With heavily armed members of the National Guard inside and around Congress, 10 Republicans joined 219 Democrats in a 232-197 vote impeaching Donald Trump for the second time in his single term this afternoon, making him the only president in American history to be impeached twice. The charge this time: “Incitement of insurrection.”
The vote is the result of Trump inciting a mob attack on the Capitol last week that left five people dead and injured scores, including more than 50 law enforcement officers who were overpowered as throngs of Trump supporters attempted an insurrection to stop Congress from certifying the vote of electors.
Mitch McConnell, the Republican Senate leader, said he would not bring the Senate back early–before Jan. 19–for a trial, but left the door open for a trial and conviction in the early days of Biden’s administration, which begins on Jan. 20.
No Republicans had joined Democrats when Trump was first impeached in December 2019 on allegations that he invited foreign interference in the 2016 election. Three Democrats had voted against impeachment at the time. No Democrats voted against today.
U.S. Rep. Michael Waltz, the Republican representing Flagler County and surrounding areas, voted No. He had been among 125 Republican members of Congress and others beyond Congress baselessly calling the election of Joe Biden fraudulent. He had signed a letter supporting a lawsuit filed by Texas in December seeking to overturn the vote in Georgia, Wisconsin, Michigan and Pennsylvania, where Trump lost to Biden.
Former Gov. Jeb Bush, among other Republicans ridiculing the suit and its supporters, called it “crazy” and tweeting: “Why are smart people advancing this notion? Let it go. The election is over.” The Supreme Court rejected the suit, part of some 60 court rulings by close to 100 judges rejecting claims of fraud or widespread irregularities, at times with ridiculing language. None of Trump’s lawyers or proxies, including Waltz, have produced evidence that would substantiate claims of a fraudulent election. Trump’s own attorney general, Bill Barr (until Dec. 23), said the Department of Justice hadn’t uncovered such evidence that would materially affect the outcome of the election.
The movement Waltz supported and encouraged, however, culminated in last week’s “march” in Washington, organized for weeks before with clear intents to escalate into violence if necessary, as the FBI had become aware, and warned of.
“Impeachment,” Waltz tweeted, “would only pour fuel on the fire, further entrenching our nation’s divides,” though he left unspoken his role in aiding the movement that resulted in last week’s attacks and has left every state legislature on edge since, with warnings by the FBI that further violence may be ahead. /span>
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Kelley Jones says
Of course Waltz voted NO, he is AFRAID of Joe Mullins
Agkistrodon says
Waltz is former spec ops, I doubt he is afraid of very much. We face those fears in our training.
Pogo says
@waltz is afraid of all of his followers (he knows they’re nuts and gun nuts)
His campaigning for office, and his conduct in office, have been all of a kind: meetings, conferences, so-called public appearances at swank resorts. You read about it after he has climbed back on a private plane. waltz was a staff man for Dick Cheney. Cheney’s daughter is the real American hero. waltz is what everyone has seen and heard. Period.
Moreover, a goodly number of elected Republicans are scared shitless of their base exactly for the reason that they do know them. And now the kooks are literally electing themselves to office; Witness the freshmen wing-house-waitresses-with-a-Glock congress persons.
Thanks trump – you scared this country straight.
B says
You paint a vastly different picture of the man who rang our doorbell on a Sunday afternoon while campaigning. He noticed the front door was open, rang the bell and we had a nice chat. I believe he is a hard working man and I asked him to work hard since I haven’t seen ANY Congress people working much. He also talked with my boss while he was working in his garage with his son, just walked up from the street and started chatting with them. A
Man who has the guts to politic face to face like this gets my vote. He’s a patriot, veteran, small business owner, AMERICAN.
LA says
Why mention Waltz? He needs to be ignored too. He’s not his own man. He has nothing to offer constituents of any substance. Check out what he’s done for you this year. He’s trying to make a name for himself but on other’s coattails. Worst, he spreads lies and misinformation, signed a letter spreading spreading more lies in other States, and is now trying to backpedal. Either way, his decisions to spread lies or his inability to tell the difference is unacceptable. He’s weak and ineffective and don’t be surprised if he or his staff gave tours to the 170 from our area.
