Pelosi says impeachment ‘not a priority’ after Cohen's guilty plea

House Minority Leader Nancy PelosiNancy PelosiOvernight Health Care: US shatters single day COVID record with over 100,000 cases | Pelosi announces COVID-19 testing expansion for House | Two states to require masks in public at all times Democrats' post-election 'family meeting' descends into chaos Pelosi announces COVID-19 testing expansion for House MORE (D-Calif.) on Wednesday said impeaching President TrumpDonald John TrumpBiden pulls ahead of Trump in Georgia Biden takes lead in Georgia, makes gains in Pennsylvania Gore: This election is 'completely different' than 2000 MORE is "not a priority," despite Michael Cohen's guilty plea to campaign finance violations that implicated the president.

"Impeachment has to spring from something else," Pelosi, who has long downplayed the possibility of impeachment, told The Associated Press.

Cohen, who was Trump's longtime lawyer and fixer, pleaded guilty on Tuesday to a number of tax and bank fraud charges as well as a campaign finance violation. He said in court that Trump had directed him to arrange payments to two women during his 2016 presidential campaign in exchange for their silence about alleged affairs with Trump.

"If and when the information emerges about that, we’ll see," Pelosi said. "It’s not a priority on the agenda going forward unless something else comes forward.”

Pelosi said Democrats should focus on oversight of the president and allow special counsel Robert MuellerRobert (Bob) MuellerCNN's Toobin warns McCabe is in 'perilous condition' with emboldened Trump CNN anchor rips Trump over Stone while evoking Clinton-Lynch tarmac meeting The Hill's 12:30 Report: New Hampshire fallout MORE to finish his work, the AP reported.

The charges against Cohen were brought by the office of the U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York after a referral from Mueller's team.

Former Trump campaign chairman Paul ManafortPaul John ManafortDOJ veteran says he's quitting over Barr's 'slavish obedience' to Trump Bruce Ohr retires from DOJ Don't forget: The Trump campaign gave its most sensitive data to a Russian spy MORE on Tuesday was found guilty of eight charges of bank and tax fraud.

The escalating legal battles against key figures in Trump's orbit have ramped up speculation about the president's political and legal future, with some saying Cohen's guilty plea could serve as grounds for impeachment.

But top Democrats on Capitol Hill aren't emphasizing that possibility.

Sen. Elizabeth WarrenElizabeth WarrenCongress considers sending antitrust law back to the Middle Ages Wall Street adjusts to election uncertainty, lack of blue wave Deutsche Bank seeking to offload three Trump loans: report MORE (D-Mass.), a vocal Trump critic and possible 2020 presidential contender, on Wednesday also declined to call for impeachment proceedings, focusing instead on passing legislation that would protect Mueller.

"I think that what Congress needs to do right now is we need to make sure that special prosecutor Mueller is fully protected from being fired by Donald Trump," Warren said on CNN, adding that the investigation is "much more sweeping" and "broader" than Cohen's guilty plea.

Democrats in the House previously attempted to introduce articles of impeachment against Trump, but the measure overwhelmingly failed.