Democratic leader Rep. Hakeem Jeffries weighs aggressive investigations into Trump vs. policy focus

If given control of the U.S. House, Democratic leader Rep. Hakeem Jeffries said his party will dig into the "widespread corruption being unleashed on the American people," but also must pursue meaningful accords with President Donald Trump and Republicans on affordability and other issues.

Jeffries, a Brooklyn native who could become the nation's first Black House speaker, is trying to balance the demands of liberals and others in his caucus who want to see Trump investigated with those of moderates, who worry that pursuit would derail policy goals and feed a narrative that the party is obsessed with Trump.

In an interview with Newsday on Saturday following a campaign event at Mirelle's Restaurant in Westbury, Jeffries, 56, said his expectation is that the restive House Democratic caucus, once in the majority, would "come together around a shared commitment to fighting for an affordable America and driving down the high price of things like groceries, gas, housing and healthcare for the good of the American people."

Jeffries was the featured guest at the early-voting rally for Rep. Tom Suozzi (D-Glen Cove). Four days earlier, he was with Rep. Laura Gillen (D-Rockville Centre) at a closed-door breakfast with local religious leaders. Both Suozzi and Gillen are widely viewed as House moderates, and both have said that addressing concerns and problems Americans face should not lose priority to impeachments or other extended standoffs over investigations with the administration.

Nonpartisan analysts said it is unclear to what extent Jeffries and his lieutenants could pursue their promised "accountability" investigations into alleged corruption by Trump or other Republicans while still hoping to accomplish significant bipartisan legislation.

"That's the million-dollar question," said Joshua Huder, a congressional expert at Georgetown University's Government Affairs Institute.

"It's not clear if the high-profile political fights Democrats will pursue will allow enough space for major policy achievements."

"The House will undoubtedly pursue accountability for government spending, the reflecting pool, the proposed memorial arch, investigations into corruption involving the president and his family, potential impeachments of the president and/or members of his Cabinet — and that's just part of the list," Huder said of potential investigations.

Republicans said such investigations would amount to revenge, and would distract from passing legislation that solves problems.

"If he is in the majority, Hakeem Jeffries will undoubtedly politicize the House and use it to pursue partisan, political investigations, including impeachment," said Tom Dunham, a spokesman for Republican Jeanine Driscoll, the Hempstead Town receiver of taxes who is challenging Gillen. "The American people will recognize this for what it is and reject that type of vindictive agenda."

In stumping for candidates on Long Island and across the country, Jeffries provides plenty of evidence that Democrats would aggressively use their newly acquired majority party subpoena power to unilaterally — without Republican backing — compel administration officials and others to testify and force the production of documents.

At the Saturday event in a restaurant, Jeffries said, "It's important that we bring some accountability in the face of widespread corruption that has been unleashed on the American people, not for partisan reasons, but for patriotic reasons."

"Because," Jeffries went on, "we recognize that if you have folks in office who are spending all their time trying to enrich themselves, or their family members, or their friends, or their donors, they're not focused on making life more affordable, on improving the quality of life for the American people."

But Jeffries also is careful to not to commit to impeachment as something the party definitely would pursue against Trump or others.

Donald Nieman, a Binghamton University history professor and political expert, said there is danger for Democrats if it becomes widely perceived that much of the party's energy will be spent on going after Trump and those in his orbit with impeachments.

"If they go there, they will tie Congress up in proceedings that will end in failure and feed a narrative that Democrats are obsessed with Trump but can't offer the country a compelling vision," he said. 

At the same time, Jeffries is likely to face mounting pressure from inside his Democratic caucus and political base.

There are roughly seven Democratic articles of impeachment resolutions currently filed this session targeting Trump, and more against some of his administration lieutenants.

And as recently as Sept. 15, Jeffries watched as 147 House Democrats bucked him and other leaders in voting to advance articles of impeachment against Trump for his administration’s aggressive immigration crackdowns. That effort was effectively killed by opposition from most Republicans, as well as 18 Democrats including Long Island's Gillen and Suozzi.

A net pickup of just three seats from Tuesday's national results will give Democrats control of the 435-seat chamber come January.

In the interview with Newsday, Jeffries declined to talk much about his own potential historic rise to speaker, which is likely but not certain if Democrats do seize control of the House. The election for speaker will be held among House members on the chamber floor in early January, after a new two-year Congress is sworn.

But Jeffries flatly rejected the suggestion that a newly minted House Democratic majority would be too weighed down with internal fighting and divisions, between moderates and far-left members or progressives.

"What brings the House Democratic Caucus together is a shared commitment to actually solving problems for the American people," Jeffries said. He twice pointed to a housing affordability bill that advanced this session, led by progressive legislators, he noted.

And Jeffries singled out Suozzi as among moderates in the House Democratic ranks who he said is respected by members of both parties, and could help him forge bipartisan deals.

Against this complicated backdrop, Jeffries’ personal leadership approach could be tested. As the Democratic minority leader, Nieman and others said Jeffries has proved to be publicly more laid-back than California's Nancy Pelosi, the most recent Democratic speaker. His approach is viewed as more behind-the-scenes consensus building, without much public confrontation.

Shawn Donahue, a political scientist at the University at Buffalo, said Jeffries could find himself dogged by a far-left Democratic version of the House Freedom Caucus, an ultra-conservative group that has often battled GOP leaders, including some involved in the successful ouster of a former GOP speaker, Kevin McCarthy.

"The left is going to want to do some things on aid to Israel. They are probably also going to want votes on issues that will put the majority makers on the spot, like 'Medicare for All' and abolishing ICE," Donahue predicted.

In an interview, Suozzi said he still opposes talk of Trump impeachment at this time — unless, he said, committee investigations find reasons to call for it. He noted the two Trump impeachments by the House did not result in convictions in a GOP-led Senate, and it is uncertain that chamber will not still be controlled by Republicans.

At the same time, Suozzi said Democrats must exercise its oversight over government agencies and officials, including regarding the Iran war, and how taxpayer funds are being spent. As for Jeffries, he said, "I think he's really good at bringing people together."

Gillen, in a statement, said lowering costs for Americans must be the Democrats’ priority.

"Nassau County families know better than anyone that corruption in government costs them directly, and of course politicians who peddle corruption must be held accountable," she said. "But Congress’ immediate focus has to be on helping families lower costs."

On the other side of the aisle, there is skepticism about Jeffries.

Former Republican Assemb. Michael LiPetri, of Farmingdale, who's facing Suozzi in this election, said it would be "unfortunate" if Suozzi and Democrats take the majority because "people are tired of the finger-pointing politics."

Rep. Nick LaLota (R-Amityville), in a statement, had a more leery view: "While Jeffries is selling voters on accountability and oversight, his true intention is to abolish ICE and usher in the kind of socialism causing chaos in Europe and causing more people to leave New York."

Jeffries, in interviews, has resisted committing to holding votes on progressive policies such as defunding ICE.