WASHINGTON, D.C., USA — Colorado Congressman Jason Crow has been selected as an impeachment manager to represent the House of Representatives in the upcoming Senate impeachment trial of President Donald Trump.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi made the announcement on Wednesday morning, hours before the House voted to send the articles of impeachment to the Senate for trial. Pelosi named House Intelligence Committee Chair Adam Schiff as the lead manager.
Crow will be joined by House Judiciary Committee Chair Jerry Nadler, House Administration Committee Chair Zoe Lofgren of California, House Democratic Caucus Chair Hakeem Jeffries of New York, Congresswoman Val Demings of Florida, and Congresswoman Sylvia Garcia of Texas. Together, they'll work as the prosecutors in the trial. It's a role Crow did have the option of refusing.
"I was asked. The leadership just doesn't compel people to do certain things, and I think people that know me that I can't be compelled to do certain things -- certainly it was a request," he told 9NEWS political reporter Marshall Zelinger. "I had to think about it, right? Obviously, this came as some surprise to me as I wasn't lobbying for it. I had to talk with my wife. One thing people know about me, it's that my wife and my family and I are a team."
In addition to not seeking the role, perhaps the choice came as a surprise because the first-term congressman, who unseated five-term Republican Mike Coffman in 2018 and became the first Democrat to hold the seat in Colorado's 6th District, did not support Pelosi as the choice for House Speaker.
Crow, however, did co-author an op-ed months ago about his willingness to impeach the president if the allegations against him are credible. And while he is the only impeachment manager who doesn't sit on either the House Judiciary Committee or the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, Crow credits his time as an Army ranger for making him qualified for the role.
"I also bring my military background, as well. I've been very vocal for months about the extent to which the national security component of this, how the thrust of the abuses of the administration goes towards national security and how grave that is," he said.
Following his appointment to serve as impeachment manager, Crow also released this formal statement:
“I love our country and what it represents both at home and around the world. My time in military service taught me that our democracy exists because men and women stand up to fight for it. It’s a belief that drove me to serve my country in combat and led me to the halls of Congress. While there is no map for the challenges we face, my oath to support and defend the Constitution has guided me for years, and will continue to guide me during this trial.
As an impeachment manager, I will approach the process with the dignity and seriousness that it deserves, and advocate for a full and fair trial. It’s my solemn responsibility to lay out the facts and give the Senate - and the American people - confidence in the process. It is the duty of Congress to protect the rule-of-law and hold the President accountable. Our democracy depends on it.”
Trump was impeached last month on charges of abuse of power and obstruction of Congress. The charges stem from his pressure on Ukraine to investigate Democrats as he withheld security aid to the country.
The Senate is transformed into an impeachment trial Thursday, although significant proceedings won't begin until Tuesday.
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