The House voted Wednesday to swiftly impeach President Donald Trump for a second time, holding the president accountable for the mob violence at the Capitol that claimed five lives, including one of a Capitol police officer. The violent riot terrorized lawmakers, seeking to certify President-elect Joe Biden's victory.
The Democratic-controlled House passed the vote to impeach by 232-197, with ten Republicans voting against the president. This is the most bipartisan vote on a United States presidential impeachment in the country's history, considering it is double the five Democrats who voted to remove Bill Clinton from office back in 1998.
The House's No. 3 Republican, Liz Cheney of Wyoming, joined the other Republicans and Democrats to impeach Trump for "incitement of insurrection," according to the article of impeachment against the president. The House is slated to send the article of impeachment to the Senate immediately in a bid to start the process of holding a trial to decide whether or not to hold Trump responsible for the riot and bar him from running for any federal office again, as Vox pointed out in its Jan. 13 article.
It is worth noting, though, that impeachment will not lead to Trump's removal from office. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has already noted that the president will not be facing his trial before President-elect Joe Biden is sworn in on Jan. 20. The vote was an emotional response from lawmakers in both parties, angry with Trump after his supporters swarmed into the Capitol, overrunning Capitol Police and putting the lives of lawmakers and Vice President Mike Pence in danger.
Speaking on the House floor before the vote, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said it is no secret that Trump sparked the Capitol riots, which she described as an armed rebellion against the country. She went on to suggest that Trump must go because he is a clear and present danger to the United States.
Those supporting and criticizing the impeachment cited Cheney's statement, which was published by CNN. In her statement, she accused Trump of summoning and assembling the mob and triggering the attack. She described this as the greatest betrayal by a U.S. President of his oath to the Constitution and office.
House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy also blamed Trump for Wednesday's attack on Congress by his supporters. McCarthy urged the president to accept his share of responsibility and suppress the brewing disruption. McCarthy, on the other hand, suggested that the House should come up with a bipartisan commission rather than impeach Trump.