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| Impeachment live updates: McConnell rejects Democrats’ call for new witnesses in a Senate impeachment trial, such as Mick Mulvaney and John Bolton | Impeachment live updates: McConnell rejects Democrats’ call for new witnesses in a Senate impeachment trial, such as Mick Mulvaney and John Bolton |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) on Tuesday rejected calls from his Democratic counterpart to subpoena new witnesses in a Senate trial of President Trump, calling it “a strange request at this juncture.” | Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) on Tuesday rejected calls from his Democratic counterpart to subpoena new witnesses in a Senate trial of President Trump, calling it “a strange request at this juncture.” |
| McConnell was responding to a letter from Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer (D-N.Y.) seeking testimony from senior administration officials, including acting White House chief of staff Mick Mulvaney, who declined to appear in House impeachment proceedings. | McConnell was responding to a letter from Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer (D-N.Y.) seeking testimony from senior administration officials, including acting White House chief of staff Mick Mulvaney, who declined to appear in House impeachment proceedings. |
| The House, meanwhile, was expected to move one step closer to impeaching Trump on Tuesday, as the Rules Committee prepared to meet to set the parameters for the historic debate on Wednesday over Trump’s conduct toward Ukraine. | The House, meanwhile, was expected to move one step closer to impeaching Trump on Tuesday, as the Rules Committee prepared to meet to set the parameters for the historic debate on Wednesday over Trump’s conduct toward Ukraine. |
| At the heart of the Democrats’ case is the allegation that Trump tried to leverage a White House meeting and military aid, sought by Ukraine to combat Russian military aggression, to pressure Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to launch an investigation of former vice president Joe Biden and his son Hunter Biden, as well as a probe of an unfounded theory that Kyiv conspired with Democrats to interfere in the 2016 presidential election. | At the heart of the Democrats’ case is the allegation that Trump tried to leverage a White House meeting and military aid, sought by Ukraine to combat Russian military aggression, to pressure Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to launch an investigation of former vice president Joe Biden and his son Hunter Biden, as well as a probe of an unfounded theory that Kyiv conspired with Democrats to interfere in the 2016 presidential election. |
| ●Centrist Democrats line up behind impeachment. | ●Centrist Democrats line up behind impeachment. |
| ●More than 700 scholars write letter urging House to impeach Trump. | ●More than 700 scholars write letter urging House to impeach Trump. |
| ●Michigan Democrat in Trump district will vote for impeachment, says it may cost her reelection. | ●Michigan Democrat in Trump district will vote for impeachment, says it may cost her reelection. |
| How impeachment works | House resolution impeaching Trump | House Judiciary Committee’s impeachment report| Which House members support impeaching Trump | How impeachment works | House resolution impeaching Trump | House Judiciary Committee’s impeachment report| Which House members support impeaching Trump |
| 10:30 AM: McConnell seems to reject Schumer call to subpoena senior administration officials during trial | |
| McConnell on Tuesday rejected a call from his Democratic counterpart to subpoena new witnesses to testify during a Senate impeachment trial. | McConnell on Tuesday rejected a call from his Democratic counterpart to subpoena new witnesses to testify during a Senate impeachment trial. |
| Speaking on the Senate floor, McConnell said the request by Schumer on Sunday was “dead wrong” and suggested that the House’s case against Trump is “deficient.” | Speaking on the Senate floor, McConnell said the request by Schumer on Sunday was “dead wrong” and suggested that the House’s case against Trump is “deficient.” |
| “We certainly do not need jurors to start brainstorming witness lists for the prosecution,” McConnell said, referring to the role of senators during the trial. | “We certainly do not need jurors to start brainstorming witness lists for the prosecution,” McConnell said, referring to the role of senators during the trial. |
| The remarks came in response to a letter from Schumer in which the Democrat outlined a number of procedural demands he said would make an impeachment trial more fair. The demands included subpoenas for Mulvaney; Mulvaney senior adviser Robert Blair; former national security adviser John Bolton; and top Office of Management and Budget official Michael Duffey. | The remarks came in response to a letter from Schumer in which the Democrat outlined a number of procedural demands he said would make an impeachment trial more fair. The demands included subpoenas for Mulvaney; Mulvaney senior adviser Robert Blair; former national security adviser John Bolton; and top Office of Management and Budget official Michael Duffey. |
| Mulvaney, Blair and Duffey have defied subpoenas from House committees, while Bolton, who has not been subpoenaed, has said he would fight one in court. | Mulvaney, Blair and Duffey have defied subpoenas from House committees, while Bolton, who has not been subpoenaed, has said he would fight one in court. |
