Page 2 - ARUBA TODAY

A2 UP FRONT
Wednesday 18 december 2019
House nears impeachment as Trump decries ‘vicious crusade’

Continued from Front structed Congress,” Pelosi
wrote to colleagues. “In
He accused the Demo- America, no one is above
crats of acting out of the law.”
“Trump Derangement Syn- “During this very prayer-
drome,” still smarting from ful moment in our nation’s
their 2016 election losses. history, we must honor our
“You are the ones bringing oath to support and de-
pain and suffering to our fend our Constitution from
Republic for your own self- all enemies, foreign and
ish, personal political and domestic,” she said.
partisan gain.” No Republicans have in-
Portraying himself as a dicated they will support
blameless victim, as he of- the the two articles of im-
ten does, Trump compared peachment, for abuse of
the impeachment inquiry power and obstruction
to the “Salem Witch Trials.” of Congress, setting up a
Asked later if he bore any close-to-party-line vote.
responsibility for the pro- One by one, centrist Dem-
ceedings, he said, “No, I ocratic lawmakers, includ-
don’t think any. Zero, to put ing many first-term fresh-
it mildly.” men who built the House
Pelosi, who warned earlier majority and could risk their
this year against pursuing reelection in districts where A letter from President Donald Trump to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi of Calif., is photographed
a strictly partisan impeach- the president is popular, Tuesday, Dec. 17, 2019, in Washington.
ment, nonetheless has the announced they would Associated Press
numbers to approve it. Ac- vote to impeach.
cording to a tally compiled Rep. Abby Finkenauer, D- abuse of power at the that sparked the impeach- Lawmakers crossing party
by The Associated Press, Iowa, referred to the oath highest levels.” ment inquiry. He also tried lines face consequences.
Trump is on track to be for- she took in January as she Republicans disagreed, to justify anew the Ukrainian One freshman Democrat,
mally charged by a House was sworn into office as firmly. investigations he wanted Jeff Van Drew of New Jer-
majority on Wednesday. guiding her decision. She Senate Majority Leader into Biden. And he disput- sey, is indicating he will
“Very sadly, the facts have announced support for Mitch McConnell set the ed the charges of abuse of switch parties to become a
made clear that the Presi- both articles of impeach- partisan tone for the next power and obstruction of Republican after opposing
dent abused his power for ment to “honor my duty step, as attention will shift Congress’ investigation. impeachment. Earlier this
his own personal, political to defend our Constitu- to the Senate which, under Conceding the House year, Michigan conserva-
benefit and that he ob- tion and democracy from the Constitution, is required vote, he said he wanted to tive Rep. Justin Amash left
to hold a trial on the charg- set his words down “for the the GOP when he favored
es. That trial is expected to purpose of history.” impeachment.
begin in January. Asked on CNN about One new Democratic con-
“I’m not an impartial juror,” Trump’s lengthy complaints gressman, Jared Golden of
McConnell declared. The about his treatment, Dem- Maine, said he would vote
Republican-majority cham- ocratic Rep. Eric Swalwell to impeach on abuse of
ber is all but sure to acquit of California dismissed power but not obstruction.
the president. what he called a “childish, Hoping to dispatch with
Trump is accused of abus- whiny letter.” lengthy Senate proceed-
ing his presidential power in House Democrats con- ings, McConnell rejected
a July phone call in which tinued to march toward Senate Democrats’ push
he asked the newly elect- Wednesday’s debate and for fresh impeachment
ed president of Ukraine, a votes. testimony and made a
U.S. ally facing an aggres- “It’s unfortunate that we last-ditch plea that House
sive Russia at its border, to have to be here today, Democrats “turn back from
“do us a favor” by investi- but the actions of the presi- the cliff” of Wednesday’s
gating Democrats, includ- dent of the United States expected vote.
ing his potential 2020 rival make that necessary,” said “Impeachment is a politi-
Joe Biden. At the time, Chairman Jim McGovern, cal decision,” McConnell
President Volodymyr Zelen- D-Mass., gaveling the Rules said. “The House made a
skiy was hoping for a cov- Committee, which met partisan political decision
eted White House meet- through the day, with law- to impeach. I would antici-
ing that would bolster his makers arguing over the pate we will have a largely
standing with Ukraine’s parameters for the debate. partisan outcome in the
most important ally. He also McGovern said, “Every day Senate. I’m not impartial
was counting on nearly we let President Trump act about this at all.’’
$400 million in military aid like the law doesn’t apply McConnell’s remarks Tues-
Congress had approved to to him, we move a little day effectively slapped
counter Russia. The White closer” to rule by dictators. the door shut on negotia-
House had put the money The top committee Repub- tions for a deal proposed
on hold — as leverage, the lican, Tom Cole of Okla- by the Democratic leader,
Democrats say. homa, said, “When half Sen. Chuck Schumer, who
In his letter on Tuesday, of Americans are telling wants to call top White
Trump defended his “abso- you what you are doing is House officials for the Sen-
lutely perfect” phone call wrong, you should listen.” ate trial.q