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Trump faces impeachment as House convenes to debate historic vote – live Trump impeachment: House officially begins debate over articles – live
(32 minutes later)
Outcome of today’s vote is all but certain as Trump lashes against Democrats and acknowledges likely impeachment House speaker Nancy Pelosi opens debate, which will culminate later today with a vote that is all but certain to impeach Donald Trump
Congressman Doug Collins, the top Republican on the House judiciary committee, is now speaking on the floor, slamming impeachment as a baseless, partisan stunt.
“This is not a solemn occasion,” Collins said, mocking the words of speaker Nancy Pelosi. “They’ve been wanting to do this ever since the election.”
Collins repeated his words from yesterday’s rules committee hearing, saying, “The clock and the calendar are terrible masters.”
The Georgia Republican argued his Democratic colleagues only cared about getting political revenge on Trump. “They do not care about facts,” Collins said.
As Nancy Pelosi concluded her remarks to kick off debate on the impeachment resolution, the House speaker was met with a standing ovation from the many Democratic members present for her speech.
Speaking on the House floor, Nancy Pelosi reiterated the accusations against Trump and urged members to honor their oath of office in today’s impeachment vote.
The House speaker argued the president had “violated the Constitution” and had left Democrats with “no choice” but to impeach.
“If we do not act now, we are derelict in our duty,” Pelosi told the chamber, where most of her Democratic caucus was present to hear her remarks.
The debate on the articles of impeachment has officially begun, and House judiciary committee Jerry Nadler began by deferring to speaker Nancy Pelosi.
The House speaker opened the debate by reciting the pledge of allegiance and emphasizing the oath members take. “The republic for which it stands is what we are here to talk about today,” Pelosi said.
She then repeated the Benjamin Franklin quote she has pointed to throughout the impeachment inquiry to justify the investigation: “A republic if we can keep it.”
The House clerk, Joe Novotny, has just finished reading the articles of impeachment against Trump, and members will now have six hours to debate the resolution.
The articles concluded “Wherefore, President Trump, by such conduct, has demonstrated that he will remain a threat to the Constitution if allowed to remain in office, and has acted in a manner grossly incompatible with self-governance and the rule of law. President Trump thus warrants impeachment and trial, removal from office, and disqualification to hold and enjoy any office of honor, trust, or profit under the United States.”
The House clerk is now reading the articles of impeachment against Trump on the floor, after which House members will have six hours to debate the resolution before tonight’s vote.
If the debate goes according to schedule, which (again) is a big assumption, the vote should take place around 7:30 p.m. E.T.
The House has adopted the “rule” outlining the procedures for today’s debate on the impeachment resolution, with all but two Democrats (Collin Peterson and Jeff Van Drew) backing the motion.
Members will now have six hours to debate the impeachment resolution itself, split eqaully between the majority and the minority.
House Democrats successfully approved a motion to end debate on the “rule” outlining procedures for today’s impeachment proceedings, clearing the way for a vote on the rule itself.House Democrats successfully approved a motion to end debate on the “rule” outlining procedures for today’s impeachment proceedings, clearing the way for a vote on the rule itself.
Two House Democrats – Collin Peterson of Minnesota and Jeff Van Drew of New Jersey, who has signaled he itnends to switch parties after the impeachment vote – joined Republicans in opposing a procedural motion to end debate on the “rule” outlining procedures today.Two House Democrats – Collin Peterson of Minnesota and Jeff Van Drew of New Jersey, who has signaled he itnends to switch parties after the impeachment vote – joined Republicans in opposing a procedural motion to end debate on the “rule” outlining procedures today.
Van Drew dodged reporters’ questions yesterday when asked about switching parties, but he is expected to cast his votes today as a Democrat, helping Republicans to claim bipartisan opposition to impeachment.Van Drew dodged reporters’ questions yesterday when asked about switching parties, but he is expected to cast his votes today as a Democrat, helping Republicans to claim bipartisan opposition to impeachment.
But with the exceptions of Peterson and Van Drew, every House Democrat backed the procedural motion, proving how unified the caucus is on impeaching Trump.But with the exceptions of Peterson and Van Drew, every House Democrat backed the procedural motion, proving how unified the caucus is on impeaching Trump.
Congressman Jeff Van Drew, the Democratic lawmaker who has signaled he will switch his party affilation to Republican over his opposition to impeachment, has arrived on the House floor after missing this morning’s procedural votes.Congressman Jeff Van Drew, the Democratic lawmaker who has signaled he will switch his party affilation to Republican over his opposition to impeachment, has arrived on the House floor after missing this morning’s procedural votes.
As House members vote on the “rule” outlining procedures for today’s impeachment proceedings, some campaign-related news is also unfolding.As House members vote on the “rule” outlining procedures for today’s impeachment proceedings, some campaign-related news is also unfolding.
Senator Susan Collins said in a letter to supporters this morning that she is running for reelection, confirming widespread expectations the Maine Republican would seek a fifth term.Senator Susan Collins said in a letter to supporters this morning that she is running for reelection, confirming widespread expectations the Maine Republican would seek a fifth term.
“The fundamental question I had to ask myself in making my decision was this: in today’s polarized political environment, is there still a role for a centrist who believes in getting things done through compromise, collegiality, and bipartisanship?” Collins said in the letter. “I have concluded that the answer to this question is ‘yes,’ and I will, therefore, seek the honor of continuing to serve as Maine’s United States Senator.”“The fundamental question I had to ask myself in making my decision was this: in today’s polarized political environment, is there still a role for a centrist who believes in getting things done through compromise, collegiality, and bipartisanship?” Collins said in the letter. “I have concluded that the answer to this question is ‘yes,’ and I will, therefore, seek the honor of continuing to serve as Maine’s United States Senator.”
But Democrats have argued Collins has lost her centrist reputation by siding with Trump on controversial issues, such as the confirmation of Supreme Court justice Brett Kavanaugh.But Democrats have argued Collins has lost her centrist reputation by siding with Trump on controversial issues, such as the confirmation of Supreme Court justice Brett Kavanaugh.
Sara Gideon, the speaker of the Maine house and the frontrunner in the Democratic primary to face off against Collins, said in a statement that the longtime senator is no longer the centrist lawmaker the state has repeatedly elected.Sara Gideon, the speaker of the Maine house and the frontrunner in the Democratic primary to face off against Collins, said in a statement that the longtime senator is no longer the centrist lawmaker the state has repeatedly elected.
“When Sen. Collins took office 22 years ago, she might have been different from other people in Washington, but it doesn’t seem that way anymore,” Gideon said. “These days, Sen. Collins seems more focused on serving the special interests that fund her campaigns than the Mainers who elected her.”“When Sen. Collins took office 22 years ago, she might have been different from other people in Washington, but it doesn’t seem that way anymore,” Gideon said. “These days, Sen. Collins seems more focused on serving the special interests that fund her campaigns than the Mainers who elected her.”
Debate has now concluded on the “rule” outlining procedures for today’s impeachment proceedings, and House members have moved on to a vote series to adop the rule.
Democratic congressman Joe Kennedy used his floor speech to explain to his children why he intended to vote in favor of impeaching the president. “Dear Ellie and James: This is a moment that you’ll read about in your history books,” the Massachusetts lawmaker said.
As the president lashes out against Nancy Pelosi, some commentators have started recirculating this 2008 video, in which Trump commends Pelosi and suggests she should have tried to impeach George W. Bush.
“When [Pelosi] first got in and was named speaker, I met her,” Trump told CNN host Wolf Blitzer at the time. “And I’m very impressed by her. I think she’s a very impressive person, I like her a lot.”
Trump continued, “But I was surprised that she didn’t do more in terms of Bush and going after Bush. It just seemed like she was really going to look to impeach Bush and get him out of office. Which personally I think would have been a wonderful thing.”
Trump argued Bush should have been impeached for the “lies” he told before invading Iraq.
Trump has already tweeted a few dozen times this morning to slam the impeachment inquiry and speaker Nancy Pelosi as debate continues on the House floor.
The president has nothing on his public schedule this morning until he leaves for his Michigan campaign rally at 4:25 p.m. E.T., so more tweets will likely be forthcoming as the House takes up the articles of impeachment.
Speaker Nancy Pelosi is sitting on the House floor as debate continues on the “rule” outlining procedures for today’s proceedings.
The vote on the “rule” should take place in about ten minutes. Once it is adopted, members will be given six hours to debate the impeachment resolution itself, split evenly between the majority and the minority.
Congressman Jeff Van Drew, the Democrat who has signaled he will switch his party affiliation to Republican over his opposition to impeachment, did not vote in this morning’s procedural motions.
House Republicans are trying to introduce more procedural motions to delay the vote, suggesting that debate on the articles of impeachment should be six hours longer than scheduled and that memebers should be made to cast votes manually, but Democrats have rejected the proposals.
Congressman Jim Clyburn, the House majority whip, delivered a floor speech outlining Democrats’ argument for impeachment.
“Today we have a president who seems to believe he is a king or above the law,” the longtime South Carolina lawmaker said.
Just outside the US Capitol, pro-impeachment protesters have found some fun, holiday-themed ways of expressing their displeasure with the president.
Walking to the House floor, Nancy Pelosi would only tell reporters she felt “sad” about today’s proceedings, echoing reports that the speaker has intstructed her Democratic caucus to treat today as a solemn occasion.
The sadness of today’s vote may be the only point of agreement between House Democrats and Republicans, as Tom Cole, the top Republican on the rules committee, made a similar comment on the floor.