Rep. Jerrold Nadler

The House Judiciary Committee chaired by Rep. Jerrold Nadler (D-NY) on Thursday approved procedures for an impeachment investigation into President Trump.

“Some call this process an impeachment inquiry. Some call it an impeachment investigation. There is no legal difference between these terms, and I no longer care to argue about the nomenclature,” Nadler said as he opened the meeting. “But let me clear up any remaining doubt: The conduct under investigation poses a threat to our democracy. We have an obligation to respond to this threat. And we are doing so.”

“The resolution before us represents the necessary next step in our investigation of corruption, obstruction and abuse of power,” Nadler said.

Nadler held a presser on Thursday where he asserted that the impeachment investigation will go “well beyond the four corners of the Mueller report.”

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“With these new procedures, we will begin next week an aggressive series of hearings, investigating allegations of corruption, obstruction, and abuse of power against the president. The investigation will go well beyond the four corners of the Mueller report,” Nadler told reporters.

“Trump’s crimes and corruption extend beyond what is detailed in the Mueller report,” Nadler said earlier this week. “The President is in violation of the emoluments clauses of the Constitution as he works to enrich himself, putting the safety and security of our Nation at risk. He has dangled pardons, been involved in campaign finance violations and stonewalled Congress across the board, noting that he will defy all subpoenas.”

It was recently reported that Nadler is investigating Trump’s role in the ‘hush payments’ made to porn star Stormy Daniels and Playboy model Karen McDougal during the 2016 election.

Nadler also said that his committee will be holding hearings this Fall related to the issue of pardons over a joke Trump made about pardoning DHS officials, according to Politico.

Watch Nadler’s opening statement:

Rep. Jerry Nadler: "Some people call this an impeachment inquiry. Some call it an impeachment investigation. There's no legal difference between these terms. And I no longer care to argue about the nomenclature." https://t.co/iPUy5Gjfc5 pic.twitter.com/uXXKCSmLt3 — The Hill (@thehill) September 12, 2019

Ranking member of the Judiciary Committee Doug Collins (R-GA) ripped Nadler and the Dems.

“What’s happened today is great. The Judiciary Committee has become a giant Instagram filter to make you appear that something’s happening that’s not,” Collins said during the meeting on Thursday.