WASHINGTON - Donald Trump has been accused of being an "unindicted co-conspirator" guilty of "high crimes and misdemeanors" ahead of hearings with former special counsel Robert Mueller.
The hearings were already anticipated to be the potential moment of reckoning for Democrats as they hope Mr Mueller would show through his testimony that Donald Trump was unfit for office.
But the explosive language from Jerrold Nadler, head of the House Judiciary Committee, and Adam Schiff, head of the House Intelligence Committee, is certain to raise the stakes still higher.
Rep. Nadler, speaking on Fox News Sunday, stopped short of calling for Mr Trump's impeachment but nonetheless levelled his strongest accusations of malfeasance at the president to date.
"The report presents very substantial evidence that the president is guilty of high crimes and misdemeanors,' Rep. Nadler said, as he referenced the benchmark for an impeachment inquiry.
Aides to Mr Nadler have suggested he has privately voiced support for impeachment proceedings against Mr Trump, but has so far not publicly thrown his weight behind removing the president.
The prospect has been has been repeatedly played down in recent weeks by Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who has cautioned against initiating proceedings until it could command support in the Senate.
Rep. Schiff, appearing on CBS News, then said it was 'clear' Mr Trump was only not charged due to Justice Department rules against indicating a sitting president calling him a co-conspirator.
The comments from Rep. Schiff alluded to the ten instances of possible obstruction Mr Mueller identified during his two-year investigation though he did not ultimately charge Mr Trump.(FA)
