Eight Republican members of the House have joined President Trump’s impeachment team ahead of his Senate trial.
The White House released the names of the lawmakers on Monday night. They include Reps. Doug Collins of Georgia, Mike Johnson of Louisiana, Jim Jordan of Ohio, Debbie Lesko of Arizona, Mark Meadows of North Carolina, John Ratcliffe of Texas, Elise Stefanik of New York, and Lee Zeldin of New York.
“Throughout this process, these Members of Congress have provided guidance to the White House team, which was prohibited from participating in the proceedings concocted by Democrats in the House of Representatives,” the White House said in a statement. “The President looks forward to their continued participation and is confident that the Members will help expeditiously end this brazen political vendetta on behalf of the American people.”
The lawmakers will likely not speak on the Senate floor during the trial, as Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell opposed the idea. Rather, each member will aid Trump’s defense in other ways, which could include speaking to the media and advising the White House.
The rest of Trump’s impeachment team, which was announced last week, will include two former independent counsels, Ken Starr and Robert Ray, and constitutional law professor Alan Dershowitz. The team will be led by White House counsel Pat Cipollone.
The Senate is expected to vote on the rules governing the trial on Tuesday.
