Republicans Delay Impeachment Debate With Motion Condemning Schiff and Nadler

House Republicans successfully delayed the start of the impeachment debate Wednesday morning by introducing two resolutions to the House floor, requiring 15-minute votes to take place. Almost as soon as the session started, House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy called for an adjournment.

When the motion for an adjournment was defeated, McCarthy introduced House Resolution 770 – an attempt to condemn Chairman Adam Schiff of the Intel Committee and Chairman Jerry Nadler of the Judiciary Committee for what it described as breaches of the rules.

The resolution, read out by the clerk Susan Cole, outlined a series of complaints Republicans have been making throughout the impeachment process. Once the long resolution was read, Democratic Congressman Steny Hoyer called for the vote on the resolution to be tabled.

Tabling the motion required a second 15-minute vote, delaying the start of the impeachment debate, which appears to be the Republican goal.

The House was due to begin an hour-long debate on the rules of the impeachment debate, but McCarthy’s resolution reset the timetable. It’s likely Republicans will use delay tactics like these for the rest of the day, with debate expected to last six hours.