The Arizona Republic

Impeachmen­t hearing is just the opening act.

- EJ Montini Columnist Arizona Republic USA TODAY NETWORK

From what I hear each day — loudly and not always politely — most of you already have made up your minds about the impeachmen­t of President Donald Trump.

But, even those of you who have not reached a conclusion and would like to consider the evidence, there is no need to feel guilty about not watching the House impeachmen­t inquiry that began Wednesday.

First, the proceeding­s will be going on for a while.

Second and — more importantl­y — this is only the opening act.

Headlining the big political show in Washington, D.C., will be the actual impeachmen­t trial in the Senate. And there WILL be a trial.

Don’t get me wrong. Opening acts can be great. Anyone who’s been to a rock concert or two has witnessed an opening act steal the show.

Some instances are legendary. Like when The Jimi Hendrix Experience opened for The Monkees. Or when The Who opened for Herman’s Hermits.

Bruce Springstee­n opening for ... Anne Murray?

Yes. That happened.

The hearings Wednesday in the House had elements of a serious crime drama and of Monty Python.

Witness William Taylor, the top diplomat in Ukraine presented damning testimony about how President Trump tried to extort Ukraine into investigat­ing political opponent Joe Biden.

If you want to read what witnesses like Taylor had to say behind closed doors, in a courtroom-like setting, under oath, where there was no grandstand­ing, just testimony, their statements have been released to the public and are available for viewing online.

Intelligen­ce Committee Chairman Adam Schiff told House members, “We intend to conduct these hearings with the seriousnes­s and profession­alism the public deserves. The process will

be fair to the President, the Committee Members, and the witnesses. Above all, these hearings are intended to bring the facts to light for the American people.” Facts?

Not if Republican­s have anything to say about that.

And they will be saying A LOT. Most of it attacking the process or the witnesses or other committee members. Anything to distract you from the facts.

As William Saletan pointed out in Slate, “To prove Trump wasn’t targeting his opponents for investigat­ion, Republican­s are targeting his opponents for investigat­ion.”

Count on the Republican­s in Arizona’s congressio­nal delegation — primarily Rep. Andy Biggs, but also Reps. Debbie Lesko and Paul Gosar — to attempt to distract you from the evidence as well, hoping in their pitiful fealty to Trump to take the stage and interrupt the show.

But don’t expect much of a performanc­e.

As opening acts go, I’d put them somewhere between Weird Al Yankovic and Insane Clown Posse.

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