Republican Sens. Rand Paul of Kentucky and Jim Jordan of Ohio on Tuesday released a pair of columns ripping Democrats in Congress for pushing a “political impeachment charade” against former President Donald Trump.
Trump’s second impeachment trial over his role in the Capitol riot last month is set to begin on Tuesday. On the same day, Paul and Jordan both released opinion pieces on Fox News opposing the decision to proceed with Trump’s trial, which Paul claimed “is of dubious merit and even more dubious constitutionality,” and “will stop both sides of the political aisle from pursuing solutions and goals for policy, from presidential appointments to COVID relief bills.”
He added, “I’ve spoken out against the words of many on my side, including those of President Trump.
“But where is the other side? Where were they all last year when political violence ravaged our cities, when people could barely dine or walk the streets in many places? When businesses burned and people were injured or killed by mobs?”
Jordan wrote: “We all agree that the events on Jan. 6, 2021, were as wrong as wrong can be. Every American has the right to peacefully protest. But there is no place for political violence of any kind – whether in Washington, D.C., or in Portland, Ore. Republicans have been consistent in denouncing acts of political violence. Democrats have not, and now they are casting political blame for what happened at the Capitol.”
He added that “President Trump did not incite the violence of Jan. 6. News reports suggest the FBI knew in advance that violence would occur. The U.S. Capitol Police also reportedly understood that there was a "strong potential for violence" that day. Pipe bombs had been placed before President Trump’s speech. So how can Democrats accuse President Trump of inciting violence when the violent acts had been planned in advance?”
Jordan concluded, “At the end of the day, Democrats don’t want President Trump to run for office again. They’re scared of him. They know he works for the American people, and not the Washington Swamp. Unlike most politicians, President Trump did what he said he’d do. Hopefully, one day, he’ll get to do it again.
“The Senate must stand up for the facts and the Constitution. The Senate must acquit President Trump.”