Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., said Tuesday that an inquiry into impeaching President Donald Trump was "an emergency" that must be conducted by the House Judiciary Committee, not a special panel reportedly being considered by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.
"Yes, this is an emergency," the freshman congresswoman said on Twitter. "We don’t have the luxury of time with another committee.
"Judiciary has been investigating and putting the pieces together for months. Impeachment belongs there.
"We must honor jurisdiction, historical precedent and work done," Ocasio-Cortez tweeted, "and allow Judiciary to move forward."
The Washington Post reported Tuesday that Pelosi, D-Calif., and other party leaders are discussing privately whether to create a select committee to conduct an impeachment probe, citing "multiple lawmakers and congressional aides."
The discussions are tentative and involve Pelosi speaking to "key allies in recent days" about the special panel, versus working through the Judiciary Committee, which has been investigating impeachment since the release of the Mueller report in April.
"Nothing has been decided, the individuals cautioned, but some members are expected to publicly endorse the move soon," the Post reports.
Pelosi's office declined to comment, according to the report.
CNN also disclosed Tuesday that Pelosi was planning to put a resolution on the House floor Wednesday to address the controversy surrounding President Trump's call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in July.
In addition, Ocasio-Cortez's tweet included a post from conservative commentator Bill Kristol, who said he now endorsed Judiciary conducting a "fair, fast, and focused inquiry."
Pelosi has been reluctant to pursue an impeachment inquiry, but growing calls by fellow Democrats have apparently reversed her position.