The Democrats unveiled their articles of impeachment against President Trump on Tuesday. Their two charges: abuse of power, accusing Trump of trying to solicit help from Ukraine to help his 2020 re-election efforts, and obstruction of Congress after refusing to cooperate with their investigation.
Trump's abuse of his power, according to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerry Nadler and House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff, "left them no choice." If they didn't act, they would be "complicit" in his presidential overreach.
"Unlike President Trump," Schiff said, "we understand that our duty is first and foremost to defend the Constitution."
Fox News anchor Bill Hemmer asked House Judiciary Committee ranking member Doug Collins (R-GA) for his immediate response, noting that despite their efforts, it doesn't look like Republicans can stop the Democratic-led impeachment.
"We've never thought we could stop this train Bill," Collins agreed. "They've been on this train since November 2016. They just had to find the motive, the means, and the opportunity."
Take a look at their articles, Collins suggested. The term "abuse of power" is "so ambiguous and so vague" that it's hard to even define and "they can make it up on the fly." It gives them "cover" to say whatever they want to say.
He had an issue with the second article too.
"And obstruction of Congress? Are you kidding me?" Collins asked. "After 70 days, they're going to charge him with obstruction of Congress. That is not how this place works."
"Really we have two articles of fiction," he concluded.
Hemmer noted there are 31 Democrats who won in Trump districts in 2018. What do they think about this lightning fast process?
"They have got to be saying at this moment, 'what did I get myself into?'" Collins guessed.
The Republican said he's spoken to a lot of Democrats off the dais, to find that "many are concerned that the process is going way too fast." They're also worried about the "trashing of the House rules," such as House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerry Nadler's refusal to hold a minority hearing so Republicans can question their own set of witnesses.
According to Fox News Capitol Hill reporter Chad Pergram, Collins also suggested that some of those moderate Democrats want at least one of the articles to "fail."
Top GOPer on Judiciary Cmte Collins:
— Chad Pergram (@ChadPergram) December 10, 2019
I wouldn’t be surprised if they tried to make one (article of impeachment) fail
Collins suggests that because it would help moderate Democrats who are skeptical of impeachment
Hemmer asked Collins if he thinks the Democrats will try and impeach Trump before Christmas.
"Yes, they will," he said without hesitation.