Colorado US senators Bennet and Gardner weigh in on presidential impeachment proceedings
Now that the impeachment trial of President Donald Trump is well underway, Colorado's two U.S. senators are waiting to see how the historic proceedings will affect Trump, the nation, and the senators' own political campaigns.
Democrat Michael Bennet continues to run for president while Republican Cory Gardner seeks a second term.
Speaking with KRDO NewsChannel 13 Tuesday from his office in Washington, D.C., Bennet insisted that despite those campaigns, and the efforts of leading Republicans to move the trial along quickly without calling witnesses or presenting evidence, Trump can receive a fair trial.
"I'm here, obviously," he said. "Not on the campaign trail. I think it's a very solemn day for the country and the American people. But we need a fair trial to understand what the facts are and what actually happened."
Bennet had harsh words for Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Kentucky), accusing him of favoring Trump by taking orders from the president's defense team.
"He's whitewashing this investigation," Bennet said of McConnell. "It's just particularly offensive because [the president] -- unlike any president before him -- didn't allow a single witness or shred of documentary evidence to come forward in the House. Even Richard Nixon didn't do that. It's a fairly appalling exhibit of contempt for Congress."
Bennet believes Trump committed impeachable offenses and hopes the country will recover from the trial, regardless of its outcome.
"We'll destroy our democracy if we don't," he said.
Meanwhile, Gardner said little when questioned about the trial in a recent interview at Denver International Airport.
When asked if senators can be impartial, Gardner replied, "There are people running for president against President Trump, in the Senate. So we have a duty to be impartial. It's our constitutional duty and the oath that we all took. I take my impartiality very seriously."
On Tuesday afternoon, Gardner released the following statement:
“Impeaching the president is one of the most serious constitutional actions, and I will closely evaluate the law and facts presented to the Senate as I fulfill my constitutional duties as a United States Senator. The Senate will move forward with an organizing resolution that is modeled after the same basic principles as the Clinton impeachment proceedings and will establish guidelines for a bipartisan trial allowing both sides to present their case.”
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-New York), said that Trump will follow the so-called "Clinton model" -- the same line of defense provided by the team of former President Bill Clinton during his 1999 impeachment trial -- which resulted in his acquittal by the Senate.
But senators are aware of growing support, from among themselves and from voters, to call witnesses and present evidence in the trial. Whatever the Senate decides, and the outcome of a vote, could affect the campaigns and the political careers of both Colorado senators.
