Rising GOP star thrust into spotlight with Trump defense

  • The Hill | by: Juliegrace Brufke and Brett Samuels |
  • 11/25/2019 12:00 AM
Elise Stefanik by United States House of Representatives is licensed under Wikimedia Commons Public Domain
Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.) has long been lauded by GOP leaders as a rising star in the party, and her new role as one of President Trump’s chief defenders during the impeachment hearings has thrust her into the national spotlight.

But with that higher profile comes concerns from some Republicans that her shift toward becoming a highly visible Trump ally could make her a bigger target for Democrats in 2020.

Stefanik, the lone GOP woman on the House Intelligence Committee, was featured prominently during the public impeachment hearings over the past two weeks. She clashed with Chairman Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) in an early exchange that became a rallying cry for conservatives, pointedly questioned witnesses about the connection between the Bidens and Ukraine and stood at the front of the pack of GOP lawmakers during press conferences.

She also appeared alongside House Minority Whip Steve Scalise (R-La.) on Sean Hannity’s prime-time show on Fox News on Thursday.
Elise Stefanik by United States House of Representatives is licensed under Wikimedia Commons Public Domain

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