10 US House Republicans voted to impeach Trump
Some Republicans argued the impeachment drive was a rush to judgment that bypassed the customary deliberative process such as hearings and called on Democrats to abandon the effort for the sake of national unity and healing
Ten US House Republicans voted to impeach President Donald Trump on Wednesday afternoon, along with Democrats in the House of Representatives, charging him with "incitement of insurrection."
They are: Rep Adam Kinzinger of Illinois, Rep Liz Cheney of Wyoming, Rep John Katko of New York, Rep Fred Upton of Michigan, Rep Jaime Herrera Beutler of Washington, Rep Dan Newhouse of Washington, Rep Peter Meijer of Michigan, Rep Anthony Gonzalez of Ohio, Rep Tom Rice of South Carolina, Rep David Valadao of California.
Liz Cheney, one of the ten Republican who voted against Trump, said, "I am not choosing a side, I'm choosing truth," Republican Jamie Herrera Beutler said in announcing her support for impeachment, drawing applause from Democrats. "It's the only way to defeat fear."
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In a break from standard procedure, Republican House leaders refrained from urging their members to vote against impeachment, calling the vote a matter of individual conscience, Reuters reported.
However, some Republicans argued the impeachment drive was a rush to judgment that bypassed the customary deliberative process such as hearings and called on Democrats to abandon the effort for the sake of national unity and healing.
"Impeaching the president in such a short time frame would be a mistake," said Kevin McCarthy, the House's top Republican. "That doesn't mean the president is free from fault. The president bears responsibility for Wednesday's attack on Congress by mob rioters."
Trump's closest allies, such as Ohio Republican Jim Jordan, went further, accusing Democrats of recklessly acting out of pure political interest.
"This is about getting the president of the United States," said Jordan, who received the Presidential Medal of Freedom from Trump in a private White House ceremony this week. "It's always been about getting the president, no matter what. It's an obsession."
McConnell has said no trial could begin until the Senate was scheduled to be back in regular session next Tuesday, one day before Biden's inauguration. The trial would proceed in the Senate even after Trump leaves office.
Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer, set to become majority leader later this month, said in a statement that no matter the timing, "there will be an impeachment trial in the United States Senate; there will be a vote on convicting the president for high crimes and misdemeanors; and if the president is convicted, there will be a vote on barring him from running again."
