The Pew Research Center’s newest survey shows that a majority of American adults endorse the House’s decision to launch an impeachment inquiry into President Donald Trump, with support even more pronounced among younger age groups, Newsweek reported.
The data, released Thursday, showed that 54 percent of American adults approve of the House’s decision to launch an investigation into the President. Forty-four percent disapproved of the move.
An even higher number—58 percent—said the President had definitely or probably done things that are “grounds for impeachment.”
The study surveyed 3,487 adults between October 1 and 13. Though most supported the investigation, Pew noted that most Americans have not changed their views on the matter since early September before House Leader Nancy Pelosi announced the probe.
However, Pew reported that nine percent of respondents who had initially opposed the investigation have changed their minds and now back it. Most of these—61 percent—were either Democrats or Democrat-leaning independents, though 32 percent were either Republicans or Republican-leaning independents.
Half of all those surveyed in early September supported an impeachment investigation. This survey was conducted before the contents of Trump’s call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky were revealed.
Young Americans were more likely to support the impeachment investigation. Sixty-three percent of those aged 18 to 29 supported the probe, 60 percent of those aged 30 to 49, and 50 percent of those aged 50 to 64. Only the oldest age group—65 years old or more—expressed majority opposition to the impeachment investigation, with just 43 percent in favor.
Regardless of their support for the investigation, Pew’s figures show that a minority of respondents expect a “fair and reasonable” impeachment inquiry. Forty-three percent of those surveyed expected the Republicans to handle the process in an unfair manner, while 47 percent said the same of the Democrats.
Unsurprisingly, there is a significant gulf in support for the investigation between Democrats and Republicans. Eighty-nine percent of Democrats and Democratic leaners currently support the inquiry, while 84 percent of Republicans and Republican leaners disapprove.
Partisan respondents are less, though still significantly, divided on whether the President’s actions are impeachable. The vast majority of Democrats—93 percent—said Trump’s actions are definitely or probably grounds for impeachment. Of those, 70 percent were confident that he could be impeached.
But 80 percent of Republicans surveyed still do not believe that the President’s actions are grounds for impeachment. Only 46 percent, however, said they were confident that his actions were not grounds for impeachment.
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