Beat, Sherman—who has called for impeachment proceedings against President Donald Trump—took issue with Melber's characterization, complaining that impeachment is "the only thing I can get on TV to talk about."
"Look, the President obstructed justice," he told Melber. "That was apparent to me in July of 2017 when I introduced articles of impeachment, but I knew those articles couldn't lead anywhere without bipartisan support because, of course, Republicans were in control. Prosecutors don't indict unless they think they can get a conviction. We need to change public opinion so that we'll get a fair hearing in the United States senate because impeachment without removal is."
"What was inaccurate about mentioning that you were for impeachment?" Melber asked Sherman.
Sherman explained that he's for the impeachment and removal of Trump from power: "To impeach without removal is, I think, a mistake."
"But it is correct to say you've been pushing towards impeachment?" Melber asked again.
"I have been pushing towards impeachment, but I want impeachment on a bipartisan basis, yes," Sherman said.
Melber told Sherman, in that case, he would have to "correct your correction." Sherman returned by saying that Melber's correction was an "oversimplification."
"I don't know what you're doing, sir," Melber said. "You advocated for impeachment. You introduced a resolution for impeachment. Now, you're the politician, and I want to get the other panelists in. You can use your time as you see fit, I appreciate you coming on this show. Now, do you want to talk about the case that you're making for impeachment?"
Sherman then told Melber that there were a host of issues that he would rather discuss than impeachment.
"Actually, I've been trying to get on your show to talk about the Saudi nuclear program, and if it was my time we'd be talking about efforts to control drug prices," he said. "There's this image in this country that Congress is focused on impeachment. That's the only thing I can get on TV to talk about but it's not really what I'm working on."
"Interesting," Melber replied, before correcting Sherman again. "Well, look, we do a lot of subjects here, and we can get into a lot of stuff. But Bob Mueller broke his silence yesterday and said this is an issue for the Congress if there's a wrongdoing to be accused, so it is a big news story, I don't think that's in debate."
After Melber asked Sherman again what Congress should do following Mueller's statement, Sherman said the House should continue to "investigate." Sherman introduced the articles of impeachment in 2017 along with Rep. Al Green (D., Texas).