What Is the Public Reaction to Impeach the President

Trump Impeached for Abuse of Power and Obstruction of Congress

Voting most along political party lines, the House approved two articles of impeachment against President Trump, making him the 3rd president in history to face removal by the Senate.

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transcript

transcript

House Votes to Impeach Trump

The Democratic-led Business firm of Representatives charged President Trump with abuse of power and obstruction of Congress.

"The yeas are 230, the nays are 197, present is ane — Article one is adopted. The question is on adoption of Article 2. On this vote, the yeas are 229, the nays are 198, present is 1 — Article 2 is adopted." "I don't know about you, just I'm having a good time, it's crazy. Oh, I call up we have a vote coming in. And so we got every single Republican voted for u.s.a.. Whoa, whoa, wow — wow, almost 200. This is the first impeachment where at that place's no crime. I say, tell me what I did please. Well, we don't know — you violated the Constitution. I'm the first person that ever get impeached and there'south no law-breaking. Like, I feel guilty. You lot know they call it: impeachment lite. It'due south impeachment lite." "And what is the defense from my colleagues? When you cut through information technology all, when you cut through all the sound and the fury, signifying nothing, what it really amounts to is this: Why should nosotros care? We used to care about republic. We used to care well-nigh our allies. We used to stand upward to Putin and Russia. We used to." "I'll tell you what, Madam Speaker, let me have just a few minutes, cease the clock, and let me become around to the press corps and everybody here and I'm going to charge you of something. You did it. You did information technology. You did it. You did it. Now evidence it's incorrect. You did information technology. Guess what: You don't want to, considering deep down yous know that that's turning the entire jurisprudence of this state upside down. Y'all're non guilty until you prove it — yous're innocent. And today from this floor, we have heard the bulk leader say this president is guilty and not the other way effectually." "This impeachment is permanent. It will follow him around for the rest of his life and history books will tape it. And the people know why we impeached. Information technology's all very unproblematic. No one is to a higher place the law." "Unfortunately, many of my colleagues have diminished what should exist a solemn and grave proceeding into an accented political circus." "If you lot recollect I exaggerate in alert that our elections can exist undermined, I'd urge yous to come up downwards to Georgia, find a black man or woman of a certain age, and they'll tell y'all: The danger is real." "And so this vote, this solar day, is virtually one thing and 1 thing only: They hate this president."

The Democratic-led House of Representatives charged President Trump with corruption of power and obstruction of Congress. Credit Credit... Erin Schaff/The New York Times

Published Dec. xviii, 2019 Updated Feb. 10, 2021

WASHINGTON — The House of Representatives on Wednesday impeached President Trump for corruption of power and obstacle of Congress, making him the third president in history to exist charged with committing high crimes and misdemeanors and confront removal by the Senate.

On a day of ramble effect and raging partisan tension, the votes on the two articles of impeachment cruel largely along party lines, later a bitter debate that stretched into the evening and reflected the deep polarization gripping American politics in the Trump era.

Only two Democrats opposed the commodity on abuse of power, which defendant Mr. Trump of corruptly using the levers of government to solicit election help from Ukraine in the form of investigations to discredit his Democratic political rivals. Republicans were united in opposition. Information technology passed 230 to 197, with Speaker Nancy Pelosi gaveling the vote to a close from the House rostrum.

On the second charge, obstruction of Congress, a third Democrat joined Republicans in opposition. The vote was 229 to 198.

The impeachment votes gear up the phase for a historic trial beginning early next year in the Senate, which volition have final say — 10 months before Mr. Trump faces re-election — on whether to acquit the 45th president or captive and remove him from office. The timing was uncertain, after Ms. Pelosi suggested late Wednesday that she might expect to ship the manufactures to the Senate, holding them out equally leverage in a negotiation on the terms of a trial.

Amortization in the Republican-controlled sleeping room may be probable, but the proceeding is sure to further beal the political and cultural fault lines in the land that Mr. Trump'south presidency has brought into dramatic relief. Regardless of the outcome, the impeachment votes in the Firm put an enduring stain on Mr. Trump's presidency that cannot exist wiped from the public consciousness with a barrage of tweets or an angry tirade in front of thousands of his auspicious supporters at a campaign rally.

On Wednesday, Democrats characterized his impeachment as an urgent action to stop a corrupt president whose misdeeds had unfolded in obviously view from dissentious the United States any further.

