WASHINGTON (AP) – Speaker Nancy Pelosi is asking all Democratic lawmakers to come to the House floor as a show of solidarity for the impeachment inquiry resolution.
The House is set to take its first vote Thursday on the resolution that affirms the investigation into President Donald Trump and outlines the process for public hearings and possibly drafting articles of impeachment.
Pelosi sent out word for lawmakers to join the floor debate as proceedings were getting underway, according to a person familiar with the situation and granted anonymity to discuss it.
Meantime, a former top national security adviser to President Donald Trump has arrived on Capitol Hill to testify in the House impeachment inquiry.
Tim Morrison (pictured right) handled Russian and European affairs at the White House’s National Security Council before resigning his position a day before Thursday’s hearing.
Morrison, a defense hawk and former top Republican staff member on Capitol Hill, was aligned with Trump’s former national security adviser John Bolton and raised concerns about the Trump administration’s approach to Ukraine.
The impeachment inquiry is focused on Trump’s effort to have Ukraine investigate Democrats and a potential 2020 rival, Joe Biden, while the administration was withholding military aid to the Eastern European ally.
Morrison arrived on The Hill as Democrats and Republicans alike were rounding up votes on the ground rules for considering the impeachment of the President.
A near party-line vote was expected Thursday on the eight pages of procedures, which are certain to be passed in the Democratic-controlled House. While Republicans say the process has been secretive and tilted against them, Democrats counter that their plan follows impeachment efforts in the past.
