House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, in an interview airing Thursday, said she does not think the impeachment inquiry on President Donald Trump has gone past no return, and she does not think a vote to impeach him is inevitable in the House.
"We just go forward and follow the facts," the California Democrat told ABC News' "Good Morning America" anchor George Stephanopoulos. "There are some who say 'why are you calling for an inquiry? You should just call to impeach.'"
But that, Pelosi said, would not be a fair way to proceed, and it is not "worthy of the Constitution," so lawmakers should "collect the facts."
Meanwhile, the speaker, who was being interviewed at about the same time Trump was lashing out at her and House Intelligence Chairman Adam Schiff from the White House and tweeting about "Do Nothing" Democrats, said that it's "up to him" on matters such as lowering the costs of prescription drugs and passing the U.S.-Mexico-Canada trade agreement.
But, Pelosi said she thinks Trump knows the argument that can be made against him, and he's "scared" and trying to "divert attention" to make it seem as if the impeachment inquiry is standing in the way of passing legislation.
She added that when she spoke with Trump, though, rather than hearing the fear in his voice, she heard surprise.
"He didn't understand what I thought that he did was wrong," said Pelosi, "that he was undermining our national security, that he was undermining our Constitution by his actions and he was undermining the integrity of our elections."
She also rejected Trump's argument that there was no quid pro quo mentioned between Trump and Ukraine's president, when he asked him about Democratic contender Joe Biden and his son, Hunter.
"It's not necessary (for the inquiry) but there is a quid pro quo if you're only a couple of days apart and granting or withholding (aid) and then asking for a favor to create dirt on your political opponent," said Pelosi.
Pelosi, meanwhile, defended Schiff for his dramatic recitation of the phone call between Trump and Ukraine's president.
"I want the people to know what that phone call was about," said Pelosi. "It's sad but it's using the president's own words...he didn't make it up."
She added that she didn't take her oath of office to support and defend the U.S. Constitution, just as long as Republicans can understand it.
"So the fact is that their loyalty is to Trump and not the Constitution is not going to slow down or impair our ability to keep the republic," the speaker said.
Sandy Fitzgerald ✉
Sandy Fitzgerald has more than three decades in journalism and serves as a general assignment writer for Newsmax covering news, media, and politics.
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