Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (D-Hawaii) resisted calls for impeachment as more Democratic representatives are requesting that inquiries begin.
The Democratic presidential candidate told Fox News she will attend Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s (D-Calif.) scheduled meeting Wednesday to discuss next steps, but that impeachment would be “terribly divisive.”
“I’ve been consistent in saying I believe that impeachment at this juncture would be terribly divisive for the country at a time when we are already extremely divided,” Gabbard said.{mosads}
The Hawaii representative said impeachment would intensify “hyperpartisanship” that is “driving our country apart.”
“I think it’s important to beat Donald Trump, that’s why I’m running for president,” she said. “But I think it’s the American people who need to make their voices heard making that decision.”
Several Democrats have called for impeachment inquiries in the past few days after it was reported President Trump pressured the Ukrainian president to investigate Democratic presidential candidate and former Vice President Joe Biden’s son in a phone call in July.
Pelosi has said if the Trump administration does not provide the House with the whistleblower report associated with that call, investigations into the president will reach “a whole new stage.”
She has maintained that the American public would need to support impeachment in order for the House to move forward with it.