President Donald Trump on Monday appointed eight GOP House allies to "serve as part of his team working to combat this hyper-partisan and baseless impeachment," according to a White House press secretary release.
The lawmakers are Reps. Doug Collins, R-Ga.; Mike Johnson, R-La.; Jim Jordan, R-Ohio; Debbie Lesko, R-Ariz.; Mark Meadows, R-N.C.; John Ratcliffe, R-Texas; Elise Stefanik, R-N.J.; and Lee Zeldin, R-N.Y.
The White House release read:
"Throughout this process, these Members of Congress have provided guidance to the White House team, which was prohibited from participating in the proceedings concocted by Democrats in the House of Representatives. The President looks forward to their continued participation and is confident that the Members will help expeditiously end this brazen political vendetta on behalf of the American people."
The lawmakers have vocally defended Trump during the House impeachment procedure.
Collins tweeted:
"This impeachment has been a sham since day one, and we will continue to expose it for what it is: A blatantly political attempt to overturn the will of 63 million Americans."
The White House on Monday also released a trial memorandum outlining Trump's defense strategy, with his legal team arguing he should be swiftly acquitted because the Democrat-led House overstepped its authority and committed a "brazenly political act" that "must be rejected."
Opening arguments in Trump's impeachment trial in the Senate start Tuesday.