Who Voted for Impeachment? A Closer Look at the House Votes
Hello there, curious minds! Today, we're diving into a topic that's been buzzing around the political sphere: who voted for impeachment? We'll break down the House votes, explore the reasons behind them, and shed some light on the historical context. So, grab a cup of coffee, and let's get started! Guys, explore more in Guides And Explainers and who voted for impeachment.
The First Impeachment Vote: Trump in 2019
The Charges: Abuse of Power and Obstruction of Congress
In December 2019, the House of Representatives voted on two articles of impeachment against President Donald Trump. The charges? Abuse of power and obstruction of Congress. The abuse of power charge stemmed from Trump's alleged pressure on Ukraine to investigate his political rival, while the obstruction charge was related to his refusal to cooperate with the House's investigation.
The Vote Breakdown
- Abuse of Power: 230-197 - Obstruction of Congress: 229-198
Who voted for impeachment on these articles?
- All 230 Democrats voted in favor of both articles. - Two Republicans, Representatives Mitt Romney and Fred Upton, voted in favor of the abuse of power charge. - One Republican, Representative Justin Amash, who had left the Republican Party and was now an independent, voted in favor of both articles.
The rest of the Republican House members voted against impeachment, with many arguing that the charges were politically motivated and did not meet the Constitutional threshold for impeachment.
The Second Impeachment Vote: Trump in 2021
The Charges: Incitement of Insurrection
Just over a year later, in January 2021, the House voted again on an article of impeachment against Trump. This time, the charge was incitement of insurrection, following the violent storming of the U.S. Capitol by Trump supporters.
The Vote Breakdown
- Incitement of Insurrection: 232-197
Who voted for impeachment this time around?
- All 222 Democrats voted in favor of the article. - Ten Republicans joined them, marking the most bipartisan support for impeachment in U.S. history. The Republicans who voted for impeachment were: - Liz Cheney (who would later be removed from her leadership position due to her vote) - Adam Kinzinger - John Katko - Fred Upton (voting for impeachment for the second time) - Jaime Herrera Beutler - Carlos Curbelo (who had left the Republican Party and was now an independent) - Daniel Newhouse - David Valadao - Anthony Gonzalez - Peter Meijer
Again, the rest of the Republican House members voted against impeachment, with many arguing that the vote was rushed and that Trump's actions did not constitute an impeachable offense.
The Senate Votes
While the House votes were the first step in the impeachment process, they were not the final say. For a president to be removed from office, a two-thirds majority vote is required in the Senate. Here's a quick rundown of the Senate votes:
- First Impeachment (2020): Acquitted 52-48 on both articles. - Second Impeachment (2021): Acquitted 57-43.
In both cases, the votes fell short of the required two-thirds majority, and Trump remained in office (in the first case) and was not barred from running for office again (in the second case).
The Historical Context
The votes to impeach Trump were the fourth and fifth times in U.S. history that a president had faced such a vote. The only other president to be impeached was Bill Clinton in 1998, who was also acquitted by the Senate.
The votes to impeach Trump were also notable for their bipartisan nature. While the first vote was largely along party lines, the second vote saw a significant number of Republicans join Democrats in voting for impeachment.
Why Did Some Republicans Vote for Impeachment?
The decision to vote for impeachment was not an easy one for many Republicans. Those who did so often cited their oath to defend the Constitution and their belief that Trump's actions were egregious enough to warrant impeachment.
For instance, Liz Cheney, the third-ranking Republican in the House, said, "There has never been a greater betrayal by a President of the United States of his office and his oath to the Constitution." Similarly, Adam Kinzinger, another Republican who voted for impeachment, said, "To impeach is a privilege, not a weapon. I will vote in favor of impeachment."
Why Did Some Democrats Vote Against Impeachment?
While most Democrats voted for impeachment, a small number did not. Some of these Democrats represented districts that had voted for Trump in 2016 and were concerned about the political fallout of voting to impeach a president who was still popular with many of their constituents.
For example, Representative Conor Lamb of Pennsylvania, who represents a district that Trump won in 2016, voted present on the second impeachment vote, arguing that the vote was rushed and that the focus should be on investigating and punishing those responsible for the Capitol attack.
The Impact of the Impeachment Votes
The impeachment votes had several impacts, both immediate and long-term. In the short term, they contributed to a deepening of political polarization and a further erosion of trust in democratic institutions. In the long term, they may have implications for future impeachment efforts and for the norms and expectations surrounding presidential behavior.
Only time will tell what the full impact of these votes will be. But one thing is clear: the votes to impeach Trump will be remembered as a significant moment in U.S. history, a moment when a bipartisan group of lawmakers decided that the President's actions were so egregious that they warranted the unprecedented step of impeachment.
And that, folks, is a wrap on our dive into who voted for impeachment and why. Until next time, stay curious!