Rep. Doug CollinsDouglas (Doug) Allen CollinsTrump to sign order penalizing colleges over perceived anti-Semitism on campus: report Hillicon Valley: Apple, Facebook defend encryption during Senate grilling | Tech legal shield makes it into trade deal | Impeachment controversy over phone records heats up | TikTok chief cancels Capitol Hill meetings Controversy on phone records intensifies amid impeachment MORE (R-Ga.) accused House Democrats Wednesday of “tearing down a world leader” by contradicting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s denial that he had felt pressured by President Trump
Donald John TrumpRepublicans consider skipping witnesses in Trump impeachment trial Bombshell Afghanistan report bolsters calls for end to ‘forever wars’ Lawmakers dismiss Chinese retaliatory threat to US tech MORE.
Collins, in his opening statement during the House Judiciary Committee’s markup of articles of impeachment, said panel Chairman Jerrold NadlerJerrold (Jerry) Lewis NadlerGOP calls for minority hearing on impeachment, threatens procedural measures READ: Articles of impeachment against Trump Trump, White House rip Democrats over impeachment articles MORE’s (D-N.Y.) opening statement was “one of the most amazing takedowns” of Zelensky that “I have ever seen.”
“When they can’t make their argument that the president pressured Mr. Zelensky, they then attack Mr. Zelensky and then say he was pressured when Mr. Zelensky on numerous occasions has said, ‘I have not been pressured,’ ” Collins said.
He added that by continuing with the articles of impeachment, the Democrats are accusing Zelensky of being “a liar.”
“The majority is saying Mr. Zelensky is a liar, and we in this body — the Democrats are tearing down a world leader in the eyes of those that don’t like him and his own country and Russia who is attacking him,” the Georgia representative said.
Zelensky has denied that he felt pressured during the July 25 phone call when Trump asked Ukraine to investigate former Vice President Joe BidenJoe BidenRepublicans consider skipping witnesses in Trump impeachment trial Trump trade deal likely to sow division in Democratic presidential field Trump supporters at Pa. rally ‘upset’ after Democrats introduce impeachment articles MORE, days after withholding military aid from the country.
A whistleblower report on the phone call sparked the impeachment inquiry in the House, which has continued since September. The Democrats brought articles of impeachment forward Tuesday, and a Judiciary Committee vote is planned for Thursday. A full vote in front of the House could come as early as next week.
