Top House Democrat rips 'studio gangster' Trump | TheHill - The Hill

House Democratic Caucus Chairman Hakeem JeffriesHakeem Sekou Jeffries The Hill's Morning Report - Pelosi remains firm despite new impeachment push Overnight Defense: Trump officials say efforts to deter Iran are working | Trump taps new Air Force secretary | House panel passes defense bill that limits border wall funds House Democrats press leaders to start Trump impeachment MORE (D-N.Y.) on Sunday blasted President TrumpDonald John Trump Papadopoulos on AG's new powers: 'Trump is now on the offense' Pelosi uses Trump to her advantage Mike Pence delivers West Point commencement address MORE as a “studio gangster” — suggesting he talks tough but doesn't back it up — over his recent behavior.

In an interview on NBC's “Meet the Press,” Jeffries said that Trump is acting like a “tough guy,” and pointed to his decision last week to walk out of an infrastructure meeting with Speaker Nancy PelosiNancy Pelosi Pelosi uses Trump to her advantage Fake Pelosi video sparks fears for campaigns Trump goes scorched earth against impeachment talk MORE (D-Calif.) after she said she believed the president engaged in a “cover-up.”

“You know, the president didn't just walk out on a meeting with Nancy Pelosi and infrastructure,” Jeffries said. “He walked out on the American people.”

“Donald Trump is functionally a studio gangster. He pretends to be a tough guy but he really is just playing that role on TV,” Jeffries added. “Hopefully, he will have gotten this temper tantrum out of his system.”

Trump’s move furthered an already brewing feud with Pelosi over Democrats’ investigations of his finances and conduct in office. After walking out of the meeting, he threatened that he wouldn’t work with Democrats on their legislative priorities unless they shut down their probes. The heated back-and-forth with Pelosi has also led to increased calls for impeachment from within the House.

Jeffries said Sunday that while he “certainly” believes Trump committed obstruction of justice in special counsel Robert MuellerRobert (Bob) Swan Mueller The Hill's 12:30 Report: Trump orders more troops to Mideast amid Iran tensions Trump: Democrats just want Mueller to testify for a 'do-over' Graham: Mueller investigation a 'political rectal exam' MORE’s investigation, he still thinks Democrats need to focus primarily on their legislative agenda before jumping to start impeachment hearings.

“Democrats can sing and dance at the same time just like Beyoncé,” he said, but vowed that Democrats would not “over-investigate” or “over-politicize” in their checks on Trump.

“We don't work for Donald Trump. We work for the American people,” he said. “We have a constitutional responsibility to serve as a check and balance on a potentially out of control executive branch. But we will not overreach. We will not over-investigate, we will not over-politicize that responsibility. We will proceed as Speaker Pelosi has eloquently laid out, methodically yet aggressively to get to the truth.”

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