"Over the course of the final three months, nosotros accept found incontrovertible prove that President Trump abused his power by pressuring the newly elected president of Ukraine to announce an investigation into President Trump's political rival," said Representative Adam B. Schiff, Democrat of California and the Intelligence Committee chairman, who led the impeachment inquiry.

"The president and his men plot on," Mr. Schiff said. "The danger persists. The risk is real. Our democracy is at peril."

Far from showing contrition or contemplating resignation, as his predecessors have done in the confront of impeachment, Mr. Trump instead offered an indignant defense equally the House weighed his fate, raging on Twitter from the White House.

Prototype

Credit... Doug Mills/The New York Times

"SUCH Atrocious LIES By THE RADICAL LEFT, Practice NOTHING DEMOCRATS," the president wrote as the debate took place on the other stop of Pennsylvania Artery. "THIS IS AN Assail ON AMERICA, AND AN ASSAULT ON THE REPUBLICAN PARTY!!!!"

Later on, as members bandage their votes to impeach him in Washington, Mr. Trump took the stage to roars of adulation from his supporters at an arena-way entrada rally in Boxing Creek, Mich. He brushed aside the constitutional confrontation equally a "hoax" based on unfounded charges, even as he conceded that information technology would be a permanent blot on his presidency.

"I'm not worried," Mr. Trump said. "You don't practise anything wrong and you go impeached. That may be a record that will final forever."

"But you know what they have done?" he said of Democrats. "They take cheapened the impeachment procedure."

Senators, he added, "are going to practice the right thing."

Listen to 'The Daily': The Impeachment of President Donald J. Trump

In a divided House, moderate Democrats are bearing the burden of answering for the impeachment vote.

transcript

transcript

Listen to 'The Daily': The Impeachment of President Donald J. Trump

Hosted by Michael Barbaro; produced by Lisa Chow, Austin Mitchell, Adizah Eghan, Annie Brownish and Theo Balcomb, with help from Alexandra Leigh Immature; and edited by Lisa Tobin and G.J. Davis Lin

In a divided House, moderate Democrats are bearing the burden of answering for the impeachment vote.

michael barbaro

From The New York Times, I'grand Michael Barbaro. This is "The Daily."

Today: The United states Firm of Representatives has impeached President Trump for abuse of ability and obstruction of Congress. My colleague Lisa Chow and I on the story of how a fractious Democratic Party, which started the twelvemonth divided on impeachment, ultimately united effectually information technology.

It's Th, Dec 19.

lisa chow

And how far away from Holly?

speaker

35 miles from the home.

lisa chow

O.M. So aye, we volition get in that location in time. Y'all want to describe what you're seeing outside the window?

michael barbaro

Then we're driving by a strip mall about 45 minutes outside Detroit. There's a Best Purchase, a Michaels, a PetSmart, a Lowes, Chipotle and a DSW. This is a solid, solid, solid strip mall.

lisa chow

So Michael, why are nosotros driving through the strip malls of Detroit?

michael barbaro

So nosotros are headed to the home of Congresswoman Elissa Slotkin.

archived recording

Elissa Slotkin has a lead of more than two,000 votes confronting Republican incumbent Mike Bishop.

michael barbaro

She is a moderate Democrat who won her seat —

archived recording (elissa slotkin)

I won in a district that was a Republican district. And so the only way —

michael barbaro

She flipped a red district and turned information technology blue in 2018. And in doing so, she helped the Democrats win back the House.

archived recording

The blue moving ridge. The blue wave that swept Democrats into power in the Firm.

michael barbaro

But the moment she gets into office —

archived recording (rashida tlaib)

Because we're going to go in in that location, nosotros're going to impeach the motherfucker. [CHEERS]

michael barbaro

— people similar Rashida Tlaib, the congresswoman who represents a district just to the due south here that we simply collection through, they're saying that the findings of the Russia inquiry merit impeachment. And Slotkin is not having whatsoever of it.

archived recording

Of import quote. This is from Congresswoman Slotkin of Michigan. Impeachment is not what people are coming up to me in the grocery store and talking to me about. They want to know —

michael barbaro

She is skeptical of that, she'southward opposed to it. It's not office of her political brand to want to impeach the president. And and so all of a sudden, the whistle-blower study comes out, and she reads information technology, and she's very troubled. And she and a handful of her moderate swing-district Autonomous House colleagues write an op-ed in The Washington Postal service calling for an impeachment inquiry.

archived recording

They write, we have devoted our lives to the service and security of our land. At present nosotros join as a unified group to uphold —

michael barbaro

And their voice carries a tremendous corporeality of weight, considering they are moderates, considering they helped win back the House for Democrats. And shortly afterwards, Business firm Speaker Nancy Pelosi opens an impeachment research.

archived recording (nancy pelosi)

I'chiliad announcing the House of Representatives is moving forward with an official impeachment inquiry. The president must be held accountable. No i is higher up the law.

michael barbaro

And right away, information technology's clear that there are political consequences for Slotkin.

elissa slotkin

I am going to look for the facts. I'm going to look at them judiciously. I'm going to do what I was trained to do, which is to look at the —

michael barbaro

We went to three town halls in her commune and just listened equally constituents pelted her with questions almost why she was doing this.

crowd

[JEERING]

michael barbaro

Ii months go by. The impeachment enquiry unfolds. Hearings happen, a report is filed. And now she has to make a conclusion — is she going to vote to impeach the president, or is she going to vote not to the impeach the president?

lisa chow

Whoa, we're going into her driveway.

michael barbaro

We're doing it. I recall it'south O.K. I hateful, we're a little early. What're you gonna do? Nosotros are arriving at Slotkin'southward house in the heart of these final hours of deliberation for her on impeachment. She has told her constituents that she's going to announce her decision on Monday morning. We are talking to her on Sun night.

lisa chow

How practise you experience?

michael barbaro

I experience skilful. I hateful, I feel dehydrated. Did you actually eat your granola bar?

lisa chow

I did not swallow my granola bar. Hard to eat and hold a microphone.

michael barbaro

You're going to regret it when y'all're in the eye of this interview and you lot're starving.

elissa slotkin

Hi, guys. Come on in.

michael barbaro

Hello.

elissa slotkin

I'one thousand Elissa.

michael barbaro

Congresswoman, and so nice to see you.

elissa slotkin

And then nice to meet you. How-do-you-do.

michael barbaro

Give thanks you for letting the states — Lisa.

elissa slotkin

Come on in, come up on in.

michael barbaro

This is a truly a farmhouse.

elissa slotkin

Oh yes, I'm deplorable, I'm deplorable. I think of you guys as sound, and then I'thousand not doing a very squeamish job, but this is 1895 farmhouse. My family bought it in the '50s. We held off lighting a fire considering we didn't know if the racket would be annoying, but we can definitely light a fire.

And this — I should simply say, this desk-bound, for whatever it's worth, is sort of ane of the big heirlooms in my family. This was my great-grandfather'south desk-bound. And if y'all see on the plate here —

michael barbaro

It is kind of a resolute desk-bound.

elissa slotkin

Yes. So information technology was used by Lindley Garrison, secretary of war, 1913 to 1916.

michael barbaro

During the presidency of Woodrow Wilson.

elissa slotkin

Yeah.

michael barbaro

Geez.

elissa slotkin

So that was a gift to my peachy-grandfather, Sam Slotkin. And it's been passed down.

michael barbaro

Is this where you go to brand big decisions?

elissa slotkin

This is where I brand my big decisions.

michael barbaro

Is this that — this three-ring binder looks like it'southward the House Intelligence study?

elissa slotkin

Yes. This is — well, it's a lot, I judge, more than than it. It is — let's meet. My team has diligently tabbed it out for me. And so this is the impeachment documents that came downward, I guess, what now, three weeks ago —

michael barbaro

From the Judiciary Committee.

elissa slotkin

Aye, from the Judiciary Committee. This is the HPSCI report, the Business firm Intelligence report.

michael barbaro

May I see this?

elissa slotkin

Yous're welcome to.

michael barbaro

Clinton articles of impeachment. Nixon manufactures of impeachment. And I see you've done a agglomeration of underlining.

elissa slotkin

Yeah. For me, this is, frankly, a very standard way that I look at things, which merely comes from my training as a C.I.A. officer, which is sequester yourself away, get all the original base documents. And so you exercise some historical research and then make an objective conclusion not based on what you come across in the news or what someone'south telling y'all.

michael barbaro

Thank you for letting the states interrupt it.

elissa slotkin

Where would you guys like to fix up? Would you like to be —

michael barbaro

Where would you lot similar the states to set up upwardly?

elissa slotkin

Accept the dining room.

michael barbaro

All right, nosotros'll go prepare ourselves up.

elissa slotkin

Sure.

lisa grub

O.Grand., bank check, check, bank check, check.

michael barbaro

How am I sounding? O.K. So, Congresswoman, cheers for letting us into your home —

elissa slotkin

Of course.

michael barbaro

— during a actually important moment for you.

elissa slotkin

Yeah.

michael barbaro

The final time we talked to you, you had simply made a decision to support an impeachment inquiry, which ended up being a very consequential decision.

elissa slotkin

Yeah.

michael barbaro

Tell me what the last couple of months take been like for y'all equally that inquiry has unfolded. What's that experience been like?

elissa slotkin

Well, I would say it'due south probably been some of the most intense months I've had every bit a working professional, that's for sure. The master reason why I decided to come up out dorsum in September in support of an inquiry, after many, many months of not supporting impeachment or an research, was this very bones idea that the president of the United States reached out to a foreign party and solicited help in influencing an American election. And confirming or denying that very basic idea was pretty important to me in this process.

michael barbaro

That fact pattern.

elissa slotkin

That fact pattern. And you know, I was in national security for a long time. We are in the business of pressuring governments to do things that we desire, correct? That happens all the time. And anyone who gets to a senior-plenty level has been in that position. The deviation hither was that the president was doing it for his own personal political gain, not for the national security interests of the United States. So for me, the central idea was whether the president asked for foreigners to become involved in the American political process.

michael barbaro

So did the inquiry and did the hearings found that?

elissa slotkin

Well, that's what I've been trying to parse through. What became clearer and clearer through what I read and what the reporting produced was that you have a lot of people who were enlightened that, for instance, security assistance was held up in exchange for something. And nosotros have Administrator Sondland proverb very directly that it was held up because they were waiting for the Ukrainians to live up to their finish of the bargain.

michael barbaro

To bear these investigations on —

elissa slotkin

Yeah, to announce investigations. That's the hardest matter for me about my peers who may decide not to vote on these articles, is that practise they have that information technology'due south O.K. to invite foreign aid into the American political process?

michael barbaro

I think I just watched Lindsey Graham say that he's O.K. with it in an interview.

elissa slotkin

Well, I'k sad, and I think that history will testify them to be misguided. And maybe information technology'southward because I was a C.I.A. officer, but I am comfortable making hard decisions that aren't popular, because I know that they're the right thing for the security of the country. I was asked to practice that over and over and over over again in my prior life. And that'due south the same approach I accept to these decisions.

michael barbaro

I hear you lot hinting that a hard decision that you're capable of making may exist heading in ane direction.

elissa slotkin

Well, listen, I mean, no offense, just I'thou not going to tell The New York Times before I tell my ain constituents. It's why we're having a big town hall tomorrow. My hope and my responsibility is to be transparent with the constituents of the Eighth District, to be available to listen to their current concerns and answer them, and to be honest with them.

michael barbaro

And so understanding that yous're not going to be disclosing your intentions just now at this table in your house, I want to talk about your constituents for simply a moment.

elissa slotkin

Sure.

michael barbaro

Based on my understanding of your district, which voted for Trump by a healthy margin, and according to yous, does not seem to support impeachment as a whole, you could find yourself very much at odds with your own constituents.

elissa slotkin

I mean —

michael barbaro

Are y'all comfy with that?

elissa slotkin

This is what it means to be an elected leader. You have to make tough calls. And in a district similar this, I'm never going to make anybody happy. If I lose my seat because I stood up for my principles, that'due south O.K. I, of class, want to be re-elected, and I want to maintain the House majority. I retrieve it'due south an important cheque and balance. Simply I'k not going to compromise my principles just to keep that job. I'm only not. And I hope that people desire that kind of an elected representative.

michael barbaro

I do have to ask you the kind of political version of this question, which is mathematically, your vote isn't required to impeach the president. And and then there're kind of two ways to look at this. On the ane hand, if you lot vote yes, that would be very politically risky. The other style to await at this is that if you vote no, that's its ain set of risks, because equally a moderate, you would be sending a message that the people in the middle who started all this, who said at that place should be an inquiry, don't think there'due south enough in that location to actually impeach. And that would be a very complicated bulletin to send in 2020 when the president's running for re-election. It'south essentially that impeachment was a project of the far left. And so there's basically a ton of risk no matter what you practise, and I wonder how you lot weigh those risks.

elissa slotkin

Well, I hateful, mind, voting on manufactures of impeachment is right upwards at that place with Congress's role in declaring war. I mean, it's got to be one of the top 2 things that a member of Congress will ever vote on in their career — about important things. Then when yous have a vote like that, information technology's beyond that political calculus. I remember it should be. Information technology certainly is for me. And I've certainly had people advise to me, you know, just vote no, save your seat.

michael barbaro

Your vote isn't needed, anyway.

elissa slotkin

I've had people say that to me.

michael barbaro

And what do you say?

elissa slotkin

I accept to look at myself in the mirror. Similar, I have to come up away from this experience with a sense that I haven't done what so many people hither in Michigan retrieve of elected officials. I cannot but get that cynical political person who just orients their major decisions around what would relieve their seat. I just —

michael barbaro

Or even their political party.

elissa slotkin

You know, we have the president albeit that he reached out to a foreigner to ask for aid in an American political ballot. If you think about that outside the normal insanity that we have right now on TV and all the events that are happening, if you think about that, which I've been trying to practice today here quietly at my farm, that is — that is incorrect. And I remember that sending a betoken in the nearly clear terms we can is important plenty even to risk the majority.

michael barbaro

So it's vii:30 on Sunday dark and you're planning to make an declaration tomorrow morning time in forepart of your constituents. How are you doing inside? How are you feeling?

elissa slotkin

I actually feel pretty clear. I've washed the work. I've kept an open listen, and I've sat with the documents, I've sat with the transcripts, and I've fabricated my all-time assessment. And then I'yard going to endeavor and exist as nowadays and available every bit I can. I trust my voters, I practise. And I recall —

michael barbaro

Trust them to do what?

elissa slotkin

I trust them as Michiganders to give me a chance to explain. And for them to give me the benefit of the doubt.

[music]

michael barbaro

I wish y'all the best of luck tomorrow.

elissa slotkin

Thank you. Thanks very much.

michael barbaro

Thanks.

michael barbaro

We'll be right back

crowd

Hey, hey, ho, ho, Elissa Slotkin has got to go! Hey hey, ho ho — got to go! Hey hey, ho ho.

michael barbaro

So Lisa, I headed back to New York to host the show. You lot stayed in Michigan. So what happens the next day, afterwards we had talked to Elissa Slotkin?

lisa chow

And then the adjacent day, I make it very early, and already at that place are people there.

crowd

Ho ho, Elissa Slotkin has got to become!

lisa chow

And they're upset, they're pissed. And that's considering Slotkin had already announced her decision in the local paper that morning.

michael barbaro

Of course, we had both understood from the interview where this was going.

lisa chow

Yes, but she hadn't however told her constituents. And so in this op-ed, she says very clearly that she is voting yeah on both articles of impeachment.

speaker 1

She must become now!

speaker 2

State over party! Impeach and remove Trump!

lisa chow

So people are lining upward to get inside the auditorium where the town hall meeting volition be held. And outside, there was a bunch of protesters with big signs proverb, "Impeach Slotkin, keep Trump," in bright scarlet letters. And some of them are conveying much smaller signs that say, "We take your back."

michael barbaro

Which is a bulletin to Slotkin.

lisa chow

Exactly.

speaker one

Do you lot understand that?

speaker 2

Yous're yelling.

speaker 1

Do y'all similar Russians?

lisa chow

I mean, very quickly, people outset yelling at each other.

speaker i

Because I have to hash out your people. Do you lot like Russia? Do you lot like Russian federation? Considering I'm a veteran, and I practise not support Russia!

speaker ii

Have a discussion.

speaker 1

The fact is you walked upwards to me and you asked me about Ukraine, which is a Russian —

lisa grub

The one exchange that I found particularly memorable was this veteran —

speaker 1

Yous're standing here as an American, as an American, talking —

lisa chow

The pro-Slotkin person who got very emotional. And she basically said, you're spouting Russian talking points to me, to say that Ukraine interfered in our election.

speaker 1

Our flag is blood-red, white and bluish, non red and bluish. Information technology is carmine, white, and blueish. Put your country first for once, O.K.?

speaker 2

I am. Would you lot like to hash out? See?

lisa chow

And so people are really challenging each other's patriotism.

speaker one

What, what? Ukraine did what? What did Ukraