LAST UPDATE | 13 Jan 2021
US PRESIDENT DONALD Trump is the first President to be impeached twice, with 232 votes in favour of impeachment and 197 against.
Impeachment proceedings were brought forward by Democrats after last Wednesday’s riots in the US Capitol, which left five dead.
Ten Republicans voted with Democrats to impeach Trump, including senior Republican Liz Cheney.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has since signed the article of impeachment, saying that nobody is above the law.
“Today in a bipartisan way, the House demonstrated that no one is above the law, not even the President of the United States,” said Pelosi
That Donald Trump is a clear and present danger to our country and that once again we honour that oath of office to protect and defend the constitution of the United States.
After the impeachment was passed by the House, Trump released a video on the official White House Twitter account where he condemned the violence at the Capitol last week but did not comment on the impeachment.
— The White House (@WhiteHouse) January 13, 2021
Trump also distanced himself from his followers who attacked the Capitol building, saying that “mob violence goes against everything I believe in and everything our movement stands for.”
No true supporters of mine could ever endorse political violence. No true supporter of mine could disrespect law enforcement or our great American flag. No true supporter of mine could ever threaten or harass their fellow Americans.
“If you do any of these things, you are not supporting our movement- you are attacking it. And you are attacking our country.”
Trump also referenced an “unprecedented assault” on free speech in the video, referring to the social media platforms which have banned him in recent days.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has said that the Senate process will begin once the articles of impeachment are sent by the House.
However, McConnell has said that there will not be a trial before President-elect Biden is sworn in on January 20.
“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.
“The Senate has held three presidential impeachment trials. They have lasted 83 days, 37 days, and 21 days respectively.”
Due to the election of two additional Democratic senators in Georgia, Reverend Raphael Warnock and Jon Ossoff, the senate trial will likely take place with a slim Democratic majority.
Current Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer will become the new majority leader, as Democrats will control 50 seats, alongside Vice President-elect Kamala Harris’ tiebreaker vote as President of the Senate.
Debate
The debate opened earlier this evening with Speaker of the House Pelosi, appealing to Republicans to back the vote, opened her contribution by speaking of the insurrection that occurred on Capitol Hill last Wednesday.
“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.
“The President must be impeached and I believe that the President must be convicted by the Senate.
A constitutional remedy that will ensure that the republic will be safe from this man, who is so resolutely determined to tear down the things that we hold dear and that hold us together.
Pelosi said that the insurrectionists were not “patriots” but “domestic terrorists”.
Republican House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy condemned the violent riots last week and called on the nation to unite, saying that the impeachment proceedings will only further divide the United States.
“A vote to impeach would further divide this nation, a vote to impeach will further fan the flames of partisan division.”
However, McCarthy said that President Trump “is not free from fault” and bears responsibility for the mob who descended on the Capitol last Wednesday.
“He should have immediately denounced the mob when he saw what was unfolding. These facts require immediate action of President Trump,” said McCarthy.
McCarthy also addressed misinformation that has been spread by President Trump about the election being stolen.
“What we saw last week is not the American way, neither is the continued rhetoric that Joe Biden is not the legitimate President.
Let’s be clear, Joe Biden will be sworn in as President of the United States in one week, because he won the election.
House Republican Jim Jordan criticised the impeachment proceedings, calling the effort an attempt to “cancel the President”.
“It needs to stop because if it continues it won’t just be Republicans who get cancelled, it won’t just be the President of the United States. The cancel culture will come for us all,” said Jordan.
Vote
Despite the House voting to impeach, Trump will continue to serve the remainder of his term as the Senate will not reconvene early.
A spokesperson for the Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has confirmed that the Senate will not be reconvened early to allow for an impeachment trial to take place.
Can confirm —> https://t.co/l2U1WlyQSF
— Doug Andres (@DougAndres) January 13, 2021
As proceedings went on, Trump issued a statement in response to reports of further demonstrations.
“In light of reports of more demonstrations, I urge that there must be NO violence, NO lawbreaking and NO vandalism of any kind”, said the President.
“That is not what I stand for and it is not what America stands for. I call on ALL Americans to help ease tensions and calm tempers.”
Seven Republicans, including third-ranking House GOP leader Liz Cheney, announced they would vote to impeach Trump during those proceedings, with ten voting to impeach in total.
“The President of the United States summoned this mob, assembled the mob, and lit the flame of this attack,” Cheney said.
“There has never been a greater betrayal by a President of the United States of his office and his oath to the Constitution.”
The Republican representatives who will support the impeachment of Trump are:
Four Republican representatives abstained from voting.
The House voted overnight to ask Vice President Mike Pence to invoke the 25th Amendment to remove Trump from office.
Pence has ruled out convening the Cabinet to invoke the 25th. He said in a letter that the mechanism should not be used “as a means of punishment or usurpation” and reserved for cases of medical or mental incapacitation.
Coverage will continue tomorrow morning.
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