North Carolina Sen. Thom Tillis says he’s a ‘definite no’ vote on Trump impeachment
U.S. Sen. Thom Tillis cemented his support for President Donald Trump amid impeachment proceedings as the incumbent Republican senator filed to run for a second term.
Trump is accused of withholding aid to Ukraine contingent on the country investigating Trump’s presidential rival, former Vice President Joe Biden. U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi formally called for articles of impeachment last week.
If the House adopts articles of impeachment, they would then go to the Senate for a trial. The Republican-controlled Senate would have to vote with a two-thirds majority to convict the president and remove him from office.
Tillis had been characterized previously by Politico as a “probably no” vote on impeachment. He told reporters on Monday in downtown Raleigh that there’s no “probably” about it.
“Based on everything I’ve seen right now, I don’t know why they even put ‘probably’ in there. I’ve said that the whole process is flawed, it’s been unfair. I’ve read the transcript, I’ve read the whistleblower complaint. I’ve been briefed up on some of the other interviews that we’ll get more information when I sit as a juror, but I’m a definite no,” Tillis said.
He said it’s unlikely anything could change that.
“It would have to be evidence that we have not seen or even heard of,” Tillis said.
Asked if he thinks Trump extorted a foreign leader, the senator said that he knows that “aid flowed to Ukraine before this process ever started, so I don’t even get that argument.”
House Democrats are debating whether the impeachment articles should also include charges of obstruction of justice based on the investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election, McClatchy has previously reported.
Potential primary
Tillis’ primary challenger, Republican businessman Garland Tucker, pulled out of the race last week. So far, no one has filed as a Republican for the Senate seat except for Tillis on Monday. However, U.S. Rep. Mark Walker hasn’t announced whether he will run for re-election to the House in a redrawn district, and though he previously ruled out a run against Tillis, has said he is now considering all options ahead of the Dec. 20 end of the filing period. And Ayden farmer Sandy Smith previously announced a Republican primary challenge but has not filed so far.
Tillis has embraced the president’s priorities. In a tweet in June, Trump said Tillis “has really stepped up to the plate,” The News & Observer previously reported. That came after Tillis flip-flopped and supported Trump using an emergency declaration to fund a border-wall extension.
On Monday, Tillis repeatedly mentioned being endorsed by Trump.
“Well, you know the president has endorsed my campaign because he understands that I have committed to the reform agenda that he’s put into place. I’m very confident that if we have a primary, we will win it,” Tillis said.
He also cited his record in the North Carolina General Assembly, where he served as speaker of the House.
Democrats running
In an emailed statement about Tillis’ filing, the NC Democratic Party called Tillis “the least popular Senator in the country” and one who couldn’t be trusted.
“Senator Tillis is a typical self-serving Washington politician who puts himself before what’s right for our state, which is why North Carolina will send a new, independent voice to the Senate next year,” state Democratic Party Chair Wayne Goodwin said in the release.
Five Democrats, including front runners Cal Cunningham and N.C. Sen. Erica Smith, have filed to run for the Senate seat. Tillis’ campaign has been sending out near-daily news releases criticizing both Erica Smith and Cunningham. Cunningham has national Democratic backing, but Smith has been ahead of Cunningham in recent polls.
The North Carolina primary is March 3.
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This story was originally published December 9, 2019 at 3:27 PM with the headline "North Carolina Sen. Thom Tillis says he’s a ‘definite no’ vote on Trump impeachment."
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