Oct 19, 2019

Trump impeachment inquiry takes its toll on Republicans

Axios

Acting chief of staff Mick Mulvaney — Acting White House Chief of Staff Mick Mulvaney gives briefing on Thursday. Photo: Win McNamee/Getty Images

Some Republicans are newly struggling to support President Trump following his calls to pull troops from Syria, the Ukraine impeachment investigation and decision to host the G-7 summit at his Doral resort, reports the Washington Post.

Why it matters: "There’s now a growing sense among a quiet group of Republicans that the president is playing with fire, taking their loyalty for granted," writes the Post.

The state of play: Rep. Francis Rooney (R-Fla.), asked whether he thinks Trump's conduct is impeachable, said: "I'm still thinking about it."

Former Ohio Gov. John Kasich, who ran against Trump in the 2016 primary, said for the first time that he supports impeachment — but still not removal.

In a lunch with Republican colleagues on Wednesday, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell portrayed Trump's impeachment by the House, and therefore trial by the Senate, as all but inevitable, writes the New York Times.

George Kent, a career State Department official overseeing Ukraine policy, testified Tuesday "that he had raised concerns in early 2015 about then-Vice President Joe Biden’s son serving on the board of a Ukrainian energy company but was turned away by a Biden staffer." per the Washington Post.

Go deeper...Pew survey: 54% approve of House impeachment inquiry

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Trump impeachment inquiry takes its toll on Republicans

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