Utah’s McAdams faces ‘two really bad choices’ in likely impeachment vote

FILE - Congressman Ben McAdams speaks to members of the media after holding a town hall meeting to familiarize constituents with district office staff as well as to provide an opportunity for McAdams to listen to Utahans. | Silas Walker, Deseret News

The comments from Utah’s lone Democratic representative come after House leaders move ahead on drafting articles of impeachment, with a vote likely before Christmas

WASHINGTON — Congressman Ben McAdams said Thursday he has “two really bad options” in a potential vote to impeach President Donald Trump before the end of the year.

In an interview with KSL Radio’s Doug Wright, the freshman Democrat representing Utah’s 4th District said he is still weighing the evidence as the push to impeach took a historic step forward with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi asking for articles of impeachment to be drafted, setting the stage for a vote likely to be held before Christmas.

“I was telling my wife just this morning, I think what I’ve got are two really bad options,” said the lone Democrat in Utah’s congressional delegation. “One option is to do nothing, and I think the president’s behavior is wrong and we need to make that statement for the record and for history and for future presidents.

“I’ve got another option that I think further divides the country, stokes these flames of partisanship and divisiveness, all for something that will never really see the light of day in the Senate,” McAdams said.

He said neither option is “good for the country to move forward.”

McAdams is among more than 30 moderate House Democrats representing conservative districts that supported Trump in 2016 whose seats are targeted by Republicans hoping to win them back in next year’s election.

Earlier in the day before a backdrop of six American flags, Pelosi made the historic announcement to move ahead with impeachment outside her speaker’s office in the Capitol — the same place where she solemnly launched the inquiry in September into Trump’s dealings with Ukraine.

“Our democracy is what is at stake,” she said. “The president leaves us no choice but to act because he is trying to corrupt, once again, the election for his own benefit. The president has engaged in abuse of power, undermining our national security and jeopardizing the integrity of our elections.”

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