The Democratic-led US House of Representatives Judiciary Committee, criticised for an unorthodox impeachment investigation of President Donald Trump, is poised to vote next week on a resolution to formalise the inquiry, according to a source on Saturday.

The panel has rebranded what was originally an oversight investigation of Mr Trump’s presidency as an “impeachment” investigation. The aim is to decide by year end on whether to recommend articles of impeachment to the full House.

As early as Wednesday, committee members could vote on a measure that would better define the investigation, according to the source.

The committee’s impeachment approach has been criticised by Republicans for avoiding a precedent set during impeachment inquiries against former presidents Richard Nixon and Bill Clinton.

In those cases inquiries were formally authorised by the full House. This time, Democrats have steered clear of a House vote that could prove risky for Democratic freshmen from swing districts where impeachment is unpopular with voters.

For much of the year, House judiciary committee chairman Jerrold Nadler has focused on the findings of former special counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation into Russian election meddling in the 2016 presidential election and evidence that Trump sought to impede the inquiry.

Since Mr Mueller’s testimony in July, Mr Nadler has broadened the investigation to include allegations that Mr Trump has improperly mixed his business interests with his role as president, dangled pardons to encourage official misconduct and paid money during the 2016 campaign to silence women claiming to have had affairs with him.

Though the new measure is not expected to be introduced until Monday, the source said the resolution would allow staff attorneys to question hearing witnesses, set procedures for closed-door reviews of grand jury material, allow White House counsel to respond in writing to the committee and usher in other changes.

The new procedures could be in place for a September 17th hearing at which Mr Trump’s former campaign manager Corey Lewandowski is scheduled to testify, along with former Trump White House aides Rob Porter and Rick Dearborn.

It is unclear whether the panel would recommend the new resolution for a full House vote.

A more formal investigation could strengthen separate committee lawsuits seeking federal court orders to access Mueller grand jury material and compel testimony from former White House Counsel Don McGahn. – Reuters