By Ronald J. Hansen | Arizona Republic
Three Arizona Republicans were among the two dozen lawmakers who created a five-hour standoff with House Democrats Wednesday over the secretive testimony being gathered for the ongoing impeachment inquiry.
The involvement of Reps. Andy Biggs, Paul Gosar and Debbie Lesko left little doubt they are among the most stalwart defenders of President Donald Trump as Democrats probe his dealings with Ukraine.
All three also attended a Tuesday gathering of the conservative House Freedom Caucus at the White House with Trump, who on Monday urged Republicans “to get tougher and fight.”
The Wednesday protest targeted the House Intelligence Committee’s closed-door process, which has reportedly elicited testimony from diplomats and other witnesses that has tied Trump to an effort to strong-arm Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky into opening a corruption investigation into Democratic presidential rival Joe Biden and his son. Trump allegedly did so, in part, by withholding $391 million in military aid authorized by Congress.
Photo by Shealah Craighead, The White House/Twitter
