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Donald Trump becomes the first US president to be impeached for a second time – live Donald Trump becomes the first US president to be impeached for a second time – live
(32 minutes later)
Ten House Republicans join Democrats to impeach president on charge of incitement of insurrection after violent riot at US CapitolTen House Republicans join Democrats to impeach president on charge of incitement of insurrection after violent riot at US Capitol
The Senate’s leading Democrat, Chuck Schumer responds to the Trump impeachment: “A Senate trial can begin immediately, with agreement from the current Senate Majority Leader to reconvene the Senate for an emergency session, or it will begin after January 19th. But make no mistake, there will be an impeachment trial in the United States Senate”
“Despite the efforts of Donald Trump and violent insurrectionists, America is not a dictatorship,” Schumer said.” We have been and will forever remain a Democracy that respects and reveres the rule of law, including the bedrock principle that the voters choose our leaders – that just power can only derive from the consent of the governed.”
Mitch McConnell has said there’s no chance of an impeachment trial for Trump until after Joe Biden is inaugurated.
“Given the rules, procedures, and Senate precedents that govern presidential impeachment trials, there is simply no chance that a fair or serious trial could conclude before President-elect Biden is sworn in next week,” McConnell said in a statement.
“In light of this reality, I believe it will best serve our nation if Congress and the executive branch spend the next seven days completely focused on facilitating a safe inauguration and an orderly transfer of power to the incoming Biden Administration,” he said.
The Republican leader did not indicate his position on whether he’d vote to convict or acquit Trump.
That’s it from me today. My west coast colleague, Maanvi Singh, will take over the blog for the next few hours.
Here’s where this historic day stands:
Donald Trump became the first US president to be impeached twice. The House voted to impeach Trump on incitement of insurrection, after the president incited a violent mob to storm the Capitol last week, resulting in five deaths.
Ten House Republicans voted in favor of impeachment. Their votes made this the most bipartisan presidential impeachment in US history. The final vote on the article of impeachment was 232-197.
Nancy Pelosi delivered an impassioned speech calling on members to support impeachment. “He must go,” the Democratic speaker said of the president. “He is a clear and present danger to the nation we all love.”
Kevin McCarthy said Trump “bears responsibility” for the Capitol attack but did not deserve to be impeached. “The president bears responsibility for Wednesday’s attack on Congress by mob rioters,” the Republican minority leader said. “He should have immediately denounced the mob when he saw what was unfolding.”
Mitch McConnell has said there will be no impeachment trial earlier than January 19, when the Senate is currently set to return from recess. Chuck Schumer, the Senate Democratic leader, had said the chamber should return early to take up impeachment, but McConnell has signaled no interest in doing so.
Maanvi will have more coming up, so stay tuned.
Why did Donald Trump just get impeached on the charge of incitement of insurrection?
In the chaotic aftermath of the Capitol riot, Trump and his now dwindling number of Republicans allies tried to claim he did nothing wrong.
But as the Guardian’s Ed Pilkington has laid out, Trump’s incitement can be traced all the way back to 19 December, when he first mentioned a “big protest in DC”, and said “Be there, will be wild!”. This reached a climax on 6 January, when Trump urged a crowd outside the White House to march on the Capitol. Read the full timeline here:
And here is Trump before the Capitol riot whipping up the crowd:
The most surprising Republican “yes” vote on impeachment came from Tom Rice of South Carolina.The most surprising Republican “yes” vote on impeachment came from Tom Rice of South Carolina.
Before the vote, Rice did not offer any indication that he was planning to support impeachment, and he was not considered one of the likely “yes” votes.Before the vote, Rice did not offer any indication that he was planning to support impeachment, and he was not considered one of the likely “yes” votes.
Rice has not yet put out a statement explaining his vote, but this tweet from last week, sent during the violent riot at the Capitol, captures his frustration with Donald Trump.Rice has not yet put out a statement explaining his vote, but this tweet from last week, sent during the violent riot at the Capitol, captures his frustration with Donald Trump.
Here are the ten House Republicans who voted to impeach Donald Trump on the charge of incitement of insurrection:Here are the ten House Republicans who voted to impeach Donald Trump on the charge of incitement of insurrection:
John Katko of New York.John Katko of New York.
Liz Cheney of Wyoming.Liz Cheney of Wyoming.
Adam Kinzinger of Illinois.Adam Kinzinger of Illinois.
Fred Upton of Michigan.Fred Upton of Michigan.
Jaime Herrera Beutler of Washington state.Jaime Herrera Beutler of Washington state.
Dan Newhouse of Washington state.Dan Newhouse of Washington state.
Peter Meijer of Michigan.Peter Meijer of Michigan.
Tom Rice of South Carolina.Tom Rice of South Carolina.
Anthony Gonzalez of Ohio.Anthony Gonzalez of Ohio.
David Valadao of California.David Valadao of California.
The Republicans’ votes made this the most bipartisan presidential impeachment in history. In comparison, five Democrats voted to impeach Bill Clinton in 1998.The Republicans’ votes made this the most bipartisan presidential impeachment in history. In comparison, five Democrats voted to impeach Bill Clinton in 1998.
The House has voted to impeach Donald Trump on the charge of incitement of insurrection, after the president incited a violent mob to storm the Capitol last week, resulting in five deaths.The House has voted to impeach Donald Trump on the charge of incitement of insurrection, after the president incited a violent mob to storm the Capitol last week, resulting in five deaths.
The final vote was 232-197, with 10 House Republicans supporting the measure.The final vote was 232-197, with 10 House Republicans supporting the measure.
Trump has become the first president in US history to ever be impeached by the House twice.Trump has become the first president in US history to ever be impeached by the House twice.
The matter will now go before the Senate, which will decide whether Trump should be convicted and removed from office.The matter will now go before the Senate, which will decide whether Trump should be convicted and removed from office.
The trial will likely conclude after Joe Biden takes office anyway, but a conviction would prevent Trump from running for president again.The trial will likely conclude after Joe Biden takes office anyway, but a conviction would prevent Trump from running for president again.
A tenth House Republican, David Valadao of California, has voted “yes” on the article of impeachment against Donald Trump.A tenth House Republican, David Valadao of California, has voted “yes” on the article of impeachment against Donald Trump.
The vote currently stands at 229-195 in favor of impeachment.The vote currently stands at 229-195 in favor of impeachment.
Nine members have not yet voted.Nine members have not yet voted.
The article of impeachment has now reached a majority level of support, with at least 229 House members voting “yes” on impeaching Donald Trump for a second time.The article of impeachment has now reached a majority level of support, with at least 229 House members voting “yes” on impeaching Donald Trump for a second time.
The vote currently stands at 229-194.The vote currently stands at 229-194.
But the vote is still ongoing, and members can change their votes until it is gaveled out. Stay tuned.But the vote is still ongoing, and members can change their votes until it is gaveled out. Stay tuned.
Mike Gallagher of Wisconsin, Ann Wagner of Missouri and Brian Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania have all voted “no” on impeachment.Mike Gallagher of Wisconsin, Ann Wagner of Missouri and Brian Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania have all voted “no” on impeachment.
The three members were some of the last remaining Republicans who were considered possible “yes” votes, but they have apparently decided against impeaching the president for a second time.The three members were some of the last remaining Republicans who were considered possible “yes” votes, but they have apparently decided against impeaching the president for a second time.
It’s looking like the total number of Republicans supporting impeachment will likely be nine, but we won’t know for sure until the vote is complete.It’s looking like the total number of Republicans supporting impeachment will likely be nine, but we won’t know for sure until the vote is complete.
Seven House Republicans have already voted “yes” on impeaching Donald Trump, and at least two more are expected to do so.Seven House Republicans have already voted “yes” on impeaching Donald Trump, and at least two more are expected to do so.
Assuming no one charges their vote, this will be the most bipartisan presidential impeachment in US history, as a CBC News reporter noted.Assuming no one charges their vote, this will be the most bipartisan presidential impeachment in US history, as a CBC News reporter noted.
In his statement explaining his vote in support of impeachment, Anthony Gonzalez also accused Donald Trump of having “abandoned his post” amid the violence at the Capitol.
Gonzalez argued that the president’s failure to act further endangered those present at the Capitol.
The Republican congressman described the president’s actions as “fundamental threats” to American democracy.
Two more House Republicans, Tom Rice of South Carolina and Anthony Gonzalez of Ohio, have voted “yes” on impeaching the president.
Assuming they do not change their votes, they will be the eighth and ninth Republicans to support impeachment.
In a statement, Gonzalez said he was supporting impeachment because Donald Trump “helped organize and incite a mob that attacked the United States Congress”.
The House has now concluded its two hours of debate on the article of impeachment against Donald Trump.
The chamber has moved on to a roll-call vote on the article, incitement of insurrection.
The measure is expected to pass with the support of all Democrats and at least seven Republicans.
Peter Meijer, a Republican congressman from Michigan, has become the seventh Republican House member to say he will support the impeachment of Donald Trump.
“The President betrayed his oath of office by seeking to undermine our constitutional process, and he bears responsibility for inciting the insurrection last week,” Meijer said in a statement. “With a heavy heart, I will vote to impeach President Donald J. Trump.”
Meijer, a freshman congressman, previously said he was considering supporting impeachment, but this is the first time he has clearly said he will do so.
Seven Republicans have now said they will vote to impeach Trump, which means the president will be impeached in a bipartisan vote. When Trump was impeached the first time, only Democrats supported the measure.
The debate on the article of impeachment against Donald Trump is now wrapping up, and the House will soon move on to the final vote on impeachment.
Steve Scalise, the House minority whip, was the final Republican speaker, and he applauded the Capitol Police officers who work to protect lawmakers every day. Two Capitol Police officers have died since last week, when a violent, pro-Trump mob stormed the Capitol.
House members in the chamber stood to applaud the fallen Capitol Police officers, marking a rare moment of bipartisanship during today’s contentious debate.
The House majority leader, Steny Hoyer, is the final Democratic speaker, and he has repeatedly cited the words of Republican Liz Cheney, who has said she will support impeachment.
“Will we stay silent, will we not stand up and say this is not acceptable?” Hoyer said. “Donald Trump has constructed a glass house of lies, fear-mongering and sedition.”
The Guardian’s Daniel Strauss reports:
Mitch McConnell, the top-ranking Republican in the Senate, indicated to colleagues that he is undecided on how he would vote on impeachment.
In a letter to his Senate colleagues sent out Wednesday afternoon, as members of the House moved forward with impeaching Donald Trump, the Kentucky Republican wrote, “while the press has been full of speculation, I have not made a final decision on how I will vote and I intend to listen to the legal arguments when they are presented to the Senate.”
The line in his note to Senate colleagues follows The New York Times reporting Tuesday night that McConnell is pleased with Democrats’ move to impeach the president again and has been sharing that sentiment with associates.
McConnell’s openness to impeaching the president, a fellow Republican, is the most significant sign so far that congressional Republican leaders are less resistant to Trump’s impeachment than the last time the president was impeached.
In the House, congresswoman Liz Cheney of Wyoming, the House Republican Conference chair, said she would vote to impeach Trump. Five other House Republicans have also come out in support of impeachment.
It’s unclear how Senate Republicans will vote. It’s also unclear if McConnell’s openness will offer cover for other Republicans who privately would like to see the president impeached. Two-thirds of senators would have to support conviction in order for him to be removed from office.
Congressman Seth Moulton, a Massachusetts Democrat and a Marine Corps veteran, noted that there are currently more troops in Washington than in Afghanistan.
“And they are here to defend us against the commander in chief, the president of the United States and his mob,” Moulton said.
Moulton encouraged his colleagues to look at the National Guard members protecting the Capitol and search for “an ounce of their courage.”
Young Kim, a freshman Republican congresswoman who flipped a California district that Donald Trump lost by 10 points, will vote against impeachment.
“The violence we saw last week was disgusting. Our law enforcement was attacked, lives were lost and more were put in danger. These rioters must be held accountable. Words have consequences and I believe the president should also be held accountable,” Kim said in a statement.
“However, I believe impeaching the president at this time will fail to hold him accountable or allow us to move forward once President-elect Biden is sworn in. This process will only create more fissures in our country as we emerge from some of our darkest days.”
So far, only six House Republicans have signaled they intend to support the article of impeachment.
It is now past 3 pm in Washington, but the House has not yet moved on to the final vote on the article of impeachment.
The House majority leader, Steny Hoyer, said yesterday that the final vote would occur at roughly 3 pm, but there are about 20 minutes of debate left.
Once the debate has concluded, the chamber will move on to voting on the article, which is expected to be approved.
Chip Roy, a Republican of Texas who has criticized his colleagues’ efforts to cast baseless doubt upon the legitimacy of the presidential election, said he believed Donald Trump had committed “impeachable” offenses.
“The president of the United States deserves universal condemnation for what was clearly, in my opinion, impeachable conduct, pressuring the vice president to violate his oath to the constitution.” Roy said in his speech.
And yet Roy will not be supporting the article of impeachment. The congressman argued the article had been drafted in a manner that targeted political speech itself.
Here’s what the article says, in part: “Donald John Trump engaged in high Crimes and Misdemeanors by inciting violence against the Government of the United States ...
“Donald John Trump, by such conduct, has demonstrated that he will remain a threat to national security, democracy, and the Constitution if allowed to remain in office[.]”