GOP stands by Trump, gingerly, after diplomat's testimony

They pleaded ignorance, saying they'd not read the diplomat's damning statement. They condemned the Democrats' tactics as unfair. They complained that the allegations against President Donald Trump rested on second- or third-hand evidence.

Wednesday was a day of careful counterargument by congressional Republicans, the day after America's top envoy in Ukraine gave House impeachment investigators an explosive, detailed roadmap of Trump's drive to squeeze that country's leaders for damaging information about his Democratic political rivals.

Most Republicans were still standing by Trump but in delicately calibrated ways after Tuesday's closed-door testimony by acting ambassador William Taylor.

And as lawmakers struggled to balance support for Trump with uncertainty over what might still emerge, some were willing to acknowledge the strains they were facing.

Asked if Taylor's testimony was a rough day for the White House and Republicans, No. 2 Senate GOP leader John Thune of South Dakota said, "Probably one of many."
"That's the nature of the beast."
On Thursday, Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, one of Trump's chief GOP allies, said he would introduce a resolution condemning the Democratic-controlled House for pursuing a "closed door, illegitimate impeachment inquiry."
Trump lashed out Wednesday at critical members of his own party, tweeting, "Never Trumper Republicans" are "in certain ways worse and more dangerous for our Country than the Do Nothing Democrats."
Former Ohio Gov. John Kasich, who challenged Trump for the 2016 Republican presidential nomination, called Taylor's testimony "just very devastating."