Local politicians react to impeachment hearings against President Trump
TOPEKA, Kan. (KSNT) – The U.S. House pressed toward its impeachment of President Donald Trump on Wednesday.
Kansas politicians have voiced their concerns about the matter.
Kansas State Treasurer Jake LaTurner, who is pursuing a seat in Congress next year, responded to the impeachment hearings with the following statement:
“Today, House Democrats have turned the word impeachment into just another partisan tool aimed at helping them gain power over the American people. Impeachment of the President of the United States should never be used for partisan political gain. Even before he was sworn into office Democrats announced this day would come. Nearly three wasted years later and after untold failed investigations Democrats have given up and decided this excuse for impeachment is good enough. It is a sad day for America and a sad day for the U.S. Constitution.”
Kansas State Treasurer Jake LaTurner
Rep. Steve Watkins, LaTurner’s Republican opponent, said he will vote no on both articles of impeachment.
He released the following statement:
“After three years of obstruction and resistance, Democrats brought forward articles of impeachment that prove once and for all this entire process has been nothing more than desperate political theatre. The American people deserve better. I will be voting no on both articles of impeachment. The facts show President Trump has not committed an impeachable offense. I was elected to Congress to deliver results for Kansans — not waste their time and tax dollars on a baseless witch hunt designed to delegitimize the 2016 election and divide our nation.”
Rep. Steve Watkins
Former Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach said in a tweet that “it’s a sad day for America.”
Kobach also released the following statement calling impeachment “the Founding Fathers’ worst nightmare”:
“The Democrats’ circus in the U.S. House represents the worst nightmare of the Founding Fathers. As the framers of the Constitution feared could happen, the Democrats have weaponized the impeachment process. Neither of the articles of impeachment drafted by the Democrats in the U.S. House meets the constitutional standard of ‘treason, bribery, or other high crimes and misdemeanors’ set forth by America’s Founding Fathers.
“As I recently explained in a column for Breitbart, the ‘obstruction of Congress’ article is particularly problematic. The U.S. Senate must make clear that the mere assertion of executive privilege is not an impeachable offense. The Democrats’ insistence on saying so shows their ignorance of the Constitution and U.S. history. We know Republicans stand with the President, but Barbara Bollier should say how she would vote on the matter in the Senate.”
Former Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach
Kansas Senate President and candidate for U.S. Senate Susan Wagle also offered her response to the impeachment hearings:
“House Democrats voting to impeach the President should be a wake-up call to all Americans that the radical Left is more concerned with election revenge than actually helping hardworking families. Now that the baton has been passed to the Senate, we need to ask Barbara Bollier how she would vote. Will she will stand alongside liberals like Chuck Schumer who recruited her and is funding her campaign, or will stand with the people of Kansas? Does Barbara Bollier want to fight for Kansas families or spend her time on partisan political vendettas?”
Kansas Senate President Susan Wagle
Rep. Sharice Davids said on Dec. 10 she plans to vote for the articles of impeachment. Her full statement is below:
The evidence uncovered by the House impeachment inquiry is overwhelming. And the facts are uncontested.
President Trump used the office of the Presidency to solicit foreign interference in our elections for his own personal, political benefit. He pressured Ukraine’s President to investigate his political rival, while withholding millions in taxpayer-funded aide to Ukraine. And since this information came to light, President Trump has defied congressional subpoenas, withholding critical documents and testimony.
After careful deliberation, I plan to vote for the articles of impeachment that have been brought forward against the President.
This is not an action I take lightly. It is not what I came to Congress to do. But I took an oath to uphold and defend the Constitution, and I take that responsibility very seriously.
It remains my top priority to deliver results for the people of Kansas. Just this morning we reached a bipartisan agreement on the USMCA that will bolster Kansas’ economy and support our workers. Later this week, the House will vote on a historic piece of legislation to lower the cost of prescription drugs for Kansas families.
Today is a sad day for our country. But we must continue to make progress on the issues impacting Kansas’ Third District, and that is exactly what I intend to do.
Rep. Sharice Davids
You can watch the impeachment coverage LIVE below: