Following last week’s insurrection at the US Capitol, ten Republican House of Representatives members crossed the floor to vote in favour of impeaching Donald Trump for an unprecedented second time.
While 197 House Republicans did not vote in favour of impeachment, the fact that ten did contrasted with the unanimous support afforded to Mr Trump when he was impeached by Democrats in December 2019.
Mr Trump’s fate is now up to the Senate, which acquitted him last year without hearing witnesses in a trial.
These are the House Republicans who broke ranks and joined the 222 Democrats to make Mr Trump the only president in US history to be impeached twice.
Liz Cheney
The number three House Republican was the most senior member of her party to vote last week against efforts to challenge the Electoral College results confirming Mr Trump’s election loss.
She has been more critical of Mr Trump than other GOP leaders but her announcement before the impeachment vote nonetheless shook Congress.
“There has never been a greater betrayal by a president of the United States of his office and his oath to the Constitution,” the daughter of former Republican Vice President Dick Cheney said.
“This insurrection caused injury, death and destruction in the most sacred space in our republic.”
John Katko
The New York representative and former federal prosecutor was the first member of the House Republican caucus to say he would vote for impeachment.
“To allow the president of the United States to incite this attack without consequence is a direct threat to the future of our democracy,” he said in a statement.
“For that reason, I cannot sit by without taking action.”
Adam Kinzinger
The Illinois representative, who has been a vocal critic of Mr Trump’s, said the outgoing president broke his oath of office by inciting supporters to insurrection and used his position to attack the legislative branch of government.
“It was a sobering moment to vote in support of impeachment today; to walk over to the U.S. Capitol, our symbol of democracy, and recall the violent insurrection we witnessed here just one week ago,” he said on Twitter.
“This is not a vote I took lightly, but a vote I took confidently. I’m at peace.”
Adam Kinzinger during debate on objections to confirm Electoral College votes
House Television
Tom Rice
Mr Rice, who is from a South Carolina district where Mr Trump has enjoyed heavy support, was one of the most surprising Republicans to cross the aisle, especially given just last week he voted to object to the certification of Joe Biden’s election wins in Arizona and Pennsylvania.
“I have backed this President through thick and thin for four years. I campaigned for him and voted for him twice,” he wrote on Twitter.
“But, this utter failure is inexcusable.”
Tom Rice during debate on the first articles of impeachment against Donald Trump in December 2019.
House Television
Jaime Herrera Beutler
Ms Herrera Beutler, a sixth-term moderate from Washington, said in a statement: “The president’s offenses, in my reading of the Constitution, were impeachable based on the indisputable evidence we already have”.
“My own party will be best served when those among us choose truth,” she added.
She also denounced a social media post in which Mr Trump told the rioters to go home, but also called them “very special”, as “pathetic”.
Jaime Herrera Beutler speaks to the House during last week’s certification of Joe Biden’s election win
House Television
Dan Newhouse
Mr Newhouse, also from Washington, announced his intention to vote for impeachment on the House floor, drawing applause from Democrats.
“This is a sad day in our republic, but not as sad or disheartening as the violence we witnessed in the Capitol last Wednesday. We are all responsible,” he said.
“These articles of impeachment are flawed, but I will not use the process as an excuse. There’s no excuse for President Trump’s actions.”
David Valadao
The Californian, who regained his seat from the Democrats at the November election, said Mr Trump was “without question” a driving force in the Capitol riot.
“Based on the facts before me, I have to go with my gut and vote my conscience. I voted to impeach President Trump,” he said on Twitter.
“His inciting rhetoric was un-American, abhorrent, and absolutely an impeachable offense. It’s time to put country over politics.”
Peter Meijer
Just days after the Michigan representative was sworn into Congress following his election win in November, Mr Meijer found himself voting to impeach Mr Trump.
The 33-year-old freshman politician said his “heart broke” while watching what unfolded during the insurrection.
“I was in the House chamber when it was being attacked a week ago. That was a moment that called for leadership,” he told CNN.
“I was hoping to see the President rapidly try to de-escalate, try to denounce, try to stop the violence from occurring, and he abandoned his post.”
Peter Meijer during a group photo with new members of the House Republican conference on 4 January
Sipa USA Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call/Sipa U
Fred Upton
The 18th term Michigan representative said he would have preferred to see a formal censure rather than an impeachment, but it was “time to say: enough is enough’”.
“The Congress must hold President Trump to account and send a clear message that our country cannot and will not tolerate any effort by any President to impede the peaceful transfer of power from one President to the next,” he said.
Anthony Gonzalez
The Ohio representative said he had spent days “trying to make sense” of what happened at the Capitol, and like Mr Meijer, felt Mr Trump had “abandoned his post” while people asked for help.
“When I consider the full scope of events leading up to January 6th including the President’s lack of response as the United States Capitol was under attack, I am compelled to support impeachment,” he tweeted.
With Reuters.