Enough says
Another worthless ignorant spineless Republican moron!! Must be the water supply in Flagler.
Susan Grine says
Hi ho hardly agree and the next steps for Trump should be he exits the same way he came in four years ago with nothing no secret service protection no perks for an exiting president nothing he should get nothing but handcuffs for the five people that got killed unnecessarily not only that the 357 people that died unnecessarily from covid that’s blood on his hands no one to dressing this but they need to along with crews and all the other Republicans that were at the rally last Wednesday they should be stepping down and resigning. if not that then they should be impeached from their position as well.these are criminals and bullies that are running our country but the Congress and the senators they need to go
Mike Cocchiola says
Well… Trump is #1 again. First president in our history to be impeached twice. Feels great. At first, I was leary, but I am now thoroughly enjoying the moment.
I wonder what the Trumplicans here in Flagler are thinking. You, know, Mullins, Sullivan, O’Brien, Danko, Barbosa, the Trump Club, Women for Trump, Fascists for Trump, Racists for Trump (made the last two up). You know, all of his acolytes and ass-kissers. Hope their MAGA hats and shirts taste good.
Tim Mcauliffe says
Representative Waltz : President Trump is identified as Unindicted Co conspirator #1 from the Stormy Daniels Campaign fraud case. Due to the OLC policy that a sitting president could not be indicted the case was sey aside. Next week he becomes former President Trump. Should this be pusued by the SDNY?
Been There says
Sycophants with sick ambition. Putting their egos in front of the Constitution, Democracy and Country. You say he’s #1 again. I say he’s always #2 and everyone around him smells of it.
David Schaefer says
Thank you . he will be flushed down the nearest sewer come Jan 20th……..
LinzChaffin says
I am waiting till you democrats start crying about biden and harris new taxes and freedom they take away
Rob says
What are you talking about? Try not to be so negative and hard core republican. Biden and Harris will attempt to do good for our citizens, our country, and the world instead of all the nonsense of the past four years of Trumpisms.
David Schaefer says
What a wimp………
James M. Mejuto says
Not only is this the time to rejoice at a second impeachment but it is a day of reckoning for a failed democrat party,
here in Florida.
This State can no longer tolerate the Waltz’s, Mullins and all the other garbage that has managed to float onto
our shores.
However, if we still continue to tolerate Wasserman Schultz and Donna Brazil and other wannabe ‘democrats’, then
we have learned nothing !
deb says
Smart to protect their re-election chances.
Been There says
“This is despicable,” Waltz said on “The Daily Briefing.” “This is not who we are as a country. We were debating this, through debate and discussion from our interpretations of the Constitution … There is no place for violence.” “We settle our political disputes through debate and the law, not violent chaos,” he said. “I’ve dedicated my life to serving our country in uniform. I’ve fought to help others achieve the much-desired peace and democracy we have long been accustomed to in America.
“The world is watching and we cannot allow our institutions to tear apart over procedural debates.”
I guess he doesn’t feel that all his anti-Chinese rhetoric and the actions of the lame duck or constituents incited any of this violence. If you feel so strongly about the violence on the Capitol; why’d you vote against impeachment?
Because his political ambition is more important than the safety of this country. Every Republican NOT standing up against the inciting of this insurrection is guilty of sedition. You know what boys have nothing to be proud of; you.
I’m still wondering why they all support Mullins and protect him. Maybe he was arranging Uber rides for everyone.
Holden Q Funninger says
Waltz = putz. And that was evident even before he signed on to Gohmert’s treasonous Texas lawsuit. He simply reinforced that fact when he voted no to impeaching the national embarrassment in the White House.
Pogo says
@Putzes deserve better than to be compared to elected Florida Republicans
https://www.google.com/search?client=d&q=waltz+invades+scif
waltz has been a dead-ender for pResident tRump everyday he’s been in office. He shamelessly participated in a mini version of 01/06/2021:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2019/10/23/impeachment-diary-republicans-fight-impeachment-with-extra-cheese/
This I regard as history’s highest function, to let no worthy action be uncommemorated, and to hold out the reprobation of posterity as a terror to evil words and deeds.
— Tacitus
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tacitus