We can debate the merits and risks of impeaching Trump up until the next election. I think the Dems in the House can take a different approach.
After the attacks on 9/11/2001 Congress set up a special committee to investigate the attack on our Nation. In 2016 we were attacked again.
My suggestion is to set up a joint committee consisting of members of the Justice Committee, the Intelligence Committee and the Ethics Committee. Do not call it an Impeachment Inquiry. Refer to it as “The Special Committee to Investigate Threats to our Election Process and our Constitution”.
The committee should look at all threats to our election and to our constitution. Such areas of investigation could include:
1. Russian or other foreign Interference in our elections.
2. Actions that disenfranchise voters.
3. Violations of the emoluments clause.
4. Campaign finance laws that do not prevent accepting information from Foreign sources.
5. Erosion of Congressional authority by the Executive branch including failing to respond to subpoenas.
6. Gerrymandering
7 Misappropriation of Federal Dollars by current and past Cabinet officials and the President (see wall funding.
8. Inappropriate processing of security clearances.
9. The effects of social media on our elections and how to prevent fraudulent stories
10. Politicization of the Census.
All work of this committee should be in open session. It would not be an impeachment inquiry but it would provide Testimony and facts that need to be made Public. I am sure the GOP members of Congress would not approve but if Pelosi establishes this joint committee I don’t see how the GOP could stop it outside of boycotting it. The optics would not be good.
The committee could call a lot of expert witnesses such as Constitutional scholars as well as fact witnesses like Mueller, Comey, Flynn, Manafort, and others. Call Zuckerberg and other social media people. Any witness that refuses to appear would be subpoenaed and held in civil contempt if they refuse to appear.
The key to this is that the word impeachment will never be used but the investigatory powers would be the same as if it were an impeachment hearing. By framing it as protecting our elections and our Constitution, anyone refusing to testify could rightly be called out for not wanting to protect the Constitution or our elections.
Imagine have a two to four hour televised session once per week for the next 10 weeks. It would probably be a ratings blockbuster. Maybe even Trump would beg to get in on it just for the publicity.