Donald Trump says it is a foregone conclusion he will be impeached over Ukraine scandal
- US president urges fellow Republicans to defend him and fight impeachment inquiry
- Two White House officials decline to give depositions to investigators
Trump made his comments at the beginning of a Cabinet meeting at the White House as Democrats sought to build public support for their fast-moving impeachment inquiry even as the administration pressed its efforts to stonewall the probe.
Approval of articles of impeachment in the House would prompt a Senate trial on whether to remove Trump from office. The Senate is led by Republicans, who have shown little inclination toward removing Trump though he has come under sharp criticism from Republican Senator Mitt Romney.
Asked if it was a foregone conclusion that House Democrats will vote to impeach him, Trump said yes, otherwise he would win re-election next year. Trump said Republicans need to get tougher and fight the impeachment inquiry, saying Democrats were sticking together.
“They don’t have Mitt Romney,” Trump told reporters.
