Republicans

Raw Story reports: Conservative Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT) blasted the Trump administration on Wednesday for their “unconstitutional” briefing on why President Donald Trump assassinated Iranian General Qassim Suleimani. “It’s un-American, it’s unconstitutional, and it’s wrong,” Lee said. CBS News reporter Kathryn Watson described Lee as “ANGRY.” He will now support a vote on the war pushed by Sen. Tim Kaine …

NJ.com reports: President Donald Trump is making a campaign stop in deep-blue New Jersey later this month to reward U.S. Rep. Jeff Van Drew for switching parties and voting against his impeachment. Trump will travel to Wildwood, New Jersey, in Van Drew’s district on Jan. 28 to hold a rally, his campaign announced. Trump endorsed the Democrat-turned-Republican during an Oval …

Courthouse News reports: An elected official in metro Phoenix resigned Tuesday, months after being charged with running a human smuggling operation that paid pregnant women from the Marshall Islands to give up their babies in the US. The resignation of Maricopa County Assessor Paul Petersen came after leaders in the one of the nation’s most populous counties suspended and pressured …

Media Matters reports: On Wednesday morning’s edition of Fox & Friends, Fox News contributor Newt Gingrich pushed for regime change in Iran, insisting that it’s the best long-term option and that Iran is not “too big” of a country. In making his case, Gingrich claimed that Iran “get[s] away with an amazing number of things, including court findings and 9/11 …

The Associated Press reports: Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said Wednesday that he will launch President Donald Trump’s impeachment trial on his terms, without any agreement on whether to call witnesses, when House Speaker Nancy Pelosi sends the abuse and obstruction articles to the Senate. “There will be no haggling with the House over Senate procedure,” said McConnell, R-Ky. “We …

The Military Times reports: Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.) blocked passage of a resolution on Tuesday that classified attacks on cultural sites as “war crimes.” Sen. Ed Markey (D-Mass.) tried to get unanimous consent to pass the resolution, arguing that the Senate should go on record amid Trump’s threats to target Iranian cultural sites. Under the Senate’s …

The Washington Post reports: Rep. Duncan D. Hunter will resign from Congress effective Jan. 13, two congressional aides with knowledge of the move said Tuesday, more than one month after the California Republican pleaded guilty in federal court to misusing campaign funds. Hunter submitted his letter of resignation to congressional leaders Tuesday, according to the aides, who spoke on condition …

The New York Times reports: Senator Mitch McConnell, the majority leader, informed Republicans on Tuesday that he planned to move forward with President Trump’s impeachment trial without committing to additional witnesses or admitting new evidence, over the objections of Democrats who are insisting on both. Mr. McConnell shared his intentions with senators over lunch in the Capitol, declaring that he …

The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports: Wisconsin Republicans blocked President Donald Trump’s GOP opponents Tuesday from appearing on the state’s primary ballot. The move comes after Trump’s backers in other states have canceled their primaries, even though Trump has an easy path to winning his party’s nomination for a second term. Two Republicans are mounting long-shot campaigns against Trump — former …

Politico reports: Senate Republican leaders are preparing to move forward on a set of impeachment trial rules without Democratic support. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell is on the verge of having sufficient backing in his 53-member caucus to pass a blueprint for the trial that leaves the question of seeking witnesses and documents until after opening arguments are made, according …

Fox News reports: Former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley blasted Democrats Monday for their continued criticism of Trump’s directive to kill Iranian Gen. Qassem Soleimani via drone strike last week, a decision Haley said showed “great resolve” on the part of the president. “You don’t see anyone standing up for Iran,” Haley said on “Hannity” Monday. “You’re …

Politico reports: Sen. Mitt Romney said Monday that he wants to hear from John Bolton after the former national security adviser offered to testify in the Senate’s impeachment trial. “Of course,” said the Utah Republican when asked if he wants Bolton to testify. “He has firsthand information and, assuming that articles of impeachment reach the Senate, I’d like to hear …

McClatchy reports: Arizona GOP Rep. Paul Gosar tweeted a fake image of a photoshopped meeting between former President Barack Obama and Iran President Hassan Rouhani amid growing tensions with Iran, captioning the post with, “The world is a better place without these guys in power.” Twitter users were quick to point out the photoshopped image Monday afternoon, noting the original …

From the right wing Washington Examiner: Eleven Republicans have put forth a resolution that, if passed, would seek to dismiss articles of impeachment against President Trump immediately. “Since the start of the impeachment process, Speaker Pelosi and House Democrats have made a mockery of our Constitution and abused impeachment for political gain,” Texas Sen. Ted Cruz, who is co-sponsoring the …

The Washington Post reports: Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) pressed the case for a resolution he plans to introduce Monday that would change the Senate rules to allow it to dismiss the impeachment case against Trump if Pelosi does not send articles of impeachment to the chamber. “Nancy Pelosi is attempting to obstruct a Senate trial. That’s all there is to …

Fox News reports: Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., insists that if House Speaker Nancy Pelosi does not deliver articles of impeachment against President Trump to the Senate by the end of the week, the Senate should “take matters in our own hands.” What I would do, if she continues to refuse to send the articles as required by the Constitution, I …

The San Jose Mercury News reports: U.S. Rep. Duncan Hunter of California is staying silent on when he will resign after he pleaded guilty to using campaign money for personal expenses, drawing the ire of a fellow Republican who wants to replace him. The six-term congressman said last month that he would step down “shortly after the holidays” but has …

Axios reports: Ready to skip 2020 and go straight to 2024? In a new SurveyMonkey poll, Republican voters chose children of President Trump — Don Jr. and Ivanka — as two of the top four picks for president in four years. Why it matters: An early poll like this is largely a measure of name ID. But it’s also a …

“The question is will there be more or less of the attacks. So what happens with his death is we’re sending thousands of more troops, which are thousands of more targets for them to shoot at, and I think that it is hard to imagine that the Iranians are going to shrink now and say, ‘Oh, you killed our leading …

Roll Call reports: Tennessee Rep. Phil Roe, the ranking Republican on the House Veterans Affairs Committee, will not run for reelection in 2020, opening up a solidly Republican seat. “As someone who practiced medicine for over 30 years, I said I would serve five or six terms because I never intended this job to be a second career,” Roe said …