Democrats and Republicans vote almost entirely along party lines; president denounces effort to remove him from office
The House impeached President Trump in a momentous set of votes late Wednesday, making him the third president since America’s founding to face a Senate trial, and laying bare the deep partisan divisions on Capitol Hill and across the country.
Nearly all Democrats, led by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D., Calif.), supported abuse-of-power and obstruction-of-Congress charges against Mr. Trump in the wake of his pressing Ukraine to investigate former Vice President Joe Biden, a leading 2020 Democratic presidential candidate.
The chamber’s Republicans rejected both articles, saying Democrats failed to show that Mr. Trump had committed a crime and that they had managed a flawed process.
The votes followed a day of debate over Mr. Trump on the House floor. During the debate, Mr. Trump tweeted and retweeted dozens of messages starting in the early morning. “Can you believe that I will be impeached today by the Radical Left, Do Nothing Democrats, AND I DID NOTHING WRONG!” he tweeted.
The vote on the first article was 230 in favor and 197 against, almost entirely along party lines, with one lawmaker, Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (D., Hawaii), voting present. The tally on the second article was 229 to 198, with Ms. Gabbard again voting present.
Two Democrats crossed party lines on both votes: Reps. Jeff Van Drew of New Jersey and Collin Peterson of Minnesota. Another Democrat, Rep. Jared Golden of Maine, backed the first article but opposed the second. All three lawmakers represent districts carried by Mr. Trump in the 2016 election.
The matter moves next to the Senate for a trial, where a two-thirds vote would be required to remove Mr. Trump from office. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R., Ky.) has said he sees no scenarios in which Mr. Trump would be convicted.
Earlier this week, Mr. McConnell rejected a request from Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D., N.Y.) to hear from four witnesses—including former national security adviser John Bolton —who had been called by the House, but were directed by Mr. Trump not to testify.
Read the rest from the WSJ HERE and follow link below to a related story/opinion:
The FEDERALIST: Democrats Rubber-Stamp Impeachment Through The House, Trial To Begin In Senate
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