Impeachment day is here, and Republicans are ready to delay. As soon as the debate got started Wednesday morning, Rep. Andy Biggs (R-AZ) introduced an adjournment resolution. It was, as you can imagine, quickly voted down.
Shortly after the House gaveled in, Rep. Andy Biggs made a motion to adjourn. That motion was just voted down. https://t.co/JuHxnyL074 pic.twitter.com/YsRTktP7qI
— WFLA NEWS (@WFLA) December 18, 2019
But the Republicans were just getting started. After the failed adjournment vote, GOP Leader Kevin McCarthy introduced a privileged resolution urging his colleagues to condemn the actions of Democratic Chairmen Adam Schiff and Jerry Nadler for running an unfair impeachment process.
HAPPENING NOW ? Chairmen Adam Schiff and Jerry Nadler have abused their power. I am calling for a vote on a privileged resolution to condemn their actions. pic.twitter.com/UaMfXBnGlg
— Kevin McCarthy (@GOPLeader) December 18, 2019
"Chairman Schiff and Nadler willfully and intentionally violated the Rules of the House of Representatives by abusing and exceeding their powers as Chairmen of Committees," the resolution reads.
McCarthy also references some of Schiff’s “unprecedented” actions, including how he released a redacted version of the whistleblower complaint against Trump over the summer and proceeded to fabricate parts of the phone call between Trump and Ukrainian President Zelensky in a congressional hearing.
Throw in a few points of order from Minority Whip Steve Scalise and other GOP members, and we could be here awhile. Scalise noted how Democrats didn't afford the GOP minority hearings to question their own set of witnesses. It is "a violation of minority rights," he said.
Rep. Tom Cole (R-OK), ranking member on the House Rules Committee, added that "it would have been better for the institution and for the American people" for all witnesses to be heard "before proceeding to a vote on something so consequential."
"I oppose this unfair process, and I certainly oppose impeaching the president of the United States," Cole said in closing.
There will be six hours of debate for the two articles of impeachment against Trump, abuse of power and obstruction of Congress.
CNN's Jake Tapper suggested that if Republicans "have the wherewithal," they may want the vote to be pushed to 2 or 3 a.m.
"They're going to try to make it as onerous as possible," he predicted.