Dem: Illegal Payments Impeachable Crime12/09 11:31

   WASHINGTON (AP) -- The top Democrat on the House Judiciary Committee says he 
believes it would be an "impeachable offense" if it's proved that President 
Donald Trump directed illegal hush-money payments to women during the 2016 
campaign.

   But Rep. Jerry Nadler of New York, who's expected to chair the panel in 
January, says it's unclear whether that alone would justify Congress launching 
impeachment proceedings.

   Nadler tells CNN's "State of the Union" that Congress, the Justice 
Department and the special counsel need to get to the bottom of the 
allegations, including questions about lying about business arrangements with 
Russians and possible obstruction of justice.

   In legal filings Friday, prosecutors for the first time tied Trump to a 
federal crime, accusing him of directing payments to women who claimed 
extramarital affairs. He has denied wrongdoing.


(KA)