GOP pushes resolution assailing impeachment process
President Donald Trump's allies once again pressed their offensive against the Democratic-led impeachment inquiry on Thursday.
Trying to shift the focus on process rather than addressing the mounting allegations against him.
SOUNDBITE (ENGLISH) SEN LINDSEY GRAHAM, SAYING:
“I’m not here to tell you that Donald Trump has done nothing wrong…I’m not here to tell you anything other than that the way they’re going about it is really dangerous for the country.”
On Thursday, Senator Lindsey Graham introduced a Senate resolution calling the investigation illegitimate.
SOUNDBITE (ENGLISH) SEN LINDSEY GRAHAM, SAYING:
“If you believe you have a case against the president, vote to open up an inquiry, allow Republicans to have a say, make sure the president is allowed to participate in a meaningful manner like we did in the past. That’s the way to do it. What you’re doing today, in my view, is unfair to the president, is dangerous to the presidency.”
The resolution comes a day after House Republicans stormed into a secure room where a senior Pentagon official was due to testify before Democratic and Republican lawmakers.
The Republicans were protesting that Democrats were conducting the inquiry in private.
But Republicans who are members of the three congressional committees conducting the probe have been part of the process throughout — they’re in the room and they’re asking questions.
The protests come as evidence against Trump collects. On Tuesday William Taylor, the top U.S. diplomat in Ukraine, told House investigators that Trump made the release of military aid to Ukraine contingent on Kiev publicly declaring it would carry out politically beneficial investigations that he demanded. The testimony from Taylor, a career diplomat appointed by Trump and a former Army officer, ran counter to Trump's contention that there was no quid pro quo or wrongdoing.
Senator Graham brushed aside the revelations.
SOUNDBITE (ENGLISH) SEN LINDSEY GRAHAM, SAYING:
“You don’t know what Bill Taylor was asked…we don’t know if he was cross-examined and what unfolded.”
Democrats running the impeachment probe have said they will hold public hearings in the coming weeks and even if the resolution condemning the inquiry passed in the Republican-led Senate, it would not affect the House probe.
If the House votes to impeach, there would be a public trial in the Senate.
