GOP Sen. Lisa Murkowski Says She’s ‘Disturbed’ By McConnell’s Coordination Of Impeachment Trial With Trump

Alaskan Republican Senator, Lisa Murkowski expressed discomfort to local NBC affiliate, Anchorage-KTUU, over Senate Majority Leader, Mitch McConnell‘s, collaborative efforts with the White House counsel to defend President Donald Trump in the Senate impeachment trial.

In the interview, which aired on Christmas Eve, Murkowski said that the “total coordination” efforts, between the White House and Senate, for the upcoming impeachment trial, greatly disturb her. Murkowski shared that she is uncomfortable with McConnell‘s statement that he will work closely with the White House. “In fairness, when I heard that, I was disturbed,” Murkowski said.  

The House charged Trump last week with two articles of impeachment, obstruction of Congress and abuse of power – which means that upon the House’s submission of the articles to the Senate, the 100 senators would become the jury for the impeachment trial. Murkowski stated that she is opposed to “being hand in glove with the defense.” 

The GOP Senator expressed extreme disapproval in House Speaker, Nancy Pelosi‘s, efforts to expedite the process and get it done before Christmas – stating the whole process was rushed. In the interview, Murkowski noted that the Senate is being called to “cure deficiencies” in the evidence that the Democratic House will present at trial. In particular, it is debating whether to bring key testimonies from Acting White House Chief of Staff, Mick Mulvaney, and former National Security Advisor, John Bolton, forward.

“How we will deal with witnesses remains to be seen,” Murkowski continued. Murkowski then went into detail over how the House should have sought out Congressional interference for witnesses who opted out of testifying.

McConnell, who has publicly vowed to work with the Trump Administration for Trump’s defense, said in an interview with Fox News Anchor, Sean Hannity, “everything I do during this, I’m coordinating with the White House counsel.” McConnell continued, “there will be no difference between the president’s position and our position as to how to handle this. I’m going to take my cues from the president’s lawyers.”

Murkowski dictates that she takes her job as an impeachment juror very seriously. “For me to prejudge and say there’s nothing there or, on the other hand, he should be impeached yesterday, that’s wrong, in my view, that’s wrong,” she stated.