Murkowski ‘Disturbed’ by McConnell Pledge to Coordinate With White House on Trial

December 26, 2019by Chris Sommerfeldt
Murkowski ‘Disturbed’ by McConnell Pledge to Coordinate With White House on Trial

Sen. Lisa Murkowski, a moderate Alaska Republican known for her independent streak, said Wednesday she was “disturbed” by Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell’s pledge of “total coordination” with the White House during President Trump’s expected impeachment trial.

In a Christmas Day interview, Murkowski wouldn’t say how she plans to vote at Trump’s trial or whether she believes witnesses should ultimately be called. However, she said McConnell’s comments were just plain wrong.

“In fairness, when I heard that I was disturbed,” Murkowski told Anchorage TV news outlet KTUU. “To me it means that we have to take that step back from being hand in glove with the defense, and so when I heard what Leader McConnell had said, I happened to think that that has further confused the process.”

McConnell, a Kentucky Republican and the most powerful member of the Senate, has suggested he wants to quickly acquit Trump of both articles of impeachment, potentially without allowing a single witness to testify.

Drawing ire from Democrats, McConnell also said earlier this month that he won’t even pretend to be an “impartial juror” at Trump’s trial because he’s in “total coordination” with the White House counsel and “there will be no difference between the president’s position and our position.”

Murkowski suggested McConnell’s comments break with the “impartial justice” oath that all senators must take before an impeachment trial.

“If it means that I am viewed as one who looks openly and critically at every issue in front of me rather than acting as a rubber stamp for my party or my president, I am totally good with that,” Murkowski said.

A spokesman for McConnell did not return a request for comment.

Murkowski’s comments are the first sign of a crack in the GOP’s pro-Trump wall, which has remained rigid despite the president’s attempts to squeeze Ukraine for investigations into his political rivals.

Led by Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York, Democrats are putting pressure on McConnell to commit to a trial structure that would include testimony from former national security adviser John Bolton and acting chief of staff Mick Mulvaney as well as subpoenas for Ukraine-related records withheld from House impeachment investigators.

But McConnell has rebuffed Schumer’s requests and says he wants to hold off on locking in any specific plans until Congress returns in January and the trial starts.

Schumer says he wants assurances from McConnell beforehand, arguing that if they wait until the trial, there’s nothing stopping McConnell from going rogue and quickly hosting a vote to acquit the president.

In the event that happens, Schumer could still force full Senate votes on calling individual witnesses.

In such a vote, Schumer would need four Republicans to break ranks to succeed, assuming all 47 Democrats are unified.

Murkowski is one of the Republicans that Democrats are zeroing in on to cross party lines. Other moderate Republicans being targeted include Utah Sen. Mitt Romney, Colorado Sen. Cory Gardner and Maine Sen. Susan Collins.

Spokespeople for Romney, Gardner and Collins did not return requests for comment on Wednesday.

———

©2019 New York Daily News

Visit New York Daily News at www.nydailynews.com

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

A+
a-
  • impeachment
  • Lisa Murkowski
  • Mitch McConnell
  • In The News

    Health

    Voting

    In The News

    March 27, 2024
    by TWN Staff
    Rep. Cleaver New Co-Chair of House Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Caucus

    WASHINGTON — Rep. Emanuel Cleaver II, D-Mo., is the new Democratic co-chair of the House Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency... Read More

    WASHINGTON — Rep. Emanuel Cleaver II, D-Mo., is the new Democratic co-chair of the House Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Caucus. He was invited to serve as co-chair by Sens. Jack Reed, D-R.I., and Mike Crapo, R-Idaho, the co-chairs of the Senate Renewable Energy and Energy... Read More

    March 27, 2024
    by Dan McCue
    One-Time Treatment Could Revitalize Immune Systems in the Elderly

    PALO ALTO, Calif. — A new study suggests that a one-time treatment that modulates the composition of a type of... Read More

    PALO ALTO, Calif. — A new study suggests that a one-time treatment that modulates the composition of a type of immune cell could potentially revitalize the immune systems of the elderly, helping their bodies better react to viral and bacterial threats. The research was carried out... Read More

    March 27, 2024
    by Dan McCue
    Insurers to Expand Access to ‘Navigation Services’ for Cancer Patients

    WASHINGTON — Seven of the nation’s largest health insurance companies are expanding access to so-called “navigation services” to help patients... Read More

    WASHINGTON — Seven of the nation’s largest health insurance companies are expanding access to so-called “navigation services” to help patients and their families navigate the myriad challenges that might arise during treatment for cancer and other serious illnesses. The insurers involved are Aetna; Blue Cross Blue... Read More

    March 27, 2024
    by Dan McCue
    New Dem Chair Kuster Announces Retirement Following 2024 Election

    CONCORD, N.H. — Rep. Annie Kuster, D-N.H., who, among other things, is the current chair of the New Democrat Coalition... Read More

    CONCORD, N.H. — Rep. Annie Kuster, D-N.H., who, among other things, is the current chair of the New Democrat Coalition in the House, revealed Wednesday that she will not seek reelection to Congress this year. In a lengthy statement released by her office, Kuster gives no... Read More

    March 26, 2024
    by Tom Ramstack
    Supreme Court Skeptical of Ban on Abortion Pill Mifepristone

    WASHINGTON — A hearing Tuesday before the Supreme Court indicated a majority of the justices want to maintain women’s access... Read More

    WASHINGTON — A hearing Tuesday before the Supreme Court indicated a majority of the justices want to maintain women’s access to the abortion pill mifepristone despite objections from anti-abortion activists. The doctors and organizations who sued argued the Food and Drug Administration was wrong in granting... Read More

    March 26, 2024
    by Dan McCue
    Consumers Warned to Avoid Certain Topical Pain Relief Products 

    WASHINGTON — The Food and Drug Administration warned consumers on Tuesday not to use certain over-the-counter pain relief products marketed... Read More

    WASHINGTON — The Food and Drug Administration warned consumers on Tuesday not to use certain over-the-counter pain relief products marketed for topical use before, during or after certain cosmetic procedures. The warning came after the agency issued warning letters to six companies for marketing these products... Read More

    News From The Well
    scroll top