House GOP: 10 findings that destroy impeachment drive

Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, at a hearing March 28, 2019 (Video screenshot)

House Republicans released a report Monday with 10 findings from the Democrats' impeachment-inquiry hearings, contending none of the 12 witnesses corroborated the charges against President Trump.

"The evidence does NOT prove the Democrats' allegations that President Trump abused his authority to pressure Ukraine to investigate his potential political rival, Vice President Joe Biden, for President Trump's benefit in the 2020 presidential election," the GOP committee members said in a tweet regarding the 123-page report.

The findings were presented by House Intelligence Committee Ranking Member Devin Nunes, R-Calif.; Oversight Committee Ranking Member Jim Jordan, R-Ohio; and Foreign Affairs Committee Ranking Member Michael McCaul, R-Texas.

The Republicans argue the Democrats are ignoring the context of President Trump's concern about Joe and Hunter Biden and corruption in Ukraine. The Justice Department is conducting a criminal investigation of the origins of the Obama administration's probe of Trump-Russia collusion, and there is evidence of Ukrainian involvement. And it's apparent that the Ukrainian natural gas firm, Burisma, hired Hunter Biden for some $83,000 a month to influence the U.S. government while Joe Biden was the overseer of Ukraine policy for President Obama.

TRENDING: Why are so many young Americans irreligious?

The 10 findings:

1. President Trump has a deep-seated, genuine, and reasonable skepticism of Ukraine due to its history of pervasive corruption.

2. President Trump has a long-held skepticism of U.S. foreign assistance and believes that Europe should pay its fair share for mutual defense.

3. President Trump's concerns about Hunter Biden's role on Burisma's board are valid. The Obama State Department noted concerns about Hunter Biden's relationship with Burisma in 2015 and 2016.

4. There is indisputable evidence that senior Ukrainian govt officials opposed President Trump in 2016 and did so publicly. It has been reported that a DNC operative worked with Ukrainian officials, including the Ukrainian Embassy, to dig up dirt on then-candidate Trump.

5. The evidence does not establish that President Trump pressured Ukraine to investigate Burisma Holdings, Vice President Joe Biden, Hunter Biden, or Ukrainian influence in the 2016 election for the purpose of benefiting him in the 2020 election.

6. The evidence does not establish that President Trump withheld a meeting with President Zelensky for the purpose of pressuring Ukraine to investigate Burisma Holdings, Vice President Joe Biden, Hunter Biden, or Ukrainian influence in the 2016 election.

7. The evidence does not support that President Trump withheld U.S. security assistance to Ukraine for the purpose of pressuring Ukraine to investigate Burisma Holdings, Vice President Joe Biden, Hunter Biden, or Ukrainian influence in the 2016 election.

8. The evidence does not support that President Trump orchestrated a shadow foreign policy apparatus for the purpose of pressuring Ukraine to investigate Burisma Holdings, Vice President Joe Biden, Hunter Biden, or Ukrainian influence in the 2016 election.

9. The evidence does not support that President Trump covered up the substance of his telephone conversation with President Zelensky by restricting access to the call summary.

10. President Trump's assertion of longstanding claims of executive privilege is a legitimate response to an unfair, abusive, and partisan process, and does not constitute obstruction of a legitimate impeachment inquiry.