
RENO, Nev. — Representative Mark Amodei was not prepared for the backlash from his fellow Republicans when he said Congress needed to “follow the facts” and look into whether President Trump should be impeached.
Newspapers declared he was breaking ranks. Conservative constituents branded him a traitor: “I’m Brutus, and Trump’s Julius Caesar,” he said. In short order, he was forced to explain himself to the Trump campaign’s political director, top House Republicans and the acting White House chief of staff. All had the same question: “What the heck are you doing?”
As evidence mounts that Mr. Trump engaged in an intensive effort to pressure the leader of Ukraine to investigate a political rival, Mr. Amodei is one of a growing number of Republicans who, while not explicitly endorsing the Democrats’ impeachment inquiry, are at least indicating an openness to it. None have said Mr. Trump should be impeached. But neither are they defending him.
If true (we have no reason to believe it isn’t) this IS good news. It would mean there are still some republicans with at least a modicum of integrity. Unlike their party leader.
Bottom line? If they have real integrity, if they put country ahead of party (something repubs have trouble doing), they will at some point jump on board and follow the trail to justice.