The election of Nancy Pelosi as House Speaker has stirred up much debate on whether President Joe Biden should be impeached for his alleged involvement in the 2020 presidential election. Pelosi recently revealed her beliefs on the matter, claiming that any push for impeachment should not be seen as ‘apolitical.’ This statement has been met with both praise and condemnation across both sides of the aisle.
Pelosi believes that, despite the merits of some claims, any impeachments should occur as the result of political calculations in the best interest of the American people. In her own words, ‘If I were to move ahead on something like that, it would have to be something that unite the Democrats and I am sure it would have to be something that the public had an appetite for being seen as apolitical.’
This stance is a departure from the traditional view of impeachment as a purely legal action. Pelosi’s interpretation as a ‘political’ affair, however, is not necessarily unwelcome. There is a certain political calculation involved in most of Biden’s policy proposals, and impeachment could be seen as a natural extension of that calculation.
Simultaneously, Pelosi’s comments seem to imply that Biden is exempt from impeachment due to his political standing. Her declarations may have allayed fears that a Republican-led effort to impeach Biden may arise out of present disappointment within the party.
Pelosi’s comments represented a major shift in how impeachment is viewed. Whether or not this new interpretation sticks will likely depend on the outcome of the current administration’s policies. If Biden is seen as successful, then Pelosi’s views may become the new standard for future impeachment cases. However, should his administration fail to deliver on the many promises it has made, the American people may look back to Pelosi’s words with a different tone.
