GOP congressman compares Trump's impeachment to the crucifixion of Jesus

(Image credit: Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

President Trump generally prefers to compare the impeachment proceedings to the Salem Witch Trials, but Rep. Barry Loudermilk (R-Ga.) came armed with a different historical comparison on Wednesday during the debate before the House vote on two impeachment articles later in the day.

Loudermilk wanted to people look not to 18th century colonial America, but 1st century Roman-governed Judea to get a better understanding of the impeachment saga. Specifically, the congressman highlighted the trial and crucifixion of Jesus, which he argued saw Pontius Pilate, the prefect of Judea at the time, afford Jesus more rights than Democrats have provided Trump, since Jesus was given the "opportunity to face his accusers."

After Loudermilk yielded his time, House Judiciary Chair Jerrold Nadler (D-N.Y.) reminded him that Trump was indeed "given the opportunity to come and testify" but declined to do so.

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Tim is a staff writer at The Week and has contributed to Bedford and Bowery and The New York Transatlantic. He is a graduate of Occidental College and NYU's journalism school. Tim enjoys writing about baseball, Europe, and extinct megafauna. He lives in New York City.