This archive report was first published on 6 October 2019.
As the impeachment inquiry continues to dominate the headlines, a group of Republicans are finding themselves caught in the middle. While some are echoing President Trump's claims of a 'witch hunt,' others are calling for a more measured approach.
According to a recent CBS poll, nearly nine in 10 Democrats approve of the impeachment inquiry, with two-thirds strongly approving. In contrast, just 23 percent of Republicans support the inquiry.
“Overwhelmingly, Republicans oppose the impeachment inquiry,” said pollster Mr. Ayres. “They want their Republican elected officials to defend the president and protect him from his many enemies.”
However, for Republicans in swing districts, defending the president at all costs is not an option. In Washington State, Representative Jamie Herrera Beutler has echoed the sentiments of Nevada's Mark Amodei, saying that while there is not yet evidence of impeachable offenses, “for sake of this nation we should all follow a process that does not put conclusions before facts.”
Here in northern Nevada, sentiment runs strong in favor of Mr. Trump. Mr. Amodei's district stretches south from Reno, past the cattle ranches and casinos that line the road to the state capital, Carson City, and into largely rural areas like Douglas County.
“I think it's a scam and it's a witch hunt, just like Trump says,” said Gloria Darrington, 77, expressing the views of many when she said she believed Democrats were simply continuing a long-running quest to undo the results of the 2016 election.
