CHARLESTON, W.Va. — More than two dozen U.S. senators are demanding House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., send two articles of impeachment against President Donald Trump to the Senate.
Twenty-six Republican senators — including West Virginia’s Shelley Moore Capito — have sponsored the resolution, which states if Pelosi does not forward the articles, it would “set a dangerous precedent for the constitutional system of Government in the United States.”
Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., is the bill’s lead sponsor.
The House of Representatives voted Dec. 18 to charge Trump with abuse of power and obstruction of Congress. The first article of impeachment followed a telephone call between Trump and Ukraine’s president, in which Trump asked for investigations into political opponents. The Trump administration delayed military aid for Ukraine following the call.
The House also alleges Trump prevented officials from testifying and withheld documents during the chamber’s investigation.
Capito said Pelosi’s move lacks sense.
“By sitting on the articles, Speaker Pelosi is proving to the American people that this has been about political games from the beginning,” she said. “Nothing is accomplished by delaying this process further, so I urge the Speaker to do her job and send the articles to the Senate so we can begin this process.”
Following the December votes, Capito called the impeachment process “political theater” and warned the House’s actions established a poor precedent.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., told reporters Tuesday he has enough support to move forward with rules similar to the guidelines of President Bill Clinton’s trial. The Senate in 1998 approved the rules unanimously though Republicans also controlled the House at the time.
Pelosi said Thursday she will probably send the articles of impeachment to the Senate soon, but she and other Democrats should first know how the other chamber will organize the trial for the benefit of its managers.
“We are ready. We are proud of our defense of the Constitution of the United States. We are concerned that the senators will not be able to live up to the oath that they must take to have an impartial trial,” she said.
West Virginia’s three House members — David McKinley, Alex Mooney and Carol Miller — voted against the articles of impeachment.