'Not ruled anything out': Kushner meets Hakeem Jeffries with 3rd Trump impeachment on the table

WASHINGTON, DC: Rep Hakeem Jeffries met privately with Jared Kushner as he keeps open the possibility of impeaching President Donald Trump for a third time if Democrats win the House.

Jeffries has said Democrats have “not ruled anything in and not ruled anything out” on accountability if they regain the House majority.

The New York Times reported on Sunday, August 23, that the men met privately in recent weeks at a mutual friend’s New York space.

Hakeem Jeffries leaves impeachment options open

Jeffries, the New York Democrat and House minority leader, has not publicly committed to a third impeachment but has said Democrats would consider accountability measures if they win control of the chamber, the report said.

“We’ve not ruled anything in and not ruled anything out in terms of accountability,” Jeffries told the outlet in an interview last month, adding that his focus would be on forcing out major Trump officials.

“We’ve got to make sure we continue to get rid of toxic Trump cabinet secretaries,” he said. “Pete Hegseth, in my view, should be next on the list.”

A Democratic House majority would put Jeffries in line to become speaker, while progressives would press him to use that power as a check on Trump, including through aggressive oversight, the report stated.

Jared Kushner seeks common ground with Hakeem Jeffries

The meeting with Trump’s son-in-law was described by one person familiar with it as a broad conversation and by another as a catch-up between two men who have stayed in touch since working together on a criminal justice bill during Trump’s first term, according to the report.

They discussed housing, immigration, and the high cost of living as possible areas of common ground.

Kushner also suggested that Jeffries meet with White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, according to two people familiar with the meeting.

Kushner, who is no longer formally part of Trump’s government, has been deeply involved in the president’s efforts involving Iran, Gaza and Ukraine.

He has told people that if anything bipartisan is to get done with Congress, Jeffries is the most serious Democratic leader.

Neither man commented through aides. Jeffries instead said Democrats would only cut deals with the administration if Republicans moved toward Democrats on affordability.

“Throughout this Congress, Republicans have adopted a my-way-or-the-highway approach to governing that has failed the American people,” Jeffries said, the outlet reported.

Trump and Hakeem Jeffries have clashed publicly

The private conversation came as Trump and Democrats have been attacking each other on the campaign trail while Republicans fight to retain their House and Senate majorities.

Trump has called Jeffries a “thug” and a “low IQ” person, while Jeffries has said Trump is extreme and corrupt and vowed Democrats would “hold the crooks accountable” if they won control.

Trump recently told Punchbowl News, “I think he’s a nice guy,” and said he would probably get along with Jeffries well.

Their only Oval Office meeting in Trump’s second term was billed as an effort to avert a government shutdown, the report said.

After that meeting, Trump posted an AI-generated image of Jeffries wearing a sombrero.

Jeffries called it racist and challenged Trump to insult him “to my face.”

Soon after, the government shutdown began.

Trump has mostly steered around Congress during his second term, according to the report, while facing little pushback from Republican leaders. 

If Democrats take the House, Jeffries would have to balance government funding with calls from Democrats to oppose Trump and possible pleas for another impeachment, the newspaper reported.