| “The fact that my colleague is already desperate to sign up the Senate for new fact-finding . . . suggests something to me,” McConnell said of Schumer. | “The fact that my colleague is already desperate to sign up the Senate for new fact-finding . . . suggests something to me,” McConnell said of Schumer. |
| “It suggests that even Democrats who do not like this president are beginning to realize how dramatically insufficient the House’s rushed process has been,” he said. “If House Democrats’ case is this deficient, this thin, the answer is not for the judge and jury to cure it over here in the Senate. The answer is that the House should not impeach on this basis in the first place.” | “It suggests that even Democrats who do not like this president are beginning to realize how dramatically insufficient the House’s rushed process has been,” he said. “If House Democrats’ case is this deficient, this thin, the answer is not for the judge and jury to cure it over here in the Senate. The answer is that the House should not impeach on this basis in the first place.” |
| Rep. Douglas A. Collins (Ga.), the top Republican on the House Judiciary Committee, said he would argue for Democrats to “give us as much time as they possibly can” during debate over impeachment on the House floor. | |
| Collins is scheduled to appear before a meeting of the House Rules Committee alongside Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.), a member of the Judiciary Committee who is filling in for House Judiciary Committee Jerrold Nadler (D-N.Y.). | |
| The Rules Committee is tasked with setting the parameters for Wednesday’s debate on two articles of impeachment on the House floor. Collins said he would like to see eight hours of debate. | |
| Collins suggested deliberation by the Rules Committee will not be pretty. | |
| “If you ever had a root canal, it would look very similar,” he said. | |
| While the House is expected to vote on impeachment articles Wednesday, it could be days before the managers for a Senate trial are named. | While the House is expected to vote on impeachment articles Wednesday, it could be days before the managers for a Senate trial are named. |
| Two Democratic aides said Tuesday that a procedural measure setting up debate on the articles will empower House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) to name managers “at any point” after the House votes to impeach Trump. | Two Democratic aides said Tuesday that a procedural measure setting up debate on the articles will empower House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) to name managers “at any point” after the House votes to impeach Trump. |
| The aides spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss private conversations. | The aides spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss private conversations. |
| The question of which members Pelosi will name to present the House’s case has been a subject of fevered speculation on Capitol Hill, but leaders are keen to save the announcement for another day. In the past, the House has voted on a resolution naming the managers. | The question of which members Pelosi will name to present the House’s case has been a subject of fevered speculation on Capitol Hill, but leaders are keen to save the announcement for another day. In the past, the House has voted on a resolution naming the managers. |
| “The rule will allow the speaker to name managers at any point after the articles pass,” a senior Democratic aide said. “There will be a debate and vote on that resolution.” | “The rule will allow the speaker to name managers at any point after the articles pass,” a senior Democratic aide said. “There will be a debate and vote on that resolution.” |
| A Republican member of the House Rules Committee predicted that the atmosphere of partisan conflict that has dominated impeachment proceedings will continue during Tuesday’s meeting about the articles of impeachment. | A Republican member of the House Rules Committee predicted that the atmosphere of partisan conflict that has dominated impeachment proceedings will continue during Tuesday’s meeting about the articles of impeachment. |
| “All of the drama you saw in the Committee on the Judiciary last week . . . I don’t expect any less drama today as these articles, or the rule for debating these articles, is set,” Rep. Michael C. Burgess (R-Tex.) told Fox News before the hearing. | “All of the drama you saw in the Committee on the Judiciary last week . . . I don’t expect any less drama today as these articles, or the rule for debating these articles, is set,” Rep. Michael C. Burgess (R-Tex.) told Fox News before the hearing. |
| The Rules Committee is charged with setting terms for the floor debate over the articles, which is scheduled for Wednesday. | The Rules Committee is charged with setting terms for the floor debate over the articles, which is scheduled for Wednesday. |
| Burgess said the meeting “should take some time,” but predicted it would be “significantly rushed” by Democrats. | Burgess said the meeting “should take some time,” but predicted it would be “significantly rushed” by Democrats. |
| “That is not a good way to approach something this significant,” he said. | “That is not a good way to approach something this significant,” he said. |
| Trump pointed to the performance of the stock market in arguing against his impeachment on Tuesday. | Trump pointed to the performance of the stock market in arguing against his impeachment on Tuesday. |
| “The Stock Market hit another Record High yesterday, number 133 in less than three years as your all time favorite President, and the Radical Left, Do Nothing Democrats, want to impeach me,” Trump said in his first tweet of the morning. “Don’t worry, I have done nothing wrong. Actually, they have!” | “The Stock Market hit another Record High yesterday, number 133 in less than three years as your all time favorite President, and the Radical Left, Do Nothing Democrats, want to impeach me,” Trump said in his first tweet of the morning. “Don’t worry, I have done nothing wrong. Actually, they have!” |
| Another freshman Democrat whose district voted for Trump announced Tuesday that she will vote in favor of articles of impeachment, arguing that Trump “put his own political interests before our country” in his dealings with Ukraine. | Another freshman Democrat whose district voted for Trump announced Tuesday that she will vote in favor of articles of impeachment, arguing that Trump “put his own political interests before our country” in his dealings with Ukraine. |
| Rep. Mikie Sherrill (N.J.) cited her experience in the military and as a federal prosecutor in the statement about her decision: “After reviewing the testimony and the statements of the President himself, it is clear that he used his office for his own personal gain,” Sherrill stated. “In short, the President has violated the very principles upon which our country was founded.” | Rep. Mikie Sherrill (N.J.) cited her experience in the military and as a federal prosecutor in the statement about her decision: “After reviewing the testimony and the statements of the President himself, it is clear that he used his office for his own personal gain,” Sherrill stated. “In short, the President has violated the very principles upon which our country was founded.” |
| As of Monday night, 35 Democrats and one Republican member of the House had not stated their position on impeachment, according to a tally by The Post. | As of Monday night, 35 Democrats and one Republican member of the House had not stated their position on impeachment, according to a tally by The Post. |
| Sherrill was one of the seven freshmen Democrats who wrote in an op-ed for The Post in September that “if these allegations [against Trump] are true, we believe these actions represent an impeachable offense.” | Sherrill was one of the seven freshmen Democrats who wrote in an op-ed for The Post in September that “if these allegations [against Trump] are true, we believe these actions represent an impeachable offense.” |
| Rep. Anthony Brindisi, a freshman from New York who was considered one of the Democrats most likely to break with his party on impeachment, announced Tuesday that he would vote in favor of both articles. | Rep. Anthony Brindisi, a freshman from New York who was considered one of the Democrats most likely to break with his party on impeachment, announced Tuesday that he would vote in favor of both articles. |
| “It is with profound sadness I will vote to impeach President Trump,” Brindisi, whose district Trump carried in 2016, said in a tweet. In other tweets, he said: “President Trump is my President too. I’ve always said I would work with him to get things done, as I have demonstrated. However, I will always put Country first and stand up for what I believe in when I think he is wrong.” | “It is with profound sadness I will vote to impeach President Trump,” Brindisi, whose district Trump carried in 2016, said in a tweet. In other tweets, he said: “President Trump is my President too. I’ve always said I would work with him to get things done, as I have demonstrated. However, I will always put Country first and stand up for what I believe in when I think he is wrong.” |
| Earlier, Brindisi told the Post-Standard of Syracuse, N.Y., that he believes it’s clear that Trump endangered national security by asking Zelensky for political favors in exchange for a White House visit and the release of nearly $400 million in military aid authorized by Congress. | Earlier, Brindisi told the Post-Standard of Syracuse, N.Y., that he believes it’s clear that Trump endangered national security by asking Zelensky for political favors in exchange for a White House visit and the release of nearly $400 million in military aid authorized by Congress. |
| “The fact this president withheld aid from Ukraine for his own political gain is very troubling,” Brindisi said. “In fact, I think it’s unconstitutional.” | “The fact this president withheld aid from Ukraine for his own political gain is very troubling,” Brindisi said. “In fact, I think it’s unconstitutional.” |
| White House counselor Kellyanne Conway on Tuesday dismissed calls by Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer (D-N.Y.) for new witnesses at a Senate trial as “whining” about process rather than substance. | White House counselor Kellyanne Conway on Tuesday dismissed calls by Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer (D-N.Y.) for new witnesses at a Senate trial as “whining” about process rather than substance. |
| “He’s trying to get the fix in there early to say, ‘Oh the Senate trial was unfair,’ ” Conway said during an interview on Fox News’s “Fox & Friends.” “He has to pregame and complain that he feels left out, his feelings are hurt.” | “He’s trying to get the fix in there early to say, ‘Oh the Senate trial was unfair,’ ” Conway said during an interview on Fox News’s “Fox & Friends.” “He has to pregame and complain that he feels left out, his feelings are hurt.” |
| Republicans lawmakers have consistently complained that the impeachment inquiry in the House has been unfair. Trump was invited to participate in the House process, but he refused. | Republicans lawmakers have consistently complained that the impeachment inquiry in the House has been unfair. Trump was invited to participate in the House process, but he refused. |
| In recent days, Schumer has advocated calling several witnesses who declined to appear before House investigators, including acting White House chief of staff Mick Mulvaney and former national security adviser John Bolton. | In recent days, Schumer has advocated calling several witnesses who declined to appear before House investigators, including acting White House chief of staff Mick Mulvaney and former national security adviser John Bolton. |
| House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerrold Nadler (D-N.Y.) will not be present at Tuesday’s Rules Committee meeting due to a family emergency, according to a Judiciary committee aide, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss personal matters. | House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerrold Nadler (D-N.Y.) will not be present at Tuesday’s Rules Committee meeting due to a family emergency, according to a Judiciary committee aide, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss personal matters. |
| Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.) has been tapped to fill in for Nadler, whose committee approved two articles of impeachment last week. | Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.) has been tapped to fill in for Nadler, whose committee approved two articles of impeachment last week. |
| The committee aide said lawmakers are hopeful that Nadler will return on Wednesday for the full House debate on impeachment. | The committee aide said lawmakers are hopeful that Nadler will return on Wednesday for the full House debate on impeachment. |
| The House Rules Committee is scheduled to meet Tuesday at 11 a.m. to debate how the articles of impeachment will be debated and voted on by the full chamber on Wednesday. | The House Rules Committee is scheduled to meet Tuesday at 11 a.m. to debate how the articles of impeachment will be debated and voted on by the full chamber on Wednesday. |
| Set to take place in a cramped room just off the House gallery, the session could last late into the night if Republicans offer numerous amendments. But the outcome is not in doubt, since Democrats hold a 9-to-4 majority on the panel. | Set to take place in a cramped room just off the House gallery, the session could last late into the night if Republicans offer numerous amendments. But the outcome is not in doubt, since Democrats hold a 9-to-4 majority on the panel. |
| Next will come a procedural vote by the full House, expected around midday Wednesday, launching the debate, which is expected to last several hours and culminate in an evening vote on the two articles of impeachment. The House also is planning to vote on a resolution formally naming House managers, or prosecutors, for the Senate trial, who will be selected by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.). | Next will come a procedural vote by the full House, expected around midday Wednesday, launching the debate, which is expected to last several hours and culminate in an evening vote on the two articles of impeachment. The House also is planning to vote on a resolution formally naming House managers, or prosecutors, for the Senate trial, who will be selected by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.). |
| The Senate trial is expected to start in early January. | The Senate trial is expected to start in early January. |
| Congress has impeached only two presidents: Andrew Johnson in 1868 and Bill Clinton in 1998. President Richard Nixon resigned in 1974 before the House could vote on articles of impeachment in the Watergate scandal. Lawmakers drafted three articles against Nixon, including charges of “high crimes and misdemeanors” that mirror the abuse-of-power and obstruction allegations Trump now faces. | Congress has impeached only two presidents: Andrew Johnson in 1868 and Bill Clinton in 1998. President Richard Nixon resigned in 1974 before the House could vote on articles of impeachment in the Watergate scandal. Lawmakers drafted three articles against Nixon, including charges of “high crimes and misdemeanors” that mirror the abuse-of-power and obstruction allegations Trump now faces. |
| As the House prepares to impeach Trump, he and first lady Melania Trump plan to welcome Guatemalan President Jimmy Morales and his wife, Patricia Marroquín, to the White House on Tuesday afternoon. | As the House prepares to impeach Trump, he and first lady Melania Trump plan to welcome Guatemalan President Jimmy Morales and his wife, Patricia Marroquín, to the White House on Tuesday afternoon. |
