House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer on Wednesday ruled out Democrats using inherent contempt to enforce subpoenas and became the most senior Democrat to say the chamber should wrap up its impeachment inquiry into President Donald Trump by the end of 2019.

“We made a judgment that we want the American people to understand that we are pursuing not arbitrary action but considered and thoughtful action,” the Maryland Democrat said. “I don’t mean to say by that that inherent contempt is by definition arbitrary but it may be perceived as arbitrary.”

Inherent contempt is an authority the House has to jail, fine or otherwise penalize officials who do not comply with its subpoenas. But the power has not been used since the 1930s, as the House has gone to the courts for relief when it has needed to enforce its subpoenas.

Hoyer cited a spate of recent court cases stemming from congressional investigations into Trump in which judges have upheld the House’s subpoena authority as a reason why the chamber does not need to turn to inherent contempt.