GOP lawmaker becomes the first congressman of his party to support Trump impeachment inquiry

Rep. Mark Amodei of Nevada became the first Republican lawmaker to openly support the impeachment inquiry into President Donald Trump, the New York Times reported on Friday evening.

“Let’s put it through the process and see what happens," Amodei said of the inquiry, which has swelled in support over the last week as Trump's efforts to pressure Ukraine into investigating Joe Biden drew outrage across the country.

According to the New York Times' count, 225 House members now support an impeachment inquiry. In that chamber, 218 votes is required for a majority. The count suggests that if House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who came out in favor of an official inquiry this week, were to put the prospect up for a vote of the full chamber, it would pass.

It should be clear, though, that supporting an inquiry does not necessarily mean that the lawmaker would vote to impeach the president at the end of the process.

The only other non-Democratic lawmaker in support of an inquiry is Rep. Justin Amash, and independent of Michigan who left the GOP over its embrace of Trump. He has argued since Special Counsel Robert Mueller's report was released that impeachment was warranted. Two Republican governors from Democratic-leaning states had already backed the inquiry, though, of course, they have no official say in the matter.

In 2018, Amodei won the Second District of Nevada handily, defeating his Democratic opponent Clint Koble 58.2 percent to 41.8.