Idaho Congressman Mike Simpson issued the following statement in response to House Democrats moving forward on Articles of Impeachment:
"I have always advocated for the institution of Congress, for our Constitution and what it stands for. When Republicans held the majority, I advocated for the rights of the minority to be heard. I've pushed for open rules during consideration of legislation and I've always demanded fairness. Today is a dark day for our country. Impeachment is to be used to remove a President for committing a crime, not for political gain, and certainly not to protest election results. My colleagues on the other side of the aisle know this full well, and yet, in an insult to the American people, they persist in their charade. Speaker Pelosi and her caucus have sought the impeachment of President Trump since before he was sworn into office; to them, impeachment is a forgone conclusion. Thankfully, President Trump's efforts have safeguarded the economy despite Democrats' relentless tactics, but one can't help but imagine where we would be if Congress could work on the real issues our country faces: immigration, trade, and funding the government to name a few. We have real work to do and this madness should come to an end."