CHARLESTON, W.Va. — U.S. Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., is defending himself as President Donald Trump continues his criticism of the senator following the impeachment trial.
Manchin, who voted to convict Trump on two charges, responded to the president Saturday after Trump called Manchin “a puppet” for Democratic leaders the day prior.
“Pres. Trump – no Democrat has worked harder in a bipartisan way in the hopes that you would succeed,” Manchin tweeted. “The people of WV know exactly who has worked day & night for the last 5 years to secure their healthcare & pensions & it wasn’t you.”
I’ve read the transcripts thoroughly & listened to the witnesses under oath. Where I come from a person accused defends themselves with witnesses and evidence.
— Senator Joe Manchin (@Sen_JoeManchin) February 9, 2020
The Senate on Wednesday acquitted Trump of abuse of power and obstruction of Congress, charges stemming from a phone call last summer between Trump and Ukraine’s president. Trump requested an investigation into former Vice President Joe Biden and his son, Hunter, as the elder Biden’s presidential campaign was underway.
The House of Representatives also accused Trump of withholding documents and preventing officials from testifying during the chamber’s inquiry.
All Senate Democrats and Republican Sen. Mitt Romney of Utah found Trump guilty of abuse of power.
Trump also said Friday no president “has done more for the great people of West Virginia” than him, noting coal miners’ pensions. Trump signed a $1.4 trillion package in December that included funding for the pensions of 92,000 coal miners and the health care of 13,000 others.
Manchin, Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va., and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., pushed for the funding as the Bipartisan American Miners Act.
Trump doubled down on his attacks toward Manchin and Romney before West Virginia’s senior senator’s response.
“Can’t say I mind the fact that the great people of West Virginia are furious at their puppet Democrat Senator, Joe Manchin. They will never forget his phony vote on the Impeachment Hoax. All he had to do is read the Transcripts, sadly, which he wouldn’t understand anyway,” he tweeted.
“But, just like the people of West Virginia will no longer look at weak & pathetic Joe Manchin the same (I got the Pension Bill approved, Manchin couldn’t do it), the wonderful people of Utah will never look at ‘grandstander’ Mitt Romney with anything but contempt & disgust!”
Manchin said before Wednesday’s vote House managers presented thorough evidence supporting the two articles of impeachment. He also expressed annoyance that Republican senators and Trump opposed new witnesses and documents in the trial.
“I’ve read the transcripts thoroughly & listened to the witnesses under oath. Where I come from a person accused defends themselves with witnesses and evidence,” he tweeted Saturday.
Manchin is Trump’s most supportive Democrat when it comes to voting; FiveThirtyEight notes Manchin has voted 53% in line with the president’s agenda, the highest among active Democratic senators.
Trump won West Virginia in the 2016 election by 42 points and is expected to carry the state in November. According to Morning Consult, Trump has a 59% approval rating in the state.
Manchin won his re-election bid in the 2018 midterms over state Attorney General Patrick Morrisey, whom Trump endorsed.