CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Two West Virginia lawmakers remain critical of the U.S. House of Representatives’ impeachment inquiry as the chamber’s Judiciary Committee prepares to consider articles of impeachment against President Donald Trump.
Republican Reps. Alex Mooney and Carol Miller told MetroNews on Tuesday that House Democrats are wrong to continue the related proceedings, with both saying Democrats are focused on removing the president from office rather than conducting an impartial investigation.
Trump faces charges of abuse of power and obstruction of Congress.
Democratic leadership said Trump solicited the help of Ukraine for the 2020 president election by asking for investigations into political opponents, including former Vice President Joe Biden. The lawmakers noted Trump suspended the release of $391 million in financial assistance in connection with the request. The charges also say Trump directed officials and agencies to not comply with the investigation while also blocking access to documents.
“In all of this, President Trump has acted in a manner contrary to his trust as President and subversive of constitutional government, to the great prejudice of the cause of law and justice, and to the manifest injury of the people of the United States,” the nine-page resolution states.
House Judiciary Chairman Jerry Nadler, D-N.Y., said the committee has a “duty to the Constitution and to our country,” warranting the charges.
Mooney, who has called the impeachment inquiry a “kangaroo court,” said Trump was upholding federal law by withholding funds from Ukraine. He argued the president has a responsibility to ensure money does not go to a corrupt county.
“Far from launching a serious inquiry with any semblance of fairness, the America people witnessed a partisan witch hunt,” Mooney said through a spokesperson.
“Voters now can see a pattern emerging. Instead of allowing President Trump to do his job, Democrats in Congress have been consumed with undoing the results of the 2016 elections.”
Miller, who also answered MetroNews’ questions through a spokesperson, said the impeachment inquiry has been a “sham process” since it launched in September. She additionally criticized House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff, D-Calif., claiming he is obsessed with impeachment.
“Adam Schiff has abused his power as Intelligence Chairman — holding closed-door hearings, making selective information leaks, hiding the identity of the whistleblower, releasing the phone records of his political opponents and the media, and has a blatant disregard for the facts,” she said.
U.S. Rep. David McKinley’s office did not return an interview request.
Mooney and Miller opposed closed-door depositions held before public hearings started in November; both lawmakers took part in a demonstration on Oct. 23 that delayed testimony from a Pentagon official for more than five hours.
Miller was allowed to take part in the sessions as a member of the House Oversight and Reform Committee. Lawmakers that are part of the Foreign Affairs and Intelligence committees could also hear the depositions.
Miller’s comment also echoes arguments from the president, who has called Schiff a leaker and asked for the whistleblower of his July call involving Ukraine’s leader to identify themself.
“Everything we know was in the transcripts President Trump voluntarily released,” Miller said of the inquiry. “The hearings showed nothing beyond Adam Schiff’s obsession with impeaching President Trump.”
Public hearings began Nov. 13; McKinley, Mooney and Miller voted in October against rules for the investigation, including guidelines on public committee work and the release of 17 witness interview transcripts.
When asked if any new moments from these sessions stood out, Mooney pointed to constitutional law professor Jonathan Turley’s Dec. 4 testimony before the Judiciary Committee.
Turley — who was called forward by Republicans — said he opposed impeaching Trump because of “a record composed of a relatively small number of witnesses with largely second-hand knowledge of the position” in addition to national anger with politics.
“Instead of wasting time and taxpayer dollars on a ridiculous impeachment inquiry, it is time for Democrats in Congress to focus on issues that matter to all Americans,” Mooney said.
The House Judiciary Committee will begin consideration of the impeachment resolution on Wednesday. The full House is scheduled to vote on the measure next week.