© Greg Nash
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell
Addison (Mitch) Mitchell McConnellHawley expects McConnell's final impeachment resolution to give White House defense ability to motion to dismiss Democrats file brief against Trump, 'the Framers' worst nightmare' Iran resolution supporters fear impeachment will put it on back burner MORE (R-Ky.) on Tuesday went after House Democrats over their handling of an impeachment inquiry against President Trump
Donald John TrumpTrump's newest Russia adviser, Andrew Peek, leaves post: report Hawley expects McConnell's final impeachment resolution to give White House defense ability to motion to dismiss Trump rips New York City sea wall: 'Costly, foolish' and 'environmentally unfriendly idea' MORE.
Addison (Mitch) Mitchell McConnellHawley expects McConnell's final impeachment resolution to give White House defense ability to motion to dismiss Democrats file brief against Trump, 'the Framers' worst nightmare' Iran resolution supporters fear impeachment will put it on back burner MORE (R-Ky.) on Tuesday went after House Democrats over their handling of an impeachment inquiry against President TrumpDonald John TrumpTrump's newest Russia adviser, Andrew Peek, leaves post: report Hawley expects McConnell's final impeachment resolution to give White House defense ability to motion to dismiss Trump rips New York City sea wall: 'Costly, foolish' and 'environmentally unfriendly idea' MORE.“Overturning the results of an American election requires the highest level of fairness and due process, as it strikes at the core of our democratic process,” McConnell wrote in a tweet.
“So far, the House has fallen far short by failing to follow the same basic procedures that it has followed for every other President in our history,” he added.
So far, the House has fallen far short by failing to follow the same basic procedures that it has followed for every other President in our history.
— Leader McConnell (@senatemajldr) October 8, 2019
House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy
Kevin Owen McCarthyCalifornia sues Trump administration over fracking Trump: Impeachment timing intended to hurt Sanders Overnight Energy: Schumer votes against USMCA, citing climate impact | Republicans offer details on their environmental proposals | Microsoft aims to be carbon negative by 2030 MORE (R-Calif.) also argued in a pair of tweets that Democrats have treated Trump differently than previous presidents.
Kevin Owen McCarthyCalifornia sues Trump administration over fracking Trump: Impeachment timing intended to hurt Sanders Overnight Energy: Schumer votes against USMCA, citing climate impact | Republicans offer details on their environmental proposals | Microsoft aims to be carbon negative by 2030 MORE (R-Calif.) also argued in a pair of tweets that Democrats have treated Trump differently than previous presidents.ADVERTISEMENT
McCarthy said Trump "is right to call out this rushed process because Democrats refuse to protect the transparency and basic fairness that have been integral to previous impeachment proceedings."
"House Democrats have wanted to undo the results of the 2016 election for three years, and now they’re rushing a sham impeachment process," he added.
President @realDonaldTrump is right to call out this rushed process because Democrats refuse to protect the transparency and basic fairness that have been integral to previous impeachment proceedings.
— Kevin McCarthy (@GOPLeader) October 8, 2019
The GOP leaders weighed in amid an escalating battle between the White House and congressional Democrats over the impeachment inquiry.
The White House on Tuesday sent a letter to Speaker Nancy Pelosi
Nancy PelosiREAD: House impeachment managers' trial brief Desperate Democrats badmouth economy even as it booms Pelosi offers message to Trump on Bill Maher show: 'You are impeached forever' MORE (D-Calif.) and House chairmen overseeing the impeachment inquiry saying it would refuse to cooperate further with the probe.
Nancy PelosiREAD: House impeachment managers' trial brief Desperate Democrats badmouth economy even as it booms Pelosi offers message to Trump on Bill Maher show: 'You are impeached forever' MORE (D-Calif.) and House chairmen overseeing the impeachment inquiry saying it would refuse to cooperate further with the probe.The White House argued Democrats were pursuing a "constitutionally invalid" investigation of a duly elected president.
Pelosi has said that a formal vote wasn't necessary to begin the process, telling reporters last week that "there's no requirement that there be a floor vote."
Trump and his GOP allies argue the inquiry is invalid unless the House takes a floor vote to authorize it, as was done with the inquiries into former Presidents Nixon and Clinton.
They also think a formal vote would be a political boon because it would force Democrats in swing-state districts to go on the record about impeachment.
McConnell didn't directly endorse Trump's strategy of not cooperating with House Democrats in his tweets or specifically mention the word impeachment.
But his criticism of Democrats is notable given that he's largely flown under the radar during Congress's two-week recess with regard to the impeachment fight.
Though McConnell's campaign is running Facebook ads with the GOP leader pledging to block Trump's impeachment, he's yet to comment on the president's call for Ukraine and China to investigate former Vice President Joe Biden
Joe BidenBiden alleges Sanders campaign 'doctored video' to attack him on Social Security record Sanders campaign responds to Biden doctored video claims: Biden should 'stop trying to doctor' public record Capt. "Sully" Sullenberger pens op-ed in defense of Biden: 'I stuttered once, too. I dare you to mock me' MORE and his son Hunter Biden.
Joe BidenBiden alleges Sanders campaign 'doctored video' to attack him on Social Security record Sanders campaign responds to Biden doctored video claims: Biden should 'stop trying to doctor' public record Capt. "Sully" Sullenberger pens op-ed in defense of Biden: 'I stuttered once, too. I dare you to mock me' MORE and his son Hunter Biden.House Democrats are at the start of an impeachment inquiry centered on Trump asking the Ukrainian government to work with his personal lawyer Rudy Giuliani
Rudy GiulianiDemocrats file brief against Trump, 'the Framers' worst nightmare' Trump lawyers attack House impeachment as 'brazen and unlawful' effort to overturn 2016 results Sunday shows preview: Lawmakers gear up for Senate impeachment trial MORE to look into the Bidens and allegations that the president tried to withhold aid to Ukraine in an effort to get Kiev to launch such a probe.
Rudy GiulianiDemocrats file brief against Trump, 'the Framers' worst nightmare' Trump lawyers attack House impeachment as 'brazen and unlawful' effort to overturn 2016 results Sunday shows preview: Lawmakers gear up for Senate impeachment trial MORE to look into the Bidens and allegations that the president tried to withhold aid to Ukraine in an effort to get Kiev to launch such a probe.
