Page 4 - AT

A4 U.S. NEWS
Friday 20 december 2019
GOP gives Trump unapologetic embrace over impeachment

By ALAN FRAM contrasts with past battles
Associated Press over Trump priorities, such
WASHINGTON (AP) — Ma- as his failed effort to repeal
jority Leader Mitch McCo- former President Barack
nnell called on his Repub- Obama’s health care law.
lican-led Senate Thursday Republicans strongly rallied
to keep the impeached behind him, but there were
President Donald Trump small but significant num-
in office, as the chamber bers of defectors.
edged toward a fray that In recent weeks, Trump’s
spotlights the GOP’s most team has pointed to wide-
unapologetic embrace yet spread GOP support for
of Trump. Trump as exemplifying
“A political faction in the the president’s grip on his
lower chamber has suc- adoptive party and a ce-
cumbed to partisan rage,” menting of the 2016 elec-
said McConnell, R-Ky., a toral realignment that sent
day after the Democratic- Trump to the White House.
controlled House voted to “I was not a Republican.
impeach Trump, despite Now I’m a Republican,”
an extraordinary show of said Jared Kushner, who
fealty by Republicans vot- was a Democrat before
ing unanimously against Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell of Ky., walks to his office on Capitol Hill in Washington, helping steer his father-in-
the move. He added later: Thursday, Dec. 19, 2019. law’s surprise victory three
“’The Senate must put this Associated Press years ago. “I think the Re-
right. We must rise to the oc- publican Party is growing
casion.” The Senate seems do with the insurgent and Trump boasted about GOP political impact on GOP now that people like me
certain to keep Trump in inflammatory Trump cam- unity during the impeach- candidates will be. feel comfortable being
office with overwhelming paign. ment vote. “You’ve never Rep. Francis Rooney, R-Fla., part of it.”
GOP support in a trial likely Now, the impeachment seen a Republican Party, uttered GOP blasphemy Just three months ago, ini-
to start in January. Coupled battle spotlights how firmly zero negative votes. Zero,” this fall when he said he tial revelations of a phone
with House Republicans’ Republicans are tethered he said Thursday. “That was open to considering call in which Trump tried
solidarity Wednesday, that to a president whose loyal- hasn’t happened almost impeachment. He an- squeezing Ukraine’s new
underscores a remarkable ty from his party’s core con- ever because the Repub- nounced his retirement president to announce an
turnaround from four years servative voters is matched licans are not necessarily from Congress the next investigation into Demo-
ago, when many GOP law- only by his opponents’ known for that.” day. He ended up joining crats gave pause to some
makers wanted nothing to loathing for him. Yet it’s unclear what the his colleagues in opposing Republicans.
impeachment Wednesday But now, “Trump is strong as
and said that vote further a tank with Republicans,”
aligned his party to Trump. said Rep. Patrick McHenry
“And that’s not necessar- of North Carolina, a mem-
ily the Republican Party ber of the House GOP
that I’ve been part of and leadership.
been a funder for, for many While stopping short of
years,” he said. “This is a dif- abandoning him over
ferent era that we’re in for Ukraine, several GOP law-
Republicans, and I don’t makers initially took a mid-
know where it’s going to dle-ground position, saying
go.” they wanted to learn more
“They are who they are,” about what happened.
House Speaker Nancy Pe- So party leaders held nu-
losi, D-Calif., said Thursday merous impeachment
when asked about the lack briefings for lawmakers.
of daylight between the Those sessions were aimed
president and his party’s at making sure they were
rank-and-file. “getting information to
She also challenged GOP people,” said No. 2 House
lawmakers’ comments dur- GOP leader Steve Scalise
ing Wednesday’s debate of Louisiana.
comparing Trump’s im- Hurd, 42 and a former CIA
peachment to the Japa- agent, is not seeking re-
nese attack on Pearl Har- election, leaving him freer
bor and the crucifixion of than most Republicans to
Jesus Christ. abandon Trump. But Hurd
“Something’s strange said last month that while
there,” she said. “Apart Trump’s actions were “in-
from the fact that they appropriate,” he believed
want to protect the presi- the president had com-
dent at the cost of the mitted no impeachable
Constitution.” offense, making it harder
GOP solidarity behind for wavering moderate Re-
Trump on impeachment publicans to defect.q