Thread by @JuddLegum

1. I'm very skeptical of these latest nods toward impeachment by Nadler.

Let me explain.

washingtonpost.com/politics/nadle…

2. Nadler says he's going to sue to compel McGahn and potentially others to testify. He also wants the grand jury information.

The premise to all of this is that there is not currently enough information to justify impeachment.

3. I think that's wrong but there is a bigger problem.

TIME.

Time is not on the Democrats' side.

There are 15 months until the next election.

Now we are setting up a process of lengthy litigation to see if we can get some witnesses before impeachment can be considered.

4. An important point: Nadler doesn't really need this info.

Take McGahn for example. What's in the Mueller report from McGahn is damning. He says that Trump ordered him to fire Mueller to end the investigation.

What more do you need?

5. Although there are 15 months until the next election, in reality you have about 5 months to impeach Trump. Once voting starts in the Democratic primary, impeachment is going to be seen as a distraction from campaign that robs the eventual nominee of free media

6. I think Nadler does want to impeach Trump but he'll have to decide to do it. Nothing in the lawsuits is going to massively shift public opinion.

I worry that the lawsuits are being used to mollify people in the Democratic party who want Trump impeached (about 75%).

7. Another question: McGahn declined to testify in May, more that two months ago. Why did it take until today to even decide to file the suit?