FreedomWorks in USA Today: Democrats Have Weaponized the Impeachment Hearings Against Donald Trump

Last week, as the House began open hearings into President Donald Trump’s dealings in Ukraine, Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, was flanked by several large posters, one of which read: “I’m concerned if we don’t impeach the president, he will get reelected.”

The quote, from Rep. Al Green, D-Texas, underscores the entire House impeachment sham; this is a hyperpartisan process intended to nullify a presidential election.

Even a casual viewer can tell Democrats have weaponized the process of impeachment. The investigation has been scripted and leaked to the news media in an attempt to maximize political damage without granting the president any right to defend himself.

Democrats have been on a crusade to unseat Trump since before his inauguration. When all previous attempts to achieve this — including the Mueller probe — failed, Democrats decided to turn bureaucrats against their commander in chief and investigate the president themselves.

It speaks volumes that Democrats have changed their charge from “quid pro quo” to “bribery” in light of party polling that showed voters losing interest. Just Tuesday, Rep. John Ratcliffe, R-Texas, highlighted this by pointing out that not a single witness testimony includes the word “bribery.”

Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff’s iron grip on the proceedings shows how Democrats have dispensed with a fair and open process for the sake of political expediency.

Democrats’ muzzling of Republicans all but ensures the country will only hear one side of the story. The American people deserve to hear all the facts.

Speaker Nancy Pelosi claimed that the House would proceed with the impeachment inquiry in a fair and open manner. These hearings may be open to the public, but they are far from open to House Republicans.

Impeachment is an inherently political process. House Democrats have turned it into a partisan one.

Adam Brandon is president of FreedomWorks.