Dem congressman to file articles of impeachment on the first day Democrats take over the House

In an interview on NBC's "Today," Rep. Nancy Pelosi (R-Calif.) said that while she couldn't rule out the House of Representatives impeaching President Donald Trump, it shouldn't be done for political reasons.

Pelosi, 78, is expected to be elected Thursday as Speaker of the House of Representatives.

What did she say?

Pelosi admitted during the meeting that impeachment proceedings would be very divisive, particularly if they appeared to be politically motivated.

"Well, we have to wait and see what happens with the Mueller report," Pelosi told NBC host Savannah Guthrie, referring to the Russian interference investigation by special counsel Robert Mueller. "We shouldn't be impeaching for a political reason — and we shouldn't avoid impeachment for a political reason. We just have to see how it comes."

If the House of Representatives, which beginning on Thursday has a Democratic majority, did pass articles of impeachment against Trump, those would then have to be sent to the Senate. Since the Senate has a GOP majority, it is unlikely that they would convict Trump.

Pelosi also said that it was "hard to pin the president down on facts" when he "resists science, evidence, data, [and] truth."

Guthrie also asked Pelosi about existing Department of Justice guidelines, which "state that a sitting president cannot be indicted."

Pelosi quickly dismissed this. "I do not think that that is conclusive. No. I do not," Pelosi said, adding that she thought whether or not a sitting president could be indicted while in office was "an open discussion."

A Democratic congressman will introduce articles of impeachment on Thursday

Pelosi may have her first chance to demonstrate how she would handle articles of impeachment soon. A member of her own party has indicated that he will introduce them on Thursday.

Rep. Brad Sherman (D-Calif.) tried unsuccessfully to pass this same measure in 2017. Sherman's articles of impeachment focus on Trump's firing of former FBI Director James Comey.

"There is no reason it shouldn't be before the Congress," Sherman said of his articles of impeachment, according to the Los Angeles Times. "Every day, Donald Trump shows that leaving the White House would be good for our country."