Legacy moment: Pelosi leads ‘somber’ Trump impeachment

House’s center of power took a seat toward back of chamber Wednesday. Her golden mace brooch, symbol of House and speaker’s authority, glinted.

Speaker Nancy Pelosi spent much of historic day within a few steps of cloakroom door, away from better-lit seats where manrs and members were debating impeachment. Only briefly, she stepped into glare of well.

“Today, as speaker of House, I solemnly and sly open debate on impeachment of president of United States,” Pelosi said.

Like it or t, Pelosi’s role leing Trump’s expected impeachment will dramatically shape her legacy after more than 30 years in Congress. So in a town where body langu and proximity often convey power, Pelosi went with a show of confidence, sitting quietly for long stretches flipping through or work, checking her phone and keeping an eye on debate.

Being remembered for impeachment is t something she relishes after a career spanning six presidents, several wars, pass of Affordable Care Act and her own debut as speaker, second in line to presidency. But she said Trump h left Democrats with “ choice” or than to act.

Pelosi arrived in chamber with Democrats largely unified, thanks to a careful balancing act that played out over several months. House was impeaching Trump, as liberals h long demanded. impeachment articles centered on Trump’s pressure on Ukraine, as moderates wanted. And a slate of or legislation was wrapped, giving all of Democrats achievements to show off at home.

Pelosi’s hold on caucus me it possible for her to le just by being re, rar than openly twisting arms as she h during pass of health care law. Democrats lost House next year, and with it, Pelosi lost speaker’s post.

Back in possession of gavel this year, Pelosi resisted impeachment until a whistleblower report revealed Trump’s pressure on Ukraine to investigate his political rivals. That, she said, House could t igre. But neir would y celebrate it.

“He gave us choice,” Pelosi, cl in black, said from well of House.

Trump, a lifelong businessman w face-to-face with an equivalent branch of government, insists he is victim of Democrats who have wanted to impeach him from start.

He weighed in on Pelosi’s legacy, too, predicting on Twitter she’ll go down as history’s “worst speaker.” In a letter released on eve of voting, he said Pelosi “is after entire Republican Party.”

Pelosi’s ultimate power moment Wednesday was a stark departure from where she was a year ago, after 2018 elections ushered in a new generation of lawmakers. Some newcomers, such as Virginia Rep. Abigail Spanberger, did t vote for Pelosi to return to speakership.

But many more, such as Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, ultimately helped put Pelosi back on top.

What unfolded since n has been a study in Pelosi’s ability to play power game against Trump. Earlier this year, she forced him to retreat and reopen government without border wall he demanded. She n invited him to deliver his State of Union speech from House chamber — but during event threw her particular brand of she his way by smirk-and-clap from above and behind him.

She did it again during a White House meeting in October. In an im released by White House, Pelosi can be seen standing and pointing a finger across a table at him, while president says something back. men on Trump’s side are looking away. Pelosi walked out of meeting immediately after.

All along, even as she derided Trump’s “manhood” in a private meeting, Pelosi resisted impeaching Trump. It was too divisive, and country was alrey too divided, she said.

But in September, a group of new lawmakers from Trump-won districts, including Spanberger, gave Pelosi cover to proceed with an impeachment inquiry. y wrote an op-ed published in Washington Post supporting impeachment over Trump’s conduct toward Ukraine.

“A solemn moment” has been Pelosi’s mess to Democrats throughout Intelligence and Judiciary Committee hearings that followed. more boasts that “we’re going to impeach morf—ker,” as freshman Rep. Rashida Tlaib of Michigan declared on her first day in office. Democrats, Pelosi me clear in public and private, were t to celebrate when House approves articles of impeachment.

Pelosi could have spent day Wednesday in speaker’s chair, gavel in hand, though that would have been unusual, an aide said. She could have camped out in television frame, closer to Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerrold Nler, who was managing debate. She might have sat in front row, as several new members did.

But re was need. By time she entered chamber Wednesday morning, Spanberger and all but two Democrats stood toger to vote for impeachment.

In well of House, Pelosi said thing short of future of democracy was at stake.

“If we do t act w, we would be derelict in our duty,” she said.

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