Eighteen House Oversight Committee Republicans on Monday called on Democrats to abandon its "one-sided" impeachment inquiry of President Donald Trump in order to "tackle the pressing issues that affect all Americans."
"The Democrats' 'impeachment inquiry' has a real opportunity cost for the American people, who expect us to work together to solve real problems and not to pursue one-sided and fundamentally unfair political investigations," the Republicans said in a letter to Chair Carolyn Maloney, D-N.Y.
The letter was signed by ranking member Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio; and included these other Republicans: Reps. Kelly Armstrong, N.D.; Michael Cloud, Texas; James Comer, Ky.; Virginia Foxx, N.C.; Bob Gibbs, Ohio; Paul Gosar, Arizona; Mark Green, Tenn.; Glenn Grothman, Wis.; Jody Hice, Ga.; Fred Keller, Pa.; Clay Higgins, La.; Mark Meadows, N.C.; Thomas Massie, Ky.; Carol Miller, W.Va.; Ralph Norman, S.C.; Chip Roy, Texas; and Greg Steube, Fla.
Maloney succeeded Rep. Elijah Cummings, D-Md., as chair after his death in October.
The Oversight Committee was among six House panels conducting impeachment probes of the president, Speaker Nancy Pelosi announced in September.
The panel's Republicans also invoked Cummings in their letter: "As Chairman Cummings once counseled, 'Our work in this Committee must not be driven by the next election.'"
The lawmakers listed many issues that have not been addressed in lieu of the impeachment probe. They include border security, human trafficking, opioids, and rising drug costs.
"We urge you to remember Chairman Cummings' wise words and orient the committee's work toward consensus-based, bipartisan solutions," they said.