Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell announced that he’ll vote to reject the two articles of impeachment charging President Trump with abuse of power and obstruction of Congress.
McConnell, a Kentucky Republican who has harshly criticized the impeachment of Trump, said Tuesday that the case put forward by House Democrats arguing the president should be removed from office fell far short.
“They claimed dozens of times that their existing case was overwhelming and incontrovertible,” McConnell said. “That was the House managers saying their evidence was overwhelming and incontrovertible at the same time they were arguing for more witnesses. But in reality, both of the House’s accusations are constitutionally incoherent.”
McConnell was particularly critical of the abuse of Congress charge, which he called “absurd” because it rejects the president’s use of executive privilege.
He accused Democrats of abusing the power of their office to conduct an impeachment investigation that was rooted in their dislike of Trump and his agenda.
McConnell called on the Senate to reject both articles when lawmakers cast their final votes Wednesday at 4 p.m. EST.
“I urge every one of our colleagues to cast the vote that the facts in evidence, the Constitution, and the common good clearly require,” McConnell said. “Vote to acquit the president of these charges.”
[Also read: Some Democrats and maybe Republicans could split their votes on impeachment]
