USA TODAY International Edition
Trump lauds GOP for House protest
President had asked caucus to be aggressive
WASHINGTON – President Donald Trump and aides applauded newly aggressive Republicans on Thursday for seeking to disrupt the impeachment investigation, while Democrats said they will not be deterred by the new tactics.
“Thank you to House Republicans for being tough, smart, and understanding in detail the greatest Witch Hunt in American History,” Trump tweeted. “It has been going on since long before I even got Elected ( the Insurance Policy!). A total Scam!”
Trump, who called on Republicans this week to be more adamant in their opposition, spoke a day after about three dozen House Republicans staged a protest at the secure facility where lawmakers are interviewing witnesses about Trump’s dealings with Ukraine.
In the Senate, South Carolina Republican Lindsey Graham said he would introduce a resolution condemning what he called House Democrats’ “closed- door, illegitimate impeachment inquiry.”
Democrats and other Trump critics pointed out that Republicans are included in the closed- door hearings. Some also noted that testimony has surfaced publicly as the House investigates whether Trump withheld military aid to Ukraine so he could pressure them into investigating Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden.
Rep. Adam Schiff, D- Calif., who is running the hearings in his role as chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, said lawmakers took testimony from Defense Department official Laura Cooper despite GOP efforts to disrupt the process.
Cooper “did her lawful duty and answered questions from both parties,” Schiff tweeted. “She did so notwithstanding efforts by the President to stop her, and when those failed, efforts by his GOP allies in Congress to do the same. We will not be deterred from revealing the truth.”
Democrats also criticized some House Republicans for entering the secure hearing room – the “Sensitive Compartmented Information Facility,” or SCIF – with cellphones.
Electronic devices would, in theory, make it easier for spies to infiltrate SCIFs, where classified information is discussed.
Trump and other Republicans said they would continue to protest what they called a secretive process, though some noted that public hearings may be held soon.
“We won’t stop fighting for complete transparency for the American people!” said Rep. Steve Scalise, R- La., the House Republican whip.
White House press secretary Stephanie Grisham also applauded the House Republicans for their protest. She told “Fox & Friends” the criticism appears to be having an effect: “Now I’m hearing the Dems have agreed in three weeks that they’re going to open these up to the public. I don’t know why they don’t do it starting now.”
In a Cabinet meeting Monday, Trump complained that Democrats are sticking together to push impeachment as a way to defeat him in the 2020 election, while Republicans are too low- key.