| The four of them are scheduled to meet in the Oval Office before the two presidents hold an expanded bilateral meeting. The White House has said the visit is “an opportunity to thank President Morales for being the first Central American leader to sign and implement the historic Asylum Cooperation Agreement with the United States.” | The four of them are scheduled to meet in the Oval Office before the two presidents hold an expanded bilateral meeting. The White House has said the visit is “an opportunity to thank President Morales for being the first Central American leader to sign and implement the historic Asylum Cooperation Agreement with the United States.” |
| Trump is also scheduled to participate in a Christmas reception at the White House on Tuesday afternoon. | Trump is also scheduled to participate in a Christmas reception at the White House on Tuesday afternoon. |
| On the eve of Trump’s impeachment, a group of his conservative critics, including George Conway, the husband of White House counselor Kellyanne Conway, announced the launch of a new super PAC with the aim of defeating Trump and his “enablers” at the ballot box. | On the eve of Trump’s impeachment, a group of his conservative critics, including George Conway, the husband of White House counselor Kellyanne Conway, announced the launch of a new super PAC with the aim of defeating Trump and his “enablers” at the ballot box. |
| “Our efforts are aimed at persuading enough disaffected conservatives, Republicans and Republican-leaning independents in swing states and districts to help ensure a victory in the Electoral College, and congressional majorities that don’t enable or abet Mr. Trump’s violations of the Constitution, even if that means Democratic control of the Senate and an expanded Democratic majority in the House,” four leaders of the group, dubbed the Lincoln Project, wrote in a New York Times op-ed. | “Our efforts are aimed at persuading enough disaffected conservatives, Republicans and Republican-leaning independents in swing states and districts to help ensure a victory in the Electoral College, and congressional majorities that don’t enable or abet Mr. Trump’s violations of the Constitution, even if that means Democratic control of the Senate and an expanded Democratic majority in the House,” four leaders of the group, dubbed the Lincoln Project, wrote in a New York Times op-ed. |
| Besides Conway, other authors of the piece include veteran GOP consultants Steve Schmidt, John Weaver and Rick Wilson. Others involved in the effort, according to the group’s website, include Reed Galen, an independent political strategist; Jennifer Horn, a former chairwoman of the New Hampshire Republican Party; and Mike Madrid, a Republican strategist. | Besides Conway, other authors of the piece include veteran GOP consultants Steve Schmidt, John Weaver and Rick Wilson. Others involved in the effort, according to the group’s website, include Reed Galen, an independent political strategist; Jennifer Horn, a former chairwoman of the New Hampshire Republican Party; and Mike Madrid, a Republican strategist. |
| In the op-ed, the group is critical not only of Trump but of congressional Republicans who have opposed the president’s impeachment. | In the op-ed, the group is critical not only of Trump but of congressional Republicans who have opposed the president’s impeachment. |
| “Congressional Republicans have embraced and copied Mr. Trump’s cruelty and defended and even adopted his corruption,” the four authors write. “Mr. Trump and his enablers have abandoned conservatism and longstanding Republican principles and replaced it with Trumpism, an empty faith led by a bogus prophet.” | “Congressional Republicans have embraced and copied Mr. Trump’s cruelty and defended and even adopted his corruption,” the four authors write. “Mr. Trump and his enablers have abandoned conservatism and longstanding Republican principles and replaced it with Trumpism, an empty faith led by a bogus prophet.” |
| As the House prepares to vote on two articles of impeachment against Trump, Americans remain both deeply divided and locked into their positions over which course lawmakers should pursue, according to a Washington Post-ABC News poll. | As the House prepares to vote on two articles of impeachment against Trump, Americans remain both deeply divided and locked into their positions over which course lawmakers should pursue, according to a Washington Post-ABC News poll. |
| Weeks of public testimony and days of rancorous committee hearings on the president’s efforts to pressure Ukrainian leaders to investigate a political rival have had no impact on how Americans see the charges pending against the president. | Weeks of public testimony and days of rancorous committee hearings on the president’s efforts to pressure Ukrainian leaders to investigate a political rival have had no impact on how Americans see the charges pending against the president. |
| Despite the stalemate, most Democrats and Republicans alike expect that a Senate impeachment trial will give Trump a fair hearing. Bipartisan majorities, including almost 2 in 3 Republicans, also say he should allow his top aides to testify, something he blocked during the House inquiry. | Despite the stalemate, most Democrats and Republicans alike expect that a Senate impeachment trial will give Trump a fair hearing. Bipartisan majorities, including almost 2 in 3 Republicans, also say he should allow his top aides to testify, something he blocked during the House inquiry. |
| On the eve of the House vote, 49 percent of Americans say Trump should be impeached and removed from office, while 46 percent say he should not. Those are essentially identical to findings at the end of October, when 49 percent favored impeachment and removal and 47 percent were opposed. The latest poll also finds that regardless of whether Trump committed an impeachable offense, 49 percent say he improperly pressured Ukraine to investigate Biden and his son, while 39 percent say Trump did not do this. | On the eve of the House vote, 49 percent of Americans say Trump should be impeached and removed from office, while 46 percent say he should not. Those are essentially identical to findings at the end of October, when 49 percent favored impeachment and removal and 47 percent were opposed. The latest poll also finds that regardless of whether Trump committed an impeachable offense, 49 percent say he improperly pressured Ukraine to investigate Biden and his son, while 39 percent say Trump did not do this. |
| Read more here. | Read more here. |
| While the White House has prevented senior administration officials from appearing before the House committees conducting the impeachment investigation, a large 71 percent majority of Americans say the president should allow those officials to testify at a Senate trial, according to a Washington Post-ABC News poll. | While the White House has prevented senior administration officials from appearing before the House committees conducting the impeachment investigation, a large 71 percent majority of Americans say the president should allow those officials to testify at a Senate trial, according to a Washington Post-ABC News poll. |
| Almost 2 in 3 Republicans want Trump to allow top aides to testify at Senate trial | Almost 2 in 3 Republicans want Trump to allow top aides to testify at Senate trial |
| That includes majorities across partisan and demographic lines. Among Democrats, 79 percent say Trump should let his advisers appear before the Senate, while 64 percent of Republicans agree. Among independents, 72 percent favor their appearance. There is also sizable agreement among men and women, whites and nonwhites, and all age groups, contrary to the divisions over impeachment itself. | That includes majorities across partisan and demographic lines. Among Democrats, 79 percent say Trump should let his advisers appear before the Senate, while 64 percent of Republicans agree. Among independents, 72 percent favor their appearance. There is also sizable agreement among men and women, whites and nonwhites, and all age groups, contrary to the divisions over impeachment itself. |
| Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer (D-N.Y.) is advocating for several senior administration officials to testify, including acting White House chief of staff Mick Mulvaney and former national security adviser John Bolton. | Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer (D-N.Y.) is advocating for several senior administration officials to testify, including acting White House chief of staff Mick Mulvaney and former national security adviser John Bolton. |
| Amy Kennedy, a former public school teacher and the wife of former congressman Patrick J. Kennedy (D-R.I.), announced late Monday that she is considering running for the congressional seat occupied by Rep. Jeff Van Drew, the freshman Democrat from New Jersey who opposes impeachment and is expected to switch parties. | Amy Kennedy, a former public school teacher and the wife of former congressman Patrick J. Kennedy (D-R.I.), announced late Monday that she is considering running for the congressional seat occupied by Rep. Jeff Van Drew, the freshman Democrat from New Jersey who opposes impeachment and is expected to switch parties. |
| “My husband, Patrick J. Kennedy, and I have supported Congressman Jeff Van Drew in the past, but he has clearly lost his way,” Amy Kennedy, a New Jersey resident, said in a statement. “Today I am launching an exploratory committee to consider a run for the 2nd Congressional District of New Jersey. As a mother of five and a former public school teacher for thirteen years, running for office was not in my life plan, but Congressman Van Drew’s recent actions, including switching parties, proves that he is no longer putting the needs of the district first.” | “My husband, Patrick J. Kennedy, and I have supported Congressman Jeff Van Drew in the past, but he has clearly lost his way,” Amy Kennedy, a New Jersey resident, said in a statement. “Today I am launching an exploratory committee to consider a run for the 2nd Congressional District of New Jersey. As a mother of five and a former public school teacher for thirteen years, running for office was not in my life plan, but Congressman Van Drew’s recent actions, including switching parties, proves that he is no longer putting the needs of the district first.” |
| Party switching is hit-or-miss in Congress as voters have final say on authenticity | Party switching is hit-or-miss in Congress as voters have final say on authenticity |
| In an early morning tweet on Tuesday, Trump praised Van Drew. | In an early morning tweet on Tuesday, Trump praised Van Drew. |
| “Congressman Jeff Van Drew is very popular in our great and very united Republican Party,” he wrote. “It was a tribute to him that he was able to win his heavily Republican district as a Democrat. People like that are not easily replaceable!” | “Congressman Jeff Van Drew is very popular in our great and very united Republican Party,” he wrote. “It was a tribute to him that he was able to win his heavily Republican district as a Democrat. People like that are not easily replaceable!” |