US House Votes to Impeach Trump a Second Time, Senate Vote Uncertain
It was a history-making vote in the House today where Democrats led a second impeachment effort against President Trump.
The House voted 232-197 to impeach Trump. It was mostly Democrats, but 10 GOP lawmakers, including the number three Republican leader in the House, did vote to impeach the president.
This marks the first time a president has faced impeachment not just once, but twice.
In the lead-up to today's vote, lawmakers from both sides of the aisle gave speeches about the merits of the article to impeach, which accuses President Trump of "inciting an insurrection" by encouraging his supporters to march to the Capitol, followed by the deadly riot just one week ago.
READ 'NO Violence, NO Lawbreaking': Once Again, Trump and Republicans Explicitly Call for Peace
Rep. Nancy Pelosi, House Speaker said, "We know that we face the enemies of the Constitution. We know we experienced the insurrection that violated the sanctity of the people's Capitol and attempted to overturn the duly recorded will of the American people. And we know that the President of the United States incited this insurrection, this armed rebellion against our common country. He must go. He is a clear and present danger to the nation that we all love."
A majority of Republicans stood against impeachment.
Florida Republican Rep. Matt Gaetz stood in the House to accuse his political opponents of blatant hypocrisy when it comes to violent rioting in America.
"Make no mistake, the left in America has incited far more political violence than the right. For months our cities burned, police stations burned, our businesses were shattered, and they said nothing, or, they cheer-led for it, and they fundraised for it," Gaetz said.
"Some have cited the metaphor that the President lit the flame," said Gaetz. "They lit actual flames! Actual fires and we had to put them out!"
Good on @RepMattGaetz for calling this out. They’re trying to take the heat of themselves while getting indignant about the Capitol riot. It’s all wrong and they need to own it. pic.twitter.com/qCwlzuL6Db
— Brandon Morse (@TheBrandonMorse) January 13, 2021
House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) had said beforehand, "A vote to impeach would further divide this nation. A vote to impeach will further fan the flames of partisan division. Most Americans want neither inaction nor retribution. They want durable bipartisan justice... That doesn't mean the president is free from fault. The president bears responsibility for Wednesday's attack on Congress by mob rioters."
BELOW: Watch the House Impeachment Proceedings from Earlier Today
It's unclear if the Republican-led Senate will take up the impeachment case before Joe Biden is sworn in as president and Democrats take control of the Senate.
Here's a relevant portion of the US Constitution that the House was considering:
Fourteenth Amendment - Section 3
No Person shall be a Senator or Representative in Congress, or elector of President and Vice-President, or hold any office, civil or military, under the United States, or under any State, who, having previously taken an oath, as a member of Congress, or as an officer of the United States, or as a member of any State legislature, or as an executive or judicial officer of any State, to support the Constitution of the United States, shall have engaged in insurrection or rebellion against the same, or given aid or comfort to the enemies thereof. But Congress may by a vote of two-thirds of each House, remove such disability.
President Trump released a video on Wednesday after he was impeached, condemning the violent acts that occurred in the Capitol one week ago.
“I want to be very clear, I unequivocally condemn the violence that we saw last week. Mob violence goes against everything I believe in and everything our movement stands for," Trump said. "No true supporter of mine could ever endorse political violence."
Trump added that he has instructed federal agencies “to use all necessary resources to maintain order in Washington, D.C.” over the next week.”
READ 'Damage to the Rule of Law': Top Legal Scholars Dershowitz and Turley Blast 'Snap Impeachment'
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