N.Y. Rep. Jerry Nadler steps down as top Democrat on House Judiciary Committee

Dec. 4 (UPI) -- Rep. Jerry Nadler, D-N.Y., is resigning as the leading Democrat on the House Judiciary Committee and casting his support for Rep. Jamie Raskin, D-Md., as his replacement.

Nadler has been the top Democrat on the House Judiciary Committee since 2017 and was integral in shaping two impeachment proceedings against then-President Donald Trump in 2018 and 2021, both of which failed in the Senate.

Nadler, 77, has been a member of Congress for 34 years and in a letter to his House Democratic Party colleagues said he is "passing the torch" to Raskin, 61, The Hill reported on Wednesday.

"It has been the greatest honor of my life to serve as chairman and ranking member of the House Judiciary Committee these past seven years," Nadler said Wednesday in a letter to colleagues.

"I am grateful to have had the opportunity to help lead our party's efforts to preserve the rule of law and to provide for a more just society that respects the civil rights and civil liberties of all Americans," Nadler said.

He cited the two impeachments against Trump and passage of the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, which he called the "first significant gun safety legislation" in a generation, and the Respect for Marriage Act that protects same-sex marriage among the legislative achievements of which he is most proud as a member of the Judiciary Committee.

Nadler said Trump's election win renews "threats to our democracy and our way of life" that requires new leadership to address.

"I am very confident that Jamie [Raskin] would ably lead the Judiciary Committee as we confront this growing danger," Nadler said, adding he will continue as an active committee member.

Raskin was Nadler's strongest opponent for the seat as the Democratic Party's top House Judiciary Committee member, Axios reported.

House Democrats generally are purging their committee assignments of older members in a relative youth movement.