ASSOCIATED PRESS - AP CLIENTS ONLY

Washington - 12 Demcember 2019

++SOUNDBITES SEPARATED BY BLACK FRAMES++

1. SOUNDBITE: (English) Rep. Kevin McCarthy, Senate Minority Leader:

"They (Democrats) have a lot of members on their side very concerned, because from the moment they started impeachment and letting the American people see what they believed and keep changing the term of what they thought was out there, it has been falling in the polls. If you need any more evidence of how unpopular impeachment is, watch the two press conferences today. After announcing impeachment within less than an hour, the Speaker finally relented and said she would bring USMCA up. She has held it for more than a year, making America weaker in our negotiations with China, our number one and number two trader, Mexico and Canada."

2. SOUNDBITE: (English) Sen. Lindsey Graham, (R) South Carolina:

"The abuse of power is by House Democrats, not the President of the United States. They've abused their power to investigate. They created behind closed doors hearings in the Intel committee. They denied the President's counsel a right to participate. The denied Republicans the right call witnesses regarding all things Ukraine. I think the whole thing is a sham. I think it denies the president basic due process. I think it's a threat to the presidency itself. You couldn't get a parking ticket under this, the procedures they're using, and almost all of its hearsay."

3. SOUNDBITE: (English) Sen. Lindsey Graham, (R) South Carolina: (referring to actions in Syria)

"Bottom line is, it's okay to talk with the Russians. But when you talk with the Russians, you better tell them the truth about who they are and what they're doing. They're one of the most destructive forces on the planet right now and we need to call them out."

4. SOUNDBITE: (English) Sen. Chris Coons, (D) Delaware:

"I think there was abundant evidence in the Mueller report of misdeeds by President Trump and members of his campaign team and his administration. Obviously, that investigation ultimately produced 37 indictments, guilty pleas and convictions so it wasn't without substance as some are arguing but I think they made a calculation in the House that the evidence that had been presented recently with regards to Trump's actions involving Ukraine were concise, clear and accessible and rather than charging a broad range of misconduct over many years. They stuck to one topic."  

5. SOUNDBITE: (English) Sen. John Kennedy, (R) Louisiana: (responding to reporter asking for his reaction to House Democrats announcing articles of impeachment)

"Have you seen Star Wars? This whole thing reminds me of the cantina bar scene in Star Wars. It's surreal."

6. Kennedy walking down Capitol hallway

Congressional members are reacting to the announcement of two articles of impeachment Tuesday against President Donald Trump.

Democrats say he “betrayed the nation” in his actions toward Ukraine as they pushed toward historic proceedings that are certain to help define his presidency and shape the 2020 election.

Yet the House Minority Leader says Democrats are worried because impeaching the president is unpopular with Americans. The House Democrats announcement came the same day as the Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi also announced she announced a deal on a modified North American trade pact.

"If you need any more evidence of how unpopular impeachment is, watch the two press conferences today. After announcing impeachment within less than an hour, the Speaker finally relented and said she would bring USMCA up. She has held it for more than a year," said McCarthy.

Sen. Graham, who serves as Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committe, said that "the abuse of power is by House Democrats not the President of the United States."

He also responded to questions about Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov's visit to the US, saying he hopes the White House will call Russia out on its aggressive actions, especially in Syria.

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