Murphy says voters want Congress to focus on facts, not ‘loyalty to the cult of Donald Trump’

Sen. Chris Murphy (D- Conn.) said he thinks American voters will ask Congress to focus on facts when it comes to the impeachment investigation rather than adhere to “their loyalty to the cult of Donald Trump.” 

Murphy told Chuck Todd on “Meet the Press” that some Republican politicians are taking “wild” steps to defend the president.

{mosads}”I think there are a lot of regular citizens out there that are going to demand their members of Congress look at the facts, make a decision on the facts and not make a decision based on their loyalty to the cult of Donald Trump.”

The Connecticut senator added he thinks the “only choice now” is for Congress to “take this to the American public.”

Polls have shown public approval for impeachment has been climbing as reports on the president’s July phone call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky have surfaced. 

WATCH: @ChrisMurphyCT responds to @senronjohnson‘s comments earlier on #MTP. #IfiItsSunday

“This entire country should be scared that at a moment when we need patriots, what we are getting is blind partisan loyalty.” pic.twitter.com/VsNKt7PTqP

— Meet the Press (@MeetThePress) October 6, 2019

Murphy also encouraged his GOP colleagues to put their constitutional responsibility over their fear of retribution from the president.

“They shouldn’t be fearful of this president, if they vote to get rid of him, there’s nothing he could do to hurt them,” Murphy said.

The House launched an impeachment inquiry last month following reports of the president asking Zelensky to investigate former Vice President Joe Biden and his son while simultaneously withholding military aid. 

Many Republicans have defended the president, saying there was no “quid pro quo” involved in the interaction.

Todd called out Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wisc.) in the preceding interview for avoiding a question to try “to make Donald Trump feel better here that you’re not criticizing him.”