Sen. Tina Smith, who’s up for reelection in 2020, released her first statement in support of an impeachment inquiry Tuesday morning, leaving just one Minnesota Democrat against an impeachment probe.
“I support the House beginning impeachment proceedings, as a matter of national security, and protecting the rule of law and our Constitution,” Smith said in a statement.
The growing support for impeachment comes in response to allegations that President Donald Trump pressured the president of Ukraine to investigate Joe Biden’s son. As The Minnesota Sun reported Tuesday morning, both Reps. Dean Phillips (D-MN-03) and Angie Craig (D-MN-02) released statements in support of an impeachment inquiry.
Smith joins Senate colleague and 2020 presidential candidate Sen. Amy Klobuchar in supporting impeachment.
“Amid reports that the President asked or even pressured Ukraine, a foreign government, to interfere in our country’s democracy by undermining a political opponent, we must fully and fairly open a process to lay out all the facts,” Smith said.
“Such an inquiry—which is different from removal from office—is serious. Impeachment is the only way in our system of constitutional checks and balances to establish whether a President has abused his power and put his own interests ahead of our national security and the rule of law,” she continued. “My job as Senator is to uphold the Constitution and the rule of law, and I must fulfill my responsibility to listen to all the evidence before making a final judgment.”
We must fully and fairly open a process to lay out all the facts.
My full statement: pic.twitter.com/WnkJHQ4FWr
— Senator Tina Smith (@SenTinaSmith) September 24, 2019
Klobuchar reiterated her support for an impeachment inquiry in a Tuesday tweet.
“President said he’s releasing call transcript. Remember it’s the whistleblower complaint we must see. Not just one call. Complaint reportedly involves more. It isn’t legal to sell out your country for personal gain. As I’ve said before, House should open impeachment investigation,” Klobuchar wrote.
President said he’s releasing call transcript. Remember it’s the whistleblower complaint we must see. Not just one call. Complaint reportedly involves more. It isn’t legal to sell out your country for personal gain. As I’ve said before, House should open impeachment investigation
— Amy Klobuchar (@amyklobuchar) September 24, 2019
Reps. Betty McCollum (D-MN-04) and Ilhan Omar (D-MN-05) both favor the impeachment probe, making Rep. Collin Peterson (D-MN-07) the lone Minnesota Democrat against the idea.
“If anyone thinks a partisan impeachment process would constrain President Trump, they are fooling themselves,” Peterson said in a statement released to the media Tuesday. “Without significant bipartisan support, impeachment proceedings will be a lengthy and divisive action with no resolution.”
After a closed-door meeting with the Democratic Caucus, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi formally announced Tuesday evening the start of an impeachment inquiry.
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Anthony Gockowski is managing editor of Battleground State News, The Ohio Star, and The Minnesota Sun. Follow Anthony on Twitter. Email tips to [email protected].
Photo “Collin Peterson” by Collin Peterson.
