Versión Español
Spanish – The House of Representatives approved a new impeachment against Donald Trump. The result was 231 votes in favor and 197 against. It took 218 votes to move the proposal forward. The Democratic majority was supported by 10 Republican congressmen, and now the process will continue in the Senate.
But it’s not all hype for Trump’s opponents. There isn’t enough time to reach a verdict, according to the Republican majority leader of the US Senate, Mitch McConnell.
Donald Trump will indeed leave the presidency on January 20, so there are not enough days to get a “fair or serious trial.” McConnell urged the House of Representatives to focus on an “orderly transition of power,” reported EFE.
The senator recalled that in US history, there have been three presidential impeachment trials that “have lasted 83, 37, and 21 days, respectively.”
“Even if the Senate process were to begin this week and move promptly, no final verdict would be reached until after President Trump had left office,” McConnell said.
Of course, Nancy Pelosi, Speaker of the House, was the first to address the session this Wednesday. She again called Trump a “danger” and said he “must go.”
The congresswoman has taken the matter so personally that she wore the same clothing and necklace she did for the first impeachment vote against Trump in December 2019.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi: "We know that we faced enemies of the Constitution… and we know that the president of the United States incited this insurrection, this armed rebellion against our common country." https://t.co/vdtbbFfqdP pic.twitter.com/1RQTMcrzAe
— ABC News (@ABC) January 13, 2021
The Republican congressional vote
There were two hours of speeches by the congressmen, most of them on both benches defended the same arguments as a week ago. The Democrats insisted on blaming Trump, the Republicans saw it as the wrong process.
At the time of the vote, 10 Republican officials spoke in favor of initiating the trial. Before the session, five Republican congressmen were expected to vote in favor: Liz Cheney, Adam Kinzinger, John Katko, Fred Upton, and Jaime Herrera Beutler, informed Washington Post reporter Dori Toribio.
La Cámara de Representantes aprueba los cargos y acusa formalmente a Donald Trump de incitar a la insurrección. Votos: 232-197. En total 10 republicanos han votado a favor del impeachment. Esta es una acusación bipartidista. pic.twitter.com/hrbjOTY3yb
— Dori Toribio (@DoriToribio) January 13, 2021
The initiative for a trial follows Miki Pence’s rejection of Nancy Pelosi’s call for invoking the 25th Amendment to remove Trump more directly from office.
It’s the Senate’s turn
The Senate could begin the impeachment already approved by the House, but it is clear that the times are not in the Democratic Party’s interest.
The Upper House is in recess until January 19, the day before Biden takes office, so Trump’s removal from office is out of the question.
The date for the resumption of activities was confirmed by Mitch McConnell in his statements after the vote.
“In light of this reality, I believe it will best serve our nation if Congress and the executive branch spend the next seven days completely focused on facilitating a safe inauguration and an orderly transfer of power to the incoming Biden Administration,” he insisted.
It transpired that the Republican majority leader in the Senate would be in favor of prosecuting Trump. A New York Times says that McConnell is “pleased” that the Democrats initiated the process, believing it will make “the purging of the party” easier.
But beyond his inclination, he publicly claims that the times are not right. There will be no impeachment.
Trump’s call for nonviolence
While the session was going on, the president of the United States called for calm. In a statement, he urged Americans not to break laws or resort to vandalism.
Since he was banned from social networks, the US president sent his message through a statement issued on Twitter by Kayleigh McEnany, White House press secretary.
“That’s not what I stand for, and it’s not what America stands for. I am asking ALL Americans to help ease tensions and calm the mood,” reads part of the text.
.@POTUS: In light of reports of more demonstrations, I urge that there must be NO violence, NO lawbreaking and NO vandalism of any kind. That is not what I stand for, and it is not what America stands for. I call on ALL Americans to help ease tensions and calm tempers. Thank You. pic.twitter.com/mOOGZjqTLW
— Kayleigh McEnany (@PressSec) January 13, 2021
Now the US military is guarding the Capitol over this vote and Biden’s upcoming swearing-in. The photos show soldiers sleeping all over the building.
In his first public appearance since the event, Trump argued that the trial is a “witch-hunt” that is generating great anger in the country.
La congresista dice que Trump convocó a la turba e incendió la lecha. Esta declaración supuso ayer un terremoto. Tanto que hoy los demócratas citan en el pleno las palabras de la hija del exvicepresidente Cheney. “Sabe de lo que habla”, dice el líder de la mayoría Steny Hoyer. pic.twitter.com/hZynayTPoo
— Dori Toribio (@DoriToribio) January 13, 2021
Discussion about this post