A Republican senator announced he’ll introduce a measure to dismiss “this bogus impeachment” of President Trump.
Sen. Josh Hawley of Missouri criticized House Democrats for voting to impeach Trump last month but then failing to send the two impeachment articles to the Senate.
“Now they don’t want to have a trial, because they have no evidence,” Hawley tweeted. “In real world, if prosecution doesn’t proceed with case, it gets dismissed. So on Monday, I will introduce measure to dismiss this bogus impeachment for lack of prosecution.”
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, a California Democrat, said she is withholding the articles from the Senate until Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, a Kentucky Republican, agrees to hear testimony from a list of Trump administration officials named by Democrats.
McConnell wants the Senate to follow the rules agreed to during the 1999 impeachment trial of President Bill Clinton. Senators back then agreed unanimously to hear from the prosecutors and the defense and to consider witness testimony later on.
Democrats have rejected that proposal and have argued the Senate must hear testimony from Michael Duffey, the associate director of national security programs at the Office of Management and Budget, among others. Duffy, according to unredacted emails viewed by liberal organization Just Security, told the Pentagon on Aug. 30 the delay in security aid to Ukraine was a “clear direction” from Trump.
But Hawley and other Republicans believe House Democrats are looking for a way to extend the investigation into the president beyond the House impeachment proceedings, which ended with Democrats passing impeachment articles accusing Trump of abuse of power and obstruction of Congress.
Hawley said his measure to dismiss the charges “will expose Dems’ circus for what it is: a fake impeachment, abuse of the Constitution, based on no evidence.”
Hawley tweeted: “If Dems won’t proceed with trial, bogus articles should be dismissed and @realDonaldTrump fully cleared.”
The Senate reconvenes on Friday.
