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A4 U.S. NEWS
Monday 11 noveMber 2019
Was Trump call with Ukraine 'perfect'? GOP has many answers

By LISA MASCARO AP Con- seat GOP majority, includ-
gressional Correspondent ing several senators up for
WASHINGTON (AP) — Re- reelection in 2020 in states
publicans have no unified such as Maine and Colo-
argument in the impeach- rado where voters are split
ment inquiry of Donald on Trump.
Trump , in large part be- "That's what a good leader
cause they can't agree does — gives them the flex-
on how best to defend the ibility they need to respond.
president — or for some, if My problem is, given how
they should. egregious the president's
That would require a level conduct is, he's given them
of consensus that Trump's a pass," said Jim Manley, a
call with the Ukraine presi- veteran Democratic strate-
dent was "perfect," as he gist.
insists. Or it would take a "Most of these folks have
measure of GOP indepen- got to know that what the
dence from Trump to sug- president's doing is wrong,
gest there may be a need but they've made a cold-
to investigate. hearted, political decision
Instead, it's every Republi- right now it's best to stick
can for himself or herself. with the president," he said.
Utah Sen. Mitt Romney President Donald Trump waves to supporters after speaking at his Black Voices for Trump rally At its core, the impeach-
says the president's actions Friday, Nov. 8, 2019, in Atlanta. ment inquiry is based on
toward Ukraine are "trou- Associated Press what Democrats say is an
bling." Other Republicans improper quid pro quo — a
say the behavior may raise jointed defense of Trump He added: "It's hard to rally tion. "shakedown" — that Trump
concerns, but it's not im- as impeachment hearings people to your side without As far back as mid-Oc- engaged in during his July
peachable. push into the public realm a coherent and sustain- tober, Senate Majority 25 phone call with Ukrai-
South Carolina Sen. Lindsey this coming week. able message." Leader Mitch McConnell, nian President Volodymyr
Graham calls the whole im- "It's not good," said veteran Early on, as the White House R-Ky., gathered his GOP Zelesnkiy.
peachment inquiry "B.S." GOP strategist Alex Conant. ceded the PR strategy to colleagues in private and According to a White
The result is a mishmash of "Normally you want to es- the president, Republicans offered them advice on im- House rough transcript of
GOP commentary spilling tablish the facts, get them in the House and Senate peachment. the call and testimony from
from Capitol Hill that may out on their own terms, and parted ways as they con- McConnell told Republican several government offi-
shield lawmakers, for now, build a message around fronted the political threat senators their best bet was cials, Trump was withhold-
from risky political choices, that strategy. They're not posed by the Democrats' to calibrate their own mes- ing needed military aid the
but leaves them with a dis- doing any of that." impeachment investiga- sage about the impeach- East European ally as he
ment inquiry to fit their wanted Zelenskiy to investi-
political situation, accord- gate Trump's potential 2020
ing to two people familiar rival, Joe Biden, as well 2016
with the private meeting U.S. election interference.
who spoke on condition of In the House, where con-
anonymity to discuss the gressional district boundary
closed-door session. lines have been drawn in
With a Power Point presen- a way that leaves Repub-
tation, McConnell outlined licans barely exposed to
the process ahead if the in- voters with centrist or left-
vestigation moves to a vote leaning views, GOP lead-
in the House and trial in the ers are mounting a more
Senate. But when it came fulsome, if shifting, defense
time to broach what Re- of Trump. GOP leader Kev-
publicans should say about in McCarthy of California
impeachment, McConnell says the president did noth-
showed a preference for ing wrong on the call with
saying as little about it as Zelenskiy, and Trump's top
possible. allies in the House, includ-
McConnell suggested a ing Ohio Rep. Jim Jordan,
couple of options. Senators the top Republican on a
could say they disagreed committee conducting
with the House process, he the impeachment inquiry,
said, or they could simply are leading the daily ar-
say that as potential jurors guments against Speaker
in an eventual impeach- Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., and
ment trial they wouldn't the Democrats.
discuss it, according to the Jordan is seen as the "chief
people familiar with the messenger" for Republi-
meeting. cans, said one senior House
It was the kind of political GOP aide who was not au-
advice one would expect thorized to publicly discuss
from the risk-averse leader the strategy and spoke on
as he tries to insulate his 53- condition of anonymity.q