Former Rep. Charlie Dent Charles (Charlie) Wieder DentRepublican former Michigan governor says he's voting for Biden Biden picks up endorsements from nearly 100 Republicans Bush endorsing Biden? Don't hold your breath MORE (R-Pa.) said Thursday that he has spoken privately to some of his former colleagues amid the ongoing House impeachment inquiry and said that there is “no question” they are “absolutely disgusted and exhausted by the president’s behavior.”

Dent, a moderate House Republican who left office in 2017, made the remarks during an appearance on CNN in which he was pressed about whether he supported the impeachment inquiry into President Trump Donald John TrumpFederal prosecutor speaks out, says Barr 'has brought shame' on Justice Dept. Former Pence aide: White House staffers discussed Trump refusing to leave office Progressive group buys domain name of Trump's No. 1 Supreme Court pick MORE over his dealings with the Ukraine.

“I certainly would have voted for the impeachment inquiry. Based on the facts as I understand them now, I do think this rises to the level of impeachment. I would probably support it," said Dent, who has long been a critic of the Trump administration.

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However, Dent added, "I don’t think the Democrats should move forward on impeachment until they hear from some of these primary witnesses, like John Bolton John BoltonJudge appears skeptical of Bolton's defense of publishing book without White House approval Maximum pressure is keeping US troops in Iraq and Syria Woodward book trails Bolton, Mary Trump in first-week sales MORE and Mick Mulvaney Mick MulvaneyOn The Money: House panel pulls Powell into partisan battles | New York considers hiking taxes on the rich | Treasury: Trump's payroll tax deferral won't hurt Social Security Blockchain trade group names Mick Mulvaney to board Mick Mulvaney to start hedge fund MORE and the secretary of State himself,” he continued, referring to Secretary of State Mike Pompeo Michael (Mike) Richard PompeoWatchdog confirms State Dept. canceled award for journalist who criticized Trump Trump's push for win with Sudan amps up pressure on Congress Putin nominated for Nobel Peace Prize MORE.

“I think they need to close that loop. I don’t think they should force this or rush this,” added Dent. “By the same token, neither should the Senate Republicans force or rush a trial.”

During his appearance, Dent also touched on some of the feelings his former colleagues share around the ongoing inquiry.

“Well, I think my former colleagues are in a situation where they understand their base pressure. The base has not yet bolted from the president,” he said. “And I think that’s why they’re standing with the president for the moment.”

“But there’s no question, having spoken to many of them privately, they are absolutely disgusted and exhausted by the president’s behavior. They resent being put in this position all the time,” he continued.

"I think they’d like to step out but they just can’t because of their base at the moment."

The former Pennsylvania Republican said he thinks his former colleagues in Congress can either “be more concerned about their election or their legacies.”

“I would argue to many of them, your legacy is more important than the next election,” he said.

Speaker Nancy Pelosi Nancy PelosiDemocratic senator to party: 'A little message discipline wouldn't kill us' Overnight Health Care: New wave of COVID-19 cases builds in US | Florida to lift all coronavirus restrictions on restaurants, bars | Trump stirs questions with 0 drug coupon plan Overnight Defense: Appeals court revives House lawsuit against military funding for border wall | Dems push for limits on transferring military gear to police | Lawmakers ask for IG probe into Pentagon's use of COVID-19 funds MORE (D-Calif.) announced nine weeks ago that the House would formally be launching an impeachment inquiry into Trump, though no House Republican has come out in favor of the investigation.

Next week, the House Judiciary Committee is set to hold its first hearing in the investigation and decide whether evidence that has been collected so far in the inquiry warrants bringing forward articles of impeachment against Trump.