Cole Statement after Speaker Pelosi Directs Drafting of Impeachment Articles

Washington, D.C. – Congressman Tom Cole (OK-04) released the following statement after Speaker Nancy Pelosi announced this morning that she is directing chairmen of the relevant House committees to draft articles of impeachment.

"I am disappointed by Speaker Pelosi's decision to move forward with articles of impeachment to remove President Donald Trump from office," said Cole. "While the details of potential articles are still unclear and the timing of a vote is uncertain, it is now evident that a vote in the House is inevitable.

"On something as consequential as impeaching the President of the United States, it is a disservice to the American people for one political party to dictate the terms and make up the rules of the process, as Democrats have done since day one. Based on what I have seen so far, I do not think the House has grounds to move forward on this serious matter. And as things stand today, I will certainly be voting against impeachment when it comes to the floor of the House.

"While I am not on the committees responsible for drafting articles of impeachment, I was directly involved in consideration and debate on the impeachment process resolution when it came through the House Rules Committee, where I serve as the top Republican. As I said at that time, the process prescribed solely by Democrats is not fair, open or transparent. Reflecting on how things have played out in the weeks since then further affirms my earlier judgment that this flawed process was crafted to ensure a partisan, pre-ordained result. Certainly, this cannot be viewed as legitimate. It is my hope and expectation that the president will be treated more fairly in the Senate than he has been in the U.S. House of Representatives."