Rep. Steve Chabot wants to head judiciary committee - and avoid Trump impeachment

U.S. Rep. Steve Chabot helped lead the impeachment of Bill Clinton in 1998.

But when it comes to President Trump, he wants to avoid it - and next year he may be in a position to ensure it doesn't happen.

"It's very divisive for the country," Chabot told The Enquirer Friday. "It's something that should be avoided. It's still there if necessary... At this point in this process, I've not seen evidence that tells me we're anywhere close to impeachment as the only option."

Chabot has announced he will run for the head of the House Judiciary Committee, the committee responsible for impeachments and overseeing the administration of justice. Current chairman U.S. Rep. Bob Goodlatte, R-Va., is retiring at the end of this year.

His previous experience with impeachment makes him ideal to head the committee, Chabot said.

He's one of the few remaining Republican House members who was involved in Clinton's impeachment proceedings. Chabot served as one of 13 impeachment floor managers, a job similar to a prosecutor in that they oversaw the presentation of the case against Clinton.

So why was Clinton worthy of impeachment and not Trump?

Clinton was accused of perjury; Trump isn't, Chabot said.

"This president has been accused of saying things that are not true, but not under oath," Chabot said. "If he does so, that's a different story."

If Democrats gain control of the House of Representatives in the November election, Chabot, as the committee's leading Republican, could play a role in pumping the brakes on an impeachment of Trump. Chabot said he would impeach a president, Democrat or Republican, if facts showed "impeachment is appropriate."

Chabot said he's not "a partisan bomb-thrower" and would bring a "constructive, reasoned approach to the whole process."

"If the bomb-throwers are in charge, things could go off the track and take us in a bad direction," Chabot said. "Let the facts speak for themselves."