U.s. congressman Rodney davis proudly representing the 13th district of illinois

U.S. Rep. Rodney Davis (R-Ill.) today released this statement after there was bipartisan opposition to the House resolution authorizing an impeachment inquiry of President Trump.

“Today, I was asked to vote for an impeachment inquiry based on testimony and documents I cannot even see because I do not serve on the three committees that are privy to this information,” said Davis. “I voted no because we have seen no proof of a crime to even warrant these impeachment proceedings, the resolution allows Democrats to still conduct closed-door hearings without co-equal participation by both parties, and it prevents us from getting good things done in Congress. Democrats in the House have issued more subpoenas than they’ve had bills signed into laws this year. This is exactly why I think we saw bipartisan opposition to this resolution. The American people deserve better. It’s time to end the stalemate and start working together to get bipartisan solutions across the finish line.”

CQ Roll Call notes that, “House Democrats dealt themselves several advantages inside the rules for the public portion of the impeachment inquiry…” and how it differs from the impeachment rules during the Clinton and Nixon administrations.

Davis has pushed for greater transparency and due process within these proceedings. Earlier this week, he joined a group of lawmakers to  introduce a resolution allowing all members to have access to the transcripts of the several impeachment hearings already held in the House. Only members who serve on the House Intelligence, Foreign Affairs, and Oversight and Government Reform Committees have access – less than a quarter of House members have access to these documents. This resolution does not allow for this transparency.

Additionally, Davis recently discussed why Congress should avoid impeachment with former Congressman Ray LaHood who chaired impeachment proceedings. LaHood testified, “Look, impeachment is, um, probably the most controversial, volatile thing. It’s gonna turn this place upside down. If I were where you were, I would avoid it like the plague. This place will never be the same if you go down that road and all of your work will have to come in the next Congress. It will not come in this Congress.”