GOP Senator 'disturbed' with McConnell 'total coordination' with the White House for impeachment trial

Rebecca Morin | USA TODAY

Show Caption Hide Caption Trump lashes out as impeachment trial is in limbo President Donald Trump lashed out on Tuesday as his Senate impeachment trial remains at an impasse, with Republican and Democratic leaders at odds over its format and whether witnesses should be called. (Dec. 24)

WASHINGTON – Republican Sen. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska said she is “disturbed” by Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell’s comments that he is going to work “in total coordination” with the White House during the upcoming Senate impeachment trial.

Her comments come after an interview on Fox News earlier this month where McConnell said the decision on whether to call witnesses could come after House Democrats and White House lawyers have made their opening statements.

“Everything I do during this I'm coordinating with the White House counsel,” he said. “There will be no difference between the president's position and our position as to how to handle this, to the extent that we can.”

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has yet to send the articles of impeachment against President Donald Trump to the Senate and details of how a Senate trial would work haven't been announced.

During an interview with local station KTUU released Tuesday, Murkowski said she wants to see distance between the White House and the Senate during the impeachment trial.

“And in fairness, when I heard that I was disturbed,” she said. “To me, it means that we have to take that step back from being hand in glove with the defense, and so I heard what leader McConnell had said, I happened to think that that has further confused the process.”

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However, Murkowski was also critical of how the House of Representatives handled the articles of impeachment, saying she believes they were rushed.

“Speaker [Nancy] Pelosi was very clear, very direct that her goal was to get this done before Christmas,” Murkowski said.

She also criticized the House for not turning to the courts to have some witnesses, such as White House Chief of Staff Mick Mulvaney and former national security adviser John Bolton, testify after denying their subpoenas. Murkowski said that now the Senate is being asked to fix the deficiencies in evidence, according to KTUU.

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Murkowski, a moderate Republican, has questioned Trump's dealings with Ukraine but has not voiced support for impeachment. She told KTUU she is still undecided.

“For me to prejudge and say there’s nothing there or on the other hand, he should be impeached yesterday, that’s wrong, in my view, that’s wrong,” she said.

“If it means that I am viewed as one who looks openly and critically at every issue in front of me rather than acting as a rubber stamp for my party or my president, I’m totally good with that.”