Nancy Pelosi May Delay Delivering Trump’s Impeachment Articles As Leverage For Senate Trial Rules
Donald Trump was impeached on Wed. (Dec. 18) in a historic move by House Democrats led by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who said in her opening remarks, “he gave us no choice.”
“Our founders’ vision of a republic is under threat from actions from the White House,” Pelosi said, the Washington Post reports. “If we do not act now, we would be derelict in our duty. It’s tragic the president’s reckless actions make impeachment necessary. He gave us no choice.”
Quoting the late Rep. Elijah Cummings, a dear friend of Pelosi’s and whom she calls the “North Star,” she said, ABC News reports, "When the history books are written about this tumultuous era, I want them to show that I was among those in the House of Representatives who stood up to lawlessness and tyranny. When we are dancing with the angels the question will be, what did we do to make sure we kept our democracy intact?"
After a six-hour debate, the votes were in. On the charge of abuse of power, the House voted 230-197. On the charge of obstruction of Congress, the House voted 229-198, CNN reports.
However, there were two Democratic defections on the first vote on the charge of abuse of power, and three on the second vote on the charge of obstruction of Congress. Democratic presidential candidate Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (D-Hawaii) voted “present” on both, the Washington Post reports.
Gabbard released a statement explaining why she voted “present” on Articles I and II, Townhall.com reports.
“I came to the conclusion that I could not in good conscience vote either yes or no,” she wrote in her statement, Townhall reports. “I could not in good conscience vote against impeachment because I believe President Trump is guilty of wrongdoing.”
Gabbard added, “I also could not in good conscience vote for impeachment because removal of a sitting President must not be the culmination of a partisan process, fueled by tribal animosities that have so gravely divided our country.”
Moments after the votes were in for impeachment of Trump, Pelosi said the House could at least temporarily withhold the articles from the Senate, depending on how the other chamber chooses to conduct its trial on Trump’s removal, the Washington Post reports.
“We cannot name managers until we see what the process is on the Senate side,” Pelosi said, referring to the House “managers” who present the case for removal to the Senate, the Washington Post reports. “So far we haven’t seen anything that looks fair to us. So hopefully it will be fair. And when we see what that is, we’ll send our managers.”
Shortly after the announcement was made that the House voted to impeach Trump, he tweeted a meme of himself pointing to the camera with the words: “In reality they’re not after me. They’re after you. I’m just in the way.”
Trump joins an exclusive club of just four U.S. presidents who have faced removal from office by Congress and only three who were impeached. While Andrew Johnson was impeached in 1868 and Bill Clinton in 1998, Richard Nixon dodged his impeachment in 1974 by resigning first.
During the lengthy debate across partisan lines, Democrats explained their duty to impeach while Republicans declared the impeachment a massive mistake, CNN reports.
Now Trump faces a trial for the charges by the Republican-led Senate, who are unlikely to convict or remove him from office.
Congressman John Ratcliff, a Republican from Texas, voted “Hell No” on Wed. (Dec. 18), which Trump retweeted.
Trump also retweeted commits made by Andy McCarthy from Fox News about the Republicans not convicting or removing him from office. To his statements, Trump wrote, “So well stated. Thank you!”
In his own words, Trump tweeted, “SUCH ATROCIOUS LIES BY THE RADICAL LEFT, DO NOTHING DEMOCRATS. THIS IS AN ASSAULT ON AMERICA, AND AN ASSAULT ON THE REPUBLICAN PARTY!!!”
Trump learned of his impeachment during a two-hour campaign rally in Michigan on Wed. (Dec. 18) night. The votes occurred in the middle of his speech, and it appeared he learned of the vote tallies from an aide.
Afterward, Trump used the result to tout Republican unity, CNN reports.
The Senate trial is expected to begin in January, CNN reports.
According to sources, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell told Republican senators at a policy lunch earlier this week that he will announce the date for the start of the Senate trial by the end of the week, CNN reports.
Pelosi’s announcement to withhold the articles is reportedly a way to potentially force McConnell to conduct a trial on more favorable terms for Democrats. If no agreement is reached, the trial could be delayed indefinitely, which would deny Trump an expected acquittal, the Washington Post reports.
