Raskin Eyes Third Trump Impeachment as Democrats Seize House Control

Jamie Raskin moved closer to leading the House Judiciary Committee on Tuesday as Democrats secured control of both chambers of Congress. If the party selects him, the Maryland representative will become the first person from the state to hold that position since 1839. Raskin indicated that a third impeachment of President Donald Trump is a possibility under his leadership.

The representative, who resides in Takoma Park, stated that his committee would consider impeachment proceedings alongside other legislative priorities. He noted that Trump holds half of all presidential impeachment votes in American history. Raskin described impeachment as a constitutional tool for self-defense against a president who acts like a king or emperor. He emphasized that the process should be neither a fetish nor a taboo.

Beyond impeachment, Raskin outlined specific legislative goals for his new term. He plans to draft bills requiring background checks for private gun sales, not just purchases from licensed dealers. He also intends to increase scrutiny of antitrust settlements, which he criticized as a pay-to-play system that favors politically connected corporations. These moves aim to close loopholes in current federal regulations.

Raskin’s appointment would expand the committee’s capacity significantly. His staff is expected to grow to as many as 70 members, doubling its current size. This increase in resources will allow the committee to conduct more extensive investigations into the Trump administration’s actions. Raskin said he wants to prevent the government from being used as a weapon against the president’s political enemies.

The representative addressed supporters in a Bethesda hotel ballroom on Tuesday night, calling the election result a critical turning point for the country. He joked that his family was absent because his youngest daughter, Tabitha, was in labor in New York. Raskin, 63, spent the day visiting polling places in his Montgomery County district, where his reelection for a sixth term was assured.

Political experts suggest the new Democratic majority should focus on visible achievements early in the term. Roger Hartley, a professor at the University of Baltimore College of Public Affairs, advised the party to pick battles wisely to hold the administration accountable. Raskin has positioned himself as a prominent campaign surrogate, traveling to competitive Republican districts to support Democratic candidates.

Raskin joined the House in 2017 and served as the lead manager for Trump’s second impeachment trial in 2021. He previously considered running for the U.S. Senate in 2023 but withdrew due to a lymphoma diagnosis and chemotherapy treatment. The new committee chair will take office in January, beginning a new era of oversight for the Trump administration.