Former Bush Ethics Chief Says 'It's Time' for Trump Impeachment Inquiry
*By Rebecca Heilweil*
Following Robert Mueller's [back-to-back testimonies](https://cheddar.com/media/former-special-counsel-mueller-confirms-president-trump-not-exculpated-in-russia-investigation) on Capitol Hill Wednesday, all eyes have turned to the leadership of the House of Representatives, and the question of whether Democrats will move to begin an impeachment inquiry against President Donald Trump.
Those efforts have the support of a slew of progessive politicians, including presidential hopeful Sen. Elizabeth Warren, Rep. Rashida Tlaib, and Rep. Ilhan Omar. Another supporter of impeachment proceedings: former Bush White House's ethics lawyer Richard Painter.
"It's time now to open a formal impeachment inquiry and demand evidence, not just on what's in the Mueller report, but \[on\] President Trump's other violations of the law and the Constitution \[including\] his receipt of emoluments of foreign governments, including the Saudi Arabian government," he told Cheddar.
Those looking for a smoking gun from Mueller's testimonies yesterday were left disappointed, as the former special counselor mostly deferred to his report that had been made public in April. He also avoided discussions of impeachment proceedings throughout the two hearings.
"If the Democrats expected him to come in and say something dramatic, or to come there and act like a movie star, that was foolish. We all knew Robert Mueller was going to be a professional prosecutor," Painter said.
But Painter had tough words for both parties.
He warned that aggressive questioning from Republicans could deter others from entering public service. "It certainly doesn't help to see Robert Mueller treated the way he was yesterday," said Painter.
On the other hand, he said, "The Democrats expect him to carry their water because they're too timid to impeach Donald Trump, or to even open an impeachment inquiry."
"The Russians interfered in an American election, and we need to deal with this now," Painter said. "We also need to pass legislation that will prevent future election meddling."
Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi has maintained that she will not support impeachment, despite pressure from some of her own colleagues.
Politico [reported](https://www.politico.com/story/2019/07/24/pelosi-nadler-rebuff-impeachment-mueller-hearing-1432925) that she told Rep. Jerry Nadler yesterday that drawing articles of impeachment was still premature.
David Nelson, Chief Strategist at Belpointe, joins Cheddar News' Closing Bell, where he says that Wednesday's market movement shows a rotation back into the industries that were hit hard in January, but says his eyes are firmly fixed on the January CPI data set to be released Thursday.
Russia is preparing alongside Belarus for reportedly one of the largest joint military exercises ever held. Some analysts are concerned this could be a disguise for a real attack, while the Kremlin contends that the exercise is meant to confront potential "unprecedented security threats." Christian Whiton, a former State Department senior advisor, joined Cheddar News to break down the still tense situation. "While it could of course be a prelude to invasion, it seems like the Biden administration is signaling that if you look at Europeans, the Germans and Macron … who just met with Putin, they seem to be thinking that maybe this is a show of force by Russia intended at political intimidation, not actual invasion," said Whiton.
Truckers in Canada have blockaded the Ambassador Bridge, the busiest border crossing between Canada and the U.S. protesting a COVID-19 vaccine mandate. Cheddar News spoke with Samir Kapadia, head of trade practice at the Vogal Group, about how this impacts trade between the two countries.
New York City is not only dealing with the ongoing pandemic, it’s also facing a surge in crime. President Biden recently traveled to New York to meet with the city’s new mayor, Eric Adams, to discuss the rise in crime and gun violence.
The president praised Mayor Adams' crimefighting agenda and unveiled a new federal initiative to curb the flow of illegal weapons from the south. Josefa Velásquez, Senior Reporter for THE CITY, joined Cheddar's Fast Forward to talk about how the mayor is battling this increase in crime in his first weeks in office.
The Democratic governors of New Jersey, Connecticut, Delaware, and Oregon say they will lift mask requirements for schools in the coming weeks, reflecting a nationwide shift away from restrictions. Cheddar News speaks with internist Dr. Vivek Cherian whether it's safe to relax the regulation.
Amazon warehouse workers in Alabama are set to begin voting to unionize for a second time after workers at the facility in the town of Bessemer overwhelmingly voted against forming a union during an election early last year; but in November, the National Labor Relations Board overturned the vote, upholding a union challenge of the results which argued that Amazon undermined the conditions for a fair election. Another round of ballots will now be mailed out to works at the warehouse for a so-called re-run election. Director of Labor and Employment Studies at San Francisco State University John Logan and National Field Director for Our Revolution Mike Oles joined Cheddar News' Closing Bell to discuss.
David Daley, author of the book 'Unrigged: How Americans Are Battling Back to Save Democracy,' joins Cheddar News to discuss redistricting battles taking place across the U.S.
