Vermont’s GOP governor backs Trump impeachment inquiry

Vermont Gov. Phil Scott has become the first Republican governor to come out in support of an impeachment inquiry against President Trump.

Scott told reporters on Wednesday that the House’s formal impeachment inquiry against Trump is “appropriate” and that Congress has a “solemn responsibility” to uphold the constitutional practice of checks and balances, The Associated Press reports.

{mosads}He added that there are still many unknown details surrounding reports that Trump urged Ukraine to investigate former Vice President Joe Biden, and the formal impeachment process “should not be taken lightly or abused.”

The Trump administration on Wednesday released five pages of the highly anticipated transcript of the president’s July 25 phone call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, with the memo showing Trump urging Zelensky to speak with his personal attorney, Rudy Giuliani, and “look into” his unsubstantiated allegations against Biden.

A whistleblower complaint detailing allegations about Trump’s contacts with Ukraine’s president — which kickstarted the scandal surrounding the president and the impeachment inquiry launched against him — was declassified Wednesday evening and released Thursday morning.

Scott has previously spoken out against Trump after the president said in July that four minority congresswomen, known as “the Squad,” should “go back” to the countries from which they came, despite the fact that all four are American citizens and all but one was born in the U.S.

Other Republican governors, including Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine, Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker and Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan — an outspoken Trump critic — have yet to take a public stance on an impeachment inquiry against Trump.