California Democrats plan to investigate Trump but leave a third impeachment off the table for now

California Democrats, poised to play a prominent role in the next Congress, plan to use their newly won power to investigate President Trump over allegations that corruption, cronyism and self-dealing enriched the president, his family and his allies while housing, fuel and food costs skyrocketed for everyday Americans.

The potential targets are wide-ranging, from immigration raids and the fatal shootings of protesters by federal agents to Trump’s ties to the late Jeffrey Epstein and billions of dollars in investment made by Middle Eastern countries allegedly seeking to influence U.S. foreign policy.

The war with Iran, which increased oil prices, the military operation in Venezuela and dizzying tariff policies are also expected to come under intense scrutiny.

However, Democrats are notably focused on investigations, not the other “I-word” — impeachment.

“That’s not on my bingo card,” said Rep. Pete Aguilar (D-Redlands), who is expected to become House Democratic whip. “We’re focused on accountability, and we’re focused on holding people accountable, and that should be to follow the evidence wherever it leads … but that’s not anything that House Democrats are discussing at this point.”

Sen. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), who played a leading role in the impeachment proceedings against Trump in 2020, said the priority is to alleviate the affordability crisis, but that the administration’s actions must be scrutinized for causing it.

“Our oversight agenda should be focused on corruption that has led to higher costs,” said Schiff, who has been making calls to colleagues about his desire to serve in leadership next year given his fundraising prowess, his visibility communicating the party’s priorities and his oversight experience, according to a source close to the senator. “Corruption involving the oil industry, allowing the oil industry to gouge consumers, corruption that is costing taxpayers by raising the cost of federal contracts because of kickbacks or sweetheart deals or contributions to ballrooms.”

Judicial appointments are also a priority for California’s two senators, who could review appointments to the federal courts across the nation as well as Supreme Court nominees if any of the nine justices retire in the next two years. Schiff, who lives in Burbank, serves alongside Sen. Alex Padilla of Porter Ranch on the Judiciary Committee.

Committee Democrats, Schiff said, would be able to block federal judicial appointments of “incompetent partisans … who have no business being on the bench, and in any other administration would have never been nominated.”

Schiff also hopes to pursue an enforceable code of ethics and term limits on the high court. (The Supreme Court has a code of conduct but has resisted the idea of adopting one written by Congress.)

Democrats’ sweeping victories in the Nov. 3 election may prompt a significant upheaval in the already-fraught power dynamic between Trump and Schiff.

Trump, who was acquitted by the Senate in two first-term impeachments, has relentlessly attacked Schiff, from mocking him as “Shifty Schiff” to ordering investigations into unfounded allegations that he committed mortgage fraud.

Rep. Robert Garcia (D-Long Beach) speaks at a Texas Democratic Party news conference in Texas in September.

(Gabriela Passos / Associated Press)

Trump’s response to this new round of Democratic-led investigations is expected to be just as aggressive. On Monday, White House counsel Will Scharf sent Rep. Robert Garcia (D-Long Beach), who is expected to chair the House’s chief investigative committee, a letter warning that he and his Democratic colleagues could face criminal scrutiny over their planned investigations.

Shortly after the election, Garcia made it clear that the incoming Democratic-led Congress will hold the Trump administration to account. “LAWYER UP,” he posted on social media.

“Taking on the Trumps and their grift is taking on corruption, but it’s also going to lower your costs,” Garcia said. “Prices are up at the gas pump because of Trump’s corruption in Iran, because Trump is paying off oil companies in Venezuela while they’re making record profits.

“While the Trumps get richer on their crypto schemes, the American public is struggling with gas and groceries. It’s all connected.”

The White House dismissed Democrats’ plans as counterproductive to the nation’s economy.

“As the President has said, he’s willing to work with anyone to continue delivering victories for hardworking Americans,” spokesperson Lauren Bis said in an email. “If Democrats choose to pursue sham investigations and radical left policies, they are choosing to work against the American people.”

After Trump threatened Democrats who pursue investigations, Garcia sought to turn it to his advantage.

“Because I promised that our incoming House Oversight majority will hold him accountable, investigate his administration’s abuses, and pull back the curtain on his corruption, he is trying to use the legal system as a weapon to stop us,” Garcia wrote in a fundraising email to supporters.

While some ballots are still being counted, Democrats had won 256 House seats to the Republicans’ 169, as of Friday, according to the Associated Press. In the Senate, Democrats and the two independents who caucus with them had secured 55 seats to the GOP’s 44.

The Democratic gains in traditionally Republican states and congressional districts could be short-lived, however, if the incoming Congress is consumed by political revenge and fails to address voters’ economic concerns.

“Managing a very large caucus that represents America is going to be thrilling and important as we change America’s direction to focus on affordability and accountability,” said Rep. Ted Lieu (D-Torrance), who is expected to lead the House Democratic caucus.

The former prosecutor said he views an impeachment as akin to an indictment, which shouldn’t be pursued based on news reports but on witnesses’ testimony, documents and tangible evidence.

“After we do those investigations, then we can make a decision,” Lieu said. “I absolutely support investigating the corruption in the Trump administration, and then we can see where that leads.”

Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-San Francisco) faced the challenges of balancing the various wings of her party during Trump’s first term. She rebuffed liberal members’ initial calls for impeachment over allegations of administration obstruction into the investigation of Russian interference in the 2016 election.

Pelosi eventually supported impeachment after allegations surfaced that Trump threatened to withhold military aid to Ukraine unless the nation launched an investigation into the Biden family, and in the aftermath of the deadly Jan. 6, 2021, riot and insurrection at the U.S. Capitol.

Pelosi, who is retiring, did not respond to a request for comment.

Barbara Boxer, who represented California in the U.S. Senate for 24 years, noted a similar phenomenon when Republicans impeached President Clinton while she was in office.

“To say that it sucked all the air out of the room is not even describing it,” Boxer said, adding that the attention over the proceedings sidelined policy actions that could have benefited the American people.

This time, Boxer said, incoming Democrats will need to focus on common goals, even when they disagree. While she believes some members will place ideology ahead of pragmatism, the expected House speaker, Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.), a moderate, has enough support to neutralize challenges from either wing of the party.

“Everyone under this big umbrella has to understand that they have to come to the center to stay out of those storms,” she said. “Because if they stay on their right and they stay on their left, they’re gonna lose in the next election.”