Rep. Jody Hice (R-Ga.) said Thursday that he hopes the Senate will hold an “authentic” trial when the impeachment process moves to that chamber.
“From the perspective of here in the House, this has been such a one-sided partisan hoax from the very beginning,” Hice told Hill.TV in an interview. “My hope would be is that the Senate, once it gets to them, they have an authentic trial and they call witnesses that the administration would like to cross-examine and so forth. And let’s have a real trial.”
The White House has not said who it would try to call as part of the Senate trial, but it has indicated it has a wish list of potential witnesses, including House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), Hunter Biden and the whistleblower whose complaint helped spark the impeachment inquiry.
Some Senate Republicans have weighed whether to hold an impeachment trial that does not include witnesses.
When asked this week about the possibility of a Senate trial without any witnesses, Sen. Linsey Graham (R-S.C.) said, “I hope so. That’s what I like.” He later added that he wants to “end this thing as quickly as possible.”
Hice said Thursday that holding an impeachment trial without calling witnesses wouldn’t do justice to President Trump.
“I would hate to see this just come and go in two weeks as though nothing really happened. I think it only serves justice to have an authentic hearing, and I hope the Senate will do that,” he added.
Hice’s comments come as the House takes a step closer to a floor vote on articles of impeachment.
The House Judiciary Committee on Thursday is expected to advance two articles of impeachment that accuse the president of abuse of power and obstructing Congress.
That would set up a floor vote for next week, followed by an impeachment trial that would likely start in January.
—Tess Bonn
Copyright 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.