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Moolenaar Statement on Impeachment

December 18, 2019

Impeachment is a serious process that is outlined in Article 1 of the Constitution and today's vote cheapens that process. Today, House Democrats passed the first partisan impeachment in the history of the United States with not a single member of the minority party voting for impeachment.

The inquiry which was announced on September 24 has yielded months of investigations and hearings. However, Democrats did not allow Republicans to call their own witnesses or the opportunity to have their own hearing. Democrats have also repeatedly argued that the president should cooperate if he has nothing to hide, a logic-defying argument that upends the principles of America's legal system.

Today, Democrats passed two articles of impeachment against President Donald Trump even though their case for impeachment has faltered badly in recent weeks as their public hearings have actually turned the public against impeachment.

A new Gallup poll out this morning showed Americans siding with President Trump, with his approval rating rising six points since the Democrats launched their inquiry against him. The same poll also showed a majority of Americans' oppose impeachment.

Additionally, a recent group of Saginaw residents said they overwhelmingly do not support impeachment. As Axios reported, the residents believe impeachment is "a distraction from the issues that would actually improve their lives."

According to reporting in The Washington Post, Democrats have been working on ways to impeach Trump since the day he took office, and they might pursue impeachment again next year. The articles of impeachment now go to the Senate for a trial, and if they are rejected, Congressman Al Green (D-TX) has already said "we can impeach again" and pursue additional impeachment articles against President Trump. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has not yet said if she agrees or disagrees with that plan.

Congressman John Moolenaar voted against House Democrats' partisan impeachment and made the following statement today:

"As the representative for my constituents in mid and northern Michigan and I take my oath to uphold the Constitution seriously. I am concerned Democrats voted for impeachment with no bipartisan support because they have wanted to do it since Trump was elected. In fact, their drive to impeachment has been so divisive, one moderate Democrat quit the party and joined the Republicans.

"My constituents elected me to get things done and when they look at what the Democrats are doing in Washington, they see partisanship instead of solutions that will make a difference in their lives. It is unfortunate that Democrats put bipartisan Michigan priorities on hold and waited until the last minute to finish crucial bills that pay our military, protect the Great Lakes, fund the construction of a new Soo Lock, and finalize the new trade deal with Canada and Mexico that will level the playing field for hardworking Michigan residents."