Maine’s two House members, both Democrats, will have to weigh two articles of impeachment now being drafted by the House Judiciary Committee. One charges President Donald Trump with abuse of power, and the other obstruction of Congress.
U.S. Rep. Jared Golden of Maine’s 2nd District says he has not decided how he will vote, and will first spend a lot of time reading transcripts of testimony.
“I’m going to be doing a lot of thinking and listening in the days ahead to see what is best for the country,” he says.
Golden does say that what Trump did in seeking help from the Ukrainian government to investigate a political opponent was wrong.
“I think I have been upfront and honest about my concerns with the president’s actions in regards with his discussions with the Ukraine,” he says. “His seeming interests in having investigations that would be damaging to political opponents here in the United States of America in the midst of a presidential election. All of those things concern me greatly.”
U.S. Rep. Chellie Pingree of Maine’s 1st District says she has already made up her mind.
“I am absolutely confident that I will be voting yes on both of these, but I will look at them all and if there are any details I am concerned about, I can change my mind,” she says.
Pingree says it’s clear to her that the president has been obstructing Congress in its investigation.
“He didn’t provide the witnesses and we don’t the information from many people that should be speaking directly to Congress,” she says.
Pingree says she hopes the Senate will carefully consider the House impeachment articles, although she realizes that it’s unlikely that the GOP-controlled Senate will vote to remove Trump from office.
