Welcome to DU!
The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards.
Join the community:
Create a free account
Support DU (and get rid of ads!):
Become a Star Member
Latest Breaking News
General Discussion
The DU Lounge
All Forums
Issue Forums
Culture Forums
Alliance Forums
Region Forums
Support Forums
Help & Search
Trump "loves" idea of Jordan, Ratcliffe & Collins at his Senate trial. The Senate does not love it.
Internal GOP fight erupts over adding House members to Trump’s impeachment defense team
https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/house-republicans-push-to-join-trumps-defense-team-in-senate-impeachment-trial/2020/01/08/3797e174-3230-11ea-9313-6cba89b1b9fb_story.html
House GOP leaders in recent weeks have advocated for Trump’s most aggressive defenders — Reps. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio), John Ratcliffe (R-Tex.) and Douglas A. Collins (R-Ga.) — to cross the Rotunda and help White House counsel Pat A. Cipollone rebut the two charges that the president abused his power and obstructed Congress.
Trump, partial to bare-knuckles tactics and top-rated TV performances, loves the idea, according to four administration and congressional officials familiar with his thinking who spoke on the condition of anonymity to talk frankly.
Jordan, for example, is a mainstay champion of Trump’s on “Fox News,” where the president once mused that “he’s a warrior for me!”
But Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) and his fellow GOP senators have expressed concerns to Trump that a House-led defense could offend moderates, including Sens. Susan Collins (R-Maine) and Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska). Trump, they argue, has already won the backing of the GOP base, so he and his team need to focus on ensuring Republican unity on an acquittal.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/house-republicans-push-to-join-trumps-defense-team-in-senate-impeachment-trial/2020/01/08/3797e174-3230-11ea-9313-6cba89b1b9fb_story.html
House GOP leaders in recent weeks have advocated for Trump’s most aggressive defenders — Reps. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio), John Ratcliffe (R-Tex.) and Douglas A. Collins (R-Ga.) — to cross the Rotunda and help White House counsel Pat A. Cipollone rebut the two charges that the president abused his power and obstructed Congress.
Trump, partial to bare-knuckles tactics and top-rated TV performances, loves the idea, according to four administration and congressional officials familiar with his thinking who spoke on the condition of anonymity to talk frankly.
Jordan, for example, is a mainstay champion of Trump’s on “Fox News,” where the president once mused that “he’s a warrior for me!”
But Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) and his fellow GOP senators have expressed concerns to Trump that a House-led defense could offend moderates, including Sens. Susan Collins (R-Maine) and Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska). Trump, they argue, has already won the backing of the GOP base, so he and his team need to focus on ensuring Republican unity on an acquittal.