October 17, 2019 12:11 PM UTC

Either Way, Cory Gardner is "Dead," Says Republican Senator

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• by: Colorado Pols

As The Hill reports, South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham has an idea for heading off the coming impeachment battle that could make things much worse for his Republican colleagues — including Sen. Cory Gardner (R-Yuma):

Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) is facing pushback from some of his Republican colleagues over his plan to send a letter to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) warning that the caucus won’t remove President Trump from office.

Graham raised the forthcoming letter during a closed-door caucus lunch on Wednesday, multiple sources told The Hill.

The letter, according to Graham’s description, would warn Pelosi that Senate Republicans will not vote to remove President Trump from office because of a phone call where he asked the Ukrainian government to “look into” former Vice President Joe Biden and his son, Hunter Biden.

The obvious problem with this proposal from Graham is that it would force Republican Senators to take a position on impeachment without even bothering to hear the evidence in the case. Republican Senators are worried that such a letter could backfire if Graham is unable to collect enough signatures, but it could mean the political death of Sen. Gardner either way:

Louisiana Sen. John Kennedy was one of a handful of GOP senators who raised concerns about Graham’s letter during the party’s closed-door lunch. Some, including Sens. Jim Risch (R-Idaho), Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) and Roy Blunt (R-Mo.), raised concerns, while still others were “visibly frustrated,” according to a GOP aide…

…Signing a letter guaranteeing that Senate Republicans won’t convict Trump could put his GOP colleagues in a tough position.

“If Cory signs it he’s dead, if Cory doesn’t sign, he’s dead,” one GOP senator said, referring to Sen. Cory Gardner (R-Colo.), viewed as the most vulnerable Republican up for reelection. [Pols emphasis]

Several, including Sens. Mitt Romney (R-Utah) and Susan Collins (R-Maine), have declined to weigh in on the impeachment proceedings and admonished their colleagues who have already made a decision. 

“If Cory signs it he’s dead, if Cory doesn’t sign, he’s dead.” Remember, this isn’t a Democrat saying this — it’s a quote from a Republican colleague of Sen. Gardner.

If Cory Gardner isn’t done already, his “friends” are ready to finish him off.