Susan Collins won't co-sponsor Senate resolution condemning impeachment inquiry

Sen. Susan Collins will not co-sponsor a Senate resolution that calls on Democrats to hold a vote to formalize their impeachment probe.

The measure, introduced by Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) last week, has support from 50 of the 53 Senate Republicans. It also asks that the House provide President Donald Trump “due process” and give House Republicans subpoena power.

In an interview, the Maine Republican said Monday she has not yet decided how she will vote on the resolution itself, but cautioned against the Senate interfering in the House’s procedures.

“I have been critical of the House not holding a vote to authorize the inquiry but the House determines its own procedures,” Collins said. “Just as I don’t like it when House members try to tell us to abolish the filibuster I’m not sure it’s productive for the Senate to try to dictate to the House how to conduct the inquiry.”

Collins added that the Senate could consider the fairness of the impeachment inquiry if it comes before the chamber.

In addition to Collins, Republican Sens. Mitt Romney of Utah and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska have not signed on to the so-called Graham-McConnell resolution.

The resolution comes as Republicans have attacked House Democrats over their reluctance to vote on opening an impeachment inquiry, as well as their use of closed-door hearings to hear witness depositions.

Those criticisms could change with House Democrats announcing they will hold a vote as soon as this week formalizing the next steps in the impeachment inquiry.

Trump suggested Monday that he wanted Republicans to talk more about the substance of the inquiry instead of criticizing the process.

“I'd rather go into the details of the case rather than process,” Trump said Monday. “Process is good, but I think you ought to look at the case."

Article originally published on POLITICO Magazine