A Democratic US Congressman who opposes moves to impeach President Donald Trump has told staff he will become a Republican as soon as next week, according to the New York Times.
New Jersey Congressman Jeff Van Drew is one of just two Democrats who voted against setting up the impeachment inquiry in the US House of Representatives on October 31.
If he changes parties, it will be a sign of the strain the impeachment process is putting on moderate Democrats.
Democratic US Congressman Jeff Van Drew addressing media. Source: AP
Trump carried Van Drew's district in the 2016 presidential election and Democrats in similar districts face a deluge of Republican advertising attacks over impeachment and voters who are divided on the subject.
Democrats in the House on Friday approved two charges against Trump over his efforts to pressure Ukraine to investigate Democratic political rival Joe Biden.
Trump is expected to become the third US president to be impeached when the full Democratic-led House votes on the charges, likely next week, setting up a trial in the Republican-controlled Senate.
Donald Trump Wearing a Make America Great Again Hat. Source: Getty Images
Trump's fellow Republicans have shown no signs of wanting to remove Trump from office.
If the House impeaches Mr Trump, who is charged with abuse of power and obstruction of Congress, he would then go on trial in the Senate. The Republican-led chamber is unlikely to vote to find the president guilty and remove him from office.
