South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham and Majority Leader Mitch McConnell plan to introduce a resolution Thursday “condemning the House of Representatives’ closed door, illegitimate impeachment inquiry.”
Graham and McConnell have been leading the Senate GOP’s criticism of the House impeachment proceedings, which has taken place almost entirely behind closed doors since it began in late September.
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Republicans have also questioned the legitimacy of the investigation because it was never sanctioned by a House vote or established with bipartisan cooperation on rules to govern the proceedings.
House Democrats defend the secrecy by arguing Republicans are included in the closed-door proceedings, and that opening them to the public would jeopardize witness testimony.
[Read more: Lindsey Graham clarifies describing GOP storming of closed-door deposition as ‘nuts’]
Democrats are inching toward introducing articles of impeachment against President Trump based on his July 25 call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. Democrats say they are building a case Trump used his office to try to force Ukraine’s government officials to investigate his top political opponent, former Vice President Joe Biden, who is running for president.
McConnell called the House impeachment proceedings “grossly unfair” and said Trump “has legitimate concerns about the process.”
Only three House committees are included in the closed-door impeachment proceedings, which are now centered on deposing current and former Trump administration officials.
