Billionaire Democratic donor Tom Steyer is launching a digital ad buy on Thursday night, calling on House Minority Whip Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) to support impeaching President Trump after the congressman called impeachment efforts “premature.”
The Facebook ads, which were first shared with The Hill, urge Hoyer’s constituents to sign Steyer’s petition demanding Congress support impeaching Trump and to call on the Maryland Democrat to support removing the president from office. The digital spots will run in Hoyer’s district and target people over the age of 18. The budget, which is in the tens of thousands range, will get the ads about a million impressions.
“Our Democratic leadership has a moral responsibility to do what’s right,” one Facebook ad reads, with a photo of Hoyer. “Add your name to my petition urging Whip Steny Hoyer to impeach Trump.”
{mosads}Steyer, an environmental activist considering a run for political office, has been making repeated calls for impeachment. He sent letters — first to Democratic congressional offices then to mayors and governors around the country — about supporting Trump’s removal from office. Steyer also recently launched a $10 million national ad campaign calling for impeachment.
Hoyer told reporters on Tuesday that Democratic leaders are currently against the push for impeachment, but would be open to potentially exploring it in the future.
“I think the leader and I have made it very clear that impeachment … is premature at this point in time,” Hoyer said, according to the Washington Examiner. “It’s not necessarily off the table at some time in the future, but is premature at this point in time.”
Steyer’s impeachment efforts come as he continues to mull a run for Senate against Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), who has already drawn a primary challenger running to her left. Steyer has previously said he’d make a decision about running for office soon.