Maine's congressional delegation is split on the decision by U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to launch a formal impeachment inquiry of President Trump.Maine 1st District Rep. Chellie Pingree - and a majority of House Democrats - now say they support Pelosi's decision to launch the impeachment process against President Donald Trump.
"We have to respect the rule of law," Pingree says. "It’s about national security. This is about patriotism. We can’t hold back any longer. So, I think there is a lot of agreement in our caucus that we have to move forward.”
Second District Democrat Jared Golden has called for a release of the whistleblower’s complaint at the center of the latest controversy, but stopped short of calling for an impeachment inquiry.
Republican Sen. Susan Collins has consistently declined to take a position on impeachment, citing the fact that the Senate will serve as the jury in an impeachment case.
Independent Sen. Angus King has shared that position for months, but says he now supports the inquiry because of the president’s acknowledgement of his discussion with the Ukrainian leader about political rival Joe Biden.
“What did the president say? What did he promise? What did he agree to? That’s what we need to know," King says. "Therefore, I think the speaker’s opening an inquiry in the House is an important step. It’s not a final step, it is not impeachment, but it is getting to the facts and providing a forum for a serious, bipartisan investigation.”
