Most GOP legislators who aren’t seeking re-election are nevertheless sticking by the president.

Retiring GOP lawmakers largely toe line on impeachment

WASHINGTON — Top Republicans eager for a united front will be eyeing retiring lawmakers for signs of cracking as the impeachment inquiry of President Donald Trump heats up. So far, there’s no indication that the retirees are about to defect.

Party leaders got a positive signal this past week from departing Sen. Lamar Alexander, R-Tenn., who said that while it was “inappropriate” for Trump to have prodded foreign governments to investigate his political opponents, impeachment “would be a mistake.”

It’s too early for many Republicans to take irrevocable positions on impeaching Trump for trying to get Ukrainian leaders to provide damaging information about former Vice President Joe Biden.

But though most retirees are leaving politics and face less pressure to defend Trump, they’re acting much like their GOP colleagues who are sticking around. They’ve downplayed the case against Trump, criticized the impeachment investigation, been vague or said nothing.

“You’ve just got to decide where the evidence lies and where you want your legacy to be,” said Republican pollster Jon McHenry.

Senate Intelligence Committee Chairman Richard Burr, R-N.C., has commented little on impeachment. He’s said he won’t seek re-election in 2022, and his panel is conducting its own investigation of the whistleblower complaint against Trump.

The most closely observed House retiree is probably moderate Texas Rep. Will Hurd, 42. A former undercover CIA officer, he’s opposed Trump immigration policies and was considered a rising GOP star before retiring. He’s expressed doubt that Trump’s actions are impeachable but said on CBS’ “Face the Nation” that he supports hearings “to get to the bottom of this.”

Departing Rep. John Shimkus, R-Ill., told St. Louis radio station KMOX on Thursday that he was removing his name from “the ‘I support Donald Trump’ list” because Trump pulled U.S. troops from Syria, prompting a Turkish attack on U.S. Kurdish allies.

Shimkus later said he was withdrawing as an official Trump campaign supporter, leaving unaddressed how that might reflect his view on impeachment.

Retiring Rep. Paul Mitchell, R-Mich., called the impeachment push a “circus” in an interview but said he would “protect and defend the Constitution.” Rep. Jim Sensenbrenner, R-Wis., said Congress is “wasting its time” because there’s insufficient public support for removing Trump.

Lamar Alexander