Article snippet: Freshman Rep. Jefferson Van Drew (D-N.J.), a vocal opponent of impeachment, plans to switch parties and join the GOP after meeting with MORE on Friday, Democratic sources told The Hill. Van Drew has begun informing his staff and fellow New Jersey lawmakers that he will leave the Democratic Party, according to two Democratic senior aides. His decision, first reported by The Washington Post, comes just a day after he had a lengthy meeting at the White House with Trump. A former dentist, Van Drew replaced former Rep. MORE (D-Calif.) for Speaker in January and joining the conservative-leaning Blue Dog Democrats shortly thereafter. In October, he was one of just two House Democrats to vote against the package of rules governing the impeachment process — the other was Rep. MORE (D-Minn.) — and he has vowed since then to oppose any impeachment articles that come to the floor related to Trump’s dealings with Ukraine. Van Drew has cited two central reasons for his opposition to impeachment. First, he said Trump’s handling of foreign policy in Kyiv does not merit his removal.Second, he voiced concerns that if the Senate declines to remove the president, as expected, Trump would use that acquittal as ammunition on the campaign trail to target Democrats up and down the ballot.“All of this, at the end of the day, is not going to matter. Because … it’s going to go to the Senate, and at the end of the day the Senate’s going to say he’s not guilty,” he said. “Then he is going ... Link to the full article to read more