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Pennsylvania U.S. senators say Trump conversation was ‘inappropriate,’ but disagree on impeachment inquiry

At issue is a five-page memo based on notes between President Trump and Ukraine's president.

  • Brett Sholtis
Senator Bob Casey lamented the loss of life to gun violence in Pennsylvania and nationally at a rally in Love Park Tuesday evening.

 Kimberly Paynter / WHYY

Senator Bob Casey lamented the loss of life to gun violence in Pennsylvania and nationally at a rally in Love Park Tuesday evening.

Pennsylvania’s U.S. senators say President Donald Trump’s conversation with Ukraine’s president was “inappropriate.” However, the two lawmakers disagree over whether the matter warrants an impeachment inquiry.

At issue is a five-page memorandum, released Wednesday by the White House, based on notes from a 30 minute phone call between Trump and Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky.

The memo was made public one day after Democratic Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi called for a formal impeachment inquiry, saying Trump asked the Ukrainian leader to provide information that could be used against Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden in the 2020 election.

Republican Senator Pat Toomey wasn’t immediately available to respond to questions. However, his office provided the following written statement:

“The memorandum released by the White House today reveals no quid pro quo. While the conversation reported in the memorandum relating to alleged Ukrainian corruption and Vice President Biden’s son was inappropriate, it does not rise to the level of an impeachable offense.”

Democratic Senator Bob Casey said President Trump abused his power by asking for information related to Democratic Presidential candidate Joe Biden.

“Especially when that leader speaks of his need for either offensive or defensive weaponry or military support, to have that followed by the president saying ‘I need a favor,’ like an exchange, is totally objectionable,” Casey said, adding that support for Ukraine is part of longstanding U.S. foreign policy.

In the memo, Trump also told Zelensky he’d have Rudy Giuliani, his personal lawyer, call the Ukraine leader. To Casey, that alone is enough for impeachment proceedings.

“A personal lawyer has no business in a phone call like that,” Casey said. “Their name should not be mentioned when you’re talking about the national security interests of the United States of America.”

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