Rothfus-Lamb Debate: Candidates Agree On Kavanaugh, Impeachment

PITTSBURGH, PA - The two incumbent congressmen battling for one congressional seat agreed on a pair of contentious issues during their initial debate Monday: There is no need for further hearings on new Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh and there is no current reason to consider impeaching President Donald Trump.

Republican Keith Rothfus and Democrat Conor Lamb squared off in a debate that aired on KDKA-TV. Their race has drawn national scrutiny because it’s the only one in the country pitting two current congressmen against each other due to court-mandated congressional redistricting has both men running in the newly configured 17th District.

Rothfus and Lamb agreed it’s not necessary to continue an investigation into Kavanaugh, who was narrowly confirmed by the Senate over the weekend despite sexual assault allegations that surfaced against him. Kavanaugh denied any wrongdoing.

Lamb also said he has seen no evidence to support the impeachment of President Trump if Democrats win a House majority in next month’s election, although he noted that special counsel Robert Mueller had yet to finish his probe. Rothfus has opposed the inquiry since it began.

“We make decisions based on evidence,” Lamb said. “None of us have seen any evidence related to the impeachment of anyone...those in my party who are already calling for it, I think they’re wrong.”

The candidates do differ on the Affordable Care Act, which Rothfus and his Republican brethren in the House fail repealing. Lamb and Rothfus disagreed that repealing Obamacare would harm people with preexisting medical conditions, with Rothfus contending that the most recent GOP effort to kill the ACA included protections for those with preexisting conditions.

The candidates’ second and final debate will occur Oct. 16 at 7 p.m. and will be broadcast on WTAE-TV.

The new 17th Congressional District covers all of Beaver County, a portion of Butler County including Cranberry, and many suburban Allegheny County communities, including Ross, McCandless, Penn Hills, Oakmont, Moon, Robinson and Sewickley.

Photos via U.S. House of Representatives.

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