Sens. Lisa Murkowski
Lisa Ann MurkowskiDurbin: Democrats can 'slow' Supreme Court confirmation 'perhaps a matter of hours, maybe days at most' Senate GOP set to vote on Trump's Supreme Court pick before election Supreme Court fight pushes Senate toward brink MORE (R-Alaska) and Susan Collins
Susan Margaret CollinsTrump's Teflon problem: Nothing sticks, including the 'wins' Durbin: Democrats can 'slow' Supreme Court confirmation 'perhaps a matter of hours, maybe days at most' Senate GOP set to vote on Trump's Supreme Court pick before election MORE (R-Maine) said on Monday that they will not sign on to a GOP resolution condemning the House impeachment inquiry. Collins separately told Politico that she doesn't plan to co-sponsor the resolution, though she added that she hasn't decided how she would vote if the resolution comes up on the Senate floor.
Lisa Ann MurkowskiDurbin: Democrats can 'slow' Supreme Court confirmation 'perhaps a matter of hours, maybe days at most' Senate GOP set to vote on Trump's Supreme Court pick before election Supreme Court fight pushes Senate toward brink MORE (R-Alaska) and Susan CollinsSusan Margaret CollinsTrump's Teflon problem: Nothing sticks, including the 'wins' Durbin: Democrats can 'slow' Supreme Court confirmation 'perhaps a matter of hours, maybe days at most' Senate GOP set to vote on Trump's Supreme Court pick before election MORE (R-Maine) said on Monday that they will not sign on to a GOP resolution condemning the House impeachment inquiry. Collins and Murkowski are two of the three GOP senators who have not yet co-sponsored the resolution, which was spearheaded by Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Lindsey Graham
Lindsey Olin GrahamGraham neck and neck with challenger in South Carolina Senate race: poll Harris slams Trump's Supreme Court pick as an attempt to 'destroy the Affordable Care Act' Sunday shows preview: Lawmakers prepare for SCOTUS confirmation hearings before election MORE (R-S.C.).
Lindsey Olin GrahamGraham neck and neck with challenger in South Carolina Senate race: poll Harris slams Trump's Supreme Court pick as an attempt to 'destroy the Affordable Care Act' Sunday shows preview: Lawmakers prepare for SCOTUS confirmation hearings before election MORE (R-S.C.). ADVERTISEMENT
“From the get go, Speaker Pelosi and House Democrats have handled this impeachment inquiry poorly, from closed-door hearings and leaked information to the outright abandonment of decades of established precedent on due process for the accused. A serious lack of transparency will hardly build public trust or credibility for the House’s actions," Murkowski said in a statement.
But she added that, "as awful as their process is, the formal impeachment inquiry lies in the House, and it’s not the Senate’s role to dictate to the House how to determine their own rules.”
A spokeswoman for Collins didn't immediately respond to a request for comment about her position.
The resolution, introduced by Graham on Thursday, formally opposes the impeachment inquiry and urges House Democrats to hold an official vote on it.
Donald John TrumpNew Biden campaign ad jabs at Trump's reported 0 income tax payments Ocasio-Cortez: Trump contributed less in taxes 'than waitresses and undocumented immigrants' Third judge orders Postal Service to halt delivery cuts MORE "due process," including "the ability to confront his accusers" and that House Republicans should be able to subpoena their own witnesses.Graham had 39 co-sponsors when he introduced the resolution, but by Friday 50 of the Senate Republican Conference's 53 members had signed on as co-sponsors.
In addition to Collins and Murkowski, Sen. Mitt Romney
Willard (Mitt) Mitt RomneyTrump, Biden have one debate goal: Don't lose Trump-Biden debate: High risk vs. low expectations Crenshaw looms large as Democrats look to flip Texas House seat MORE (R-Utah) is the third GOP senator who has not yet signed on as a co-sponsor.
Willard (Mitt) Mitt RomneyTrump, Biden have one debate goal: Don't lose Trump-Biden debate: High risk vs. low expectations Crenshaw looms large as Democrats look to flip Texas House seat MORE (R-Utah) is the third GOP senator who has not yet signed on as a co-sponsor. Romney didn't rule it out on Monday, but indicated that House Speaker Nancy Pelosi
Nancy PelosiPelosi preparing for House to decide presidency if neither Trump or Biden win electoral college: report Trump seeks boost from seniors with 0 drug discount coupons GOP senators confident Trump pick to be confirmed by November MORE's (D-Calif.) decision to hold a vote on the impeachment inquiry's procedures likely superseded Graham's resolution.
Nancy PelosiPelosi preparing for House to decide presidency if neither Trump or Biden win electoral college: report Trump seeks boost from seniors with 0 drug discount coupons GOP senators confident Trump pick to be confirmed by November MORE's (D-Calif.) decision to hold a vote on the impeachment inquiry's procedures likely superseded Graham's resolution. "You know I've been reluctant from the beginning to get involved in the process argument between the White House and the House, but now that the Speaker has scheduled a vote I think that's been overtaken by events," Romney said, asked why he hadn't signed on to Graham's resolution.
It's unclear if, or when, Graham's resolution will come up for a vote. It was sent to the Senate Rules Committee, which is overseen by Sen. Roy Blunt
Roy Dean BluntGOP senators confident Trump pick to be confirmed by November Sunday shows preview: Lawmakers prepare for SCOTUS confirmation hearings before election SCOTUS confirmation in the last month of a close election? Ugly MORE (R-Mo.).
Roy Dean BluntGOP senators confident Trump pick to be confirmed by November Sunday shows preview: Lawmakers prepare for SCOTUS confirmation hearings before election SCOTUS confirmation in the last month of a close election? Ugly MORE (R-Mo.). Blunt didn't indicate on Monday if he will take it up in committee, instead telling reporters that he is waiting to see the exact language of the House resolution.
"Let's see what she actually proposes," Blunt said. "I read her letter and it could mean not very much, or maybe it will mean more than we're just going to formalize the unfair way we've been doing things."
The resolution cannot currently pass the Senate, where it would need 60 votes. But bringing it to the floor could allow Senate Republicans to formally show their support for Trump.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell
Addison (Mitch) Mitchell McConnellGOP senators confident Trump pick to be confirmed by November Trump's Teflon problem: Nothing sticks, including the 'wins' Senate Republican says lawmakers can't 'boil down' what a Court nominee would do in one case like Roe v. Wade MORE (R-Ky.) didn't respond to a question on Monday about moving Graham's resolution.
Addison (Mitch) Mitchell McConnellGOP senators confident Trump pick to be confirmed by November Trump's Teflon problem: Nothing sticks, including the 'wins' Senate Republican says lawmakers can't 'boil down' what a Court nominee would do in one case like Roe v. Wade MORE (R-Ky.) didn't respond to a question on Monday about moving Graham's resolution.But the GOP leader, who is co-sponsoring the measure, touted it during his Senate floor speech.
“It’s no secret that Washington Democrats have been looking for a way to remove President Trump since Inauguration Day. But that does not remove the basic requirements of fairness and due process. That’s what our resolution makes clear. I am proud to sponsor it with Chairman Graham," he said.
