House Intelligence ranking member Devin Nunes (R-Calif.), during his opening statement, said that the current impeachment inquiry into President Donald Trump is effectively a show trial.<\/p>\n
Democrats failed to \u201cengaged in a last-ditch effort\u201d to paint Trump as a \u201cRussian agent,\u201d and now the current impeachment inquiry is a continuation of the \u201cRussian hoax,\u201d Nunes said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat we will witness today is a televised, theatrical performance staged by the Democrats \u2026 It seems you agreed wittingly or unwittingly to participate in a drama,\u201d Nunes said.<\/p>\n
Nunes said that crucial questions should be answered: What is the full extent of the Democrats coordination with the whistleblower, what is the full extent of Ukraines election meddling in the Trump campaign, why did Burisma hire Hunter Biden, the son of former Vice President Joe Biden, and how did it interface with the Obama administration.<\/p>\n
He also blasted the \u201ccult-like atmosphere in the basement of the Capitol\u201d when Democrats questioned witnesses before releasing a flood of misleading, one-sided leaks while selecting officials for impeachment depositions who would fit their narrative<\/p>\n
\u201cThey refused our request to hear from [Hunter] Biden himself,\u201d Nunes said, adding that Democrats \u201cbroke their promise\u201d to have the whistleblower testify.<\/p>\n
Congress has also lost the confidence of millions of Americans and has done \u201cgreat damage\u201d to the United States, he continued.<\/p>\n
House Intelligence Chairman Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) is the one leading the impeachment hearing, and he issued a lengthy statement, detailing the Democrats allegations against Trump.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf we find the president of the United States [had] invited foreign interference in our elections \u201d or has engaged in quid pro quo actions with Ukraine \u201cis this what Americans should now expect from their president?\u201d he asked during the hearing.<\/p>\n