Rep. Nadler: Trump’s Campaign Finance Violations May Be Impeachable Because It Subverted the Election

EXCERPT:

CHUCK TODD: Obviously, Watergate did eventually have that. Let me ask you this final question here: Back in 1999, you are, during the debate about whether or not President Clinton obstructed justice, you said at the time you weren't convinced that a president could obstruct justice. Do you still feel that way, that it’s not one of -- I think the quote, "It might not be impeachable." Put it this way: That obstruction of justice might not be an impeachable offense.

REP. JERROLD NADLER: Well, I don't remember saying that, but if I said it, I said it. But no, I don't agree with that today. A president, anybody can obstruct justice. Obstruction of justice under certain circumstances might be an impeachable offense. Remember, there's a very big difference between a crime, which may or may not be impeachable, and an impeachable offense, which doesn't have to be a crime. An impeachable offense--

CHUCK TODD: So wait. There are some crimes that the president could commit that you would think is not impeachable?

REP. JERROLD NADLER: Yes.

CHUCK TODD: Like what?

REP. JERROLD NADLER: Absolutely.

CHUCK TODD: The affairs?

REP. JERROLD NADLER: Well--

CHUCK TODD: Paying these campaign finance, this wouldn't, to you, rise to impeachable?

REP. JERROLD NADLER: No, that might, because it implicates subverting the election process.

CHUCK TODD: But you're skeptical, it sounds like.

REP. JERROLD NADLER: I don't know. I have studied that. But certainly I said at the time that perjury with regard to a private sexual affair did not threaten the constitutional order. It's a crime, but was not an impeachable offense. Perjury regarding an attempt by a president to subvert the constitutional order to aggrandize power probably would be an impeachable offense.