GOP donors hearing new warnings about impeachment

GOP donors attending a retreat for Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) in Jackson Hole, Wyo., in August were given a slideshow highlighting the Democrats who would take over committees if Republicans lose the House in 2018, according to CNN.

One slide featured Rep. Elijah Cummings (Md.), who would take over the Oversight panel if Republicans lose their majority. That would give Cummings and Democrats subpoena power, which more and more Republicans, according to CNN, believe would lead to an impeachment of President Trump.

“When Democrats take control of the House they will absolutely move for articles of impeachment,” one Trump confidant predicted to CNN.

{mosads}That seemed to be the goal of the slideshow: underlining to donors the importance of keeping the House in GOP hands to prevent impeachment. 

While the donors weren’t warned of impeachment outright, they were told that Democrats would block the GOP agenda and likely launch more probes into Russian interference in the presidential election.

It’s just one example of Republicans highlighting growing worries about the possibility that Trump could face impeachment.

The chances of Trump getting impeached would almost certainly grow if Democrats regained the House.

Three Democrats already have filed articles of impeachment against him. Rep. Al Green (D-Texas) unveiled his articles of impeachment last week, but didn’t appear for the vote on the measure and it wasn’t brought up for a vote.

It also makes sense for Republicans to warn their donors of the possibility as they seek to fundraise in advance of the midterm elections. 

Democrats would need to gain 24 seats to take back the House, a high bar but one that isn’t completely out of reach.

In the Senate, Republicans hold a 52-48 majority. A favorable map decreases the chances they’ll lose the Senate; they are defending just nine seats compared to 25 for the Democrats. Still, losing the Senate is not out of the question for Republicans. 

Divisions between Trump and his party have Republican fears growing that their congressional candidates could be hurt in the midterms. Incumbents such as Sen. Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.) are under pressure both from primary challengers on the right, who see them as insufficiently supportive of Trump, and liberal challengers.

Impeachment could still be difficult. While a House vote to impeach would require a majority vote, a conviction in the Senate would need the support of two-thirds of the body. 

Marc Short, Trump’s director of legislative affairs, told CNN that Trump is “keenly aware” of the impact Democrats taking over the House could have on his administration.