Rep. Mark Amodei of Nevada is walking back his previous comments that appeared to indicate his support for the House’s Democrat-led impeachment inquiry into President Trump.
During a phone call with reporters on Friday, the congressman refused to say whether he would vote to impeach Trump over concerns about his July phone call with the Ukrainian president, but indicated he is open to “put it through the process and see what happens.”
“I’m a big fan of oversight, so let’s let the committees get to work and see where it goes,” he said.
However, Amodei and his staff began pushing back after news outlets started reporting that he was the first Republican to support the probe, arguing that he “in no way, shape, or form” indicated support for impeachment. His office added that he does want to get to the bottom of the president’s conversation with the foreign leader, claiming though that his interest is not the same as backing the House proceedings.
When asked to explain the difference between supporting an oversight process and “Pelosi’s inquiry,” his spokesperson Logan Tucker said Saturday: “Then you stand with the 223 Democrats who have made clear that if we were to vote right this second today to impeach Trump, they would vote yes before any sort of process has transpired. Again, prior to any such process playing out, the congressman does not support impeachment in any way, shape or form.”
Currently, 224 House Democrats support the inquiry, along with independent Rep. Justin Amash and a majority of the American public. Among the Democrats, only 28 say they would impeach the president now despite Amodei’s office’s claim.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi announced a formal impeachment inquiry into the president last week after it became clear that Trump urged the leader of Ukraine to probe former Vice President Joe Biden, his potential 2020 general election opponent, and his son Hunter Biden during the phone call, which was also the subject of an intelligence community whistleblower complaint.
The president has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing on his part, demanding Sunday to meet the whistleblower. It is unclear what ramifications impeachment hearings, which may begin this week, could have, but Pelosi has indicated that “it doesn’t matter” if her party loses control of the House in 2020 as a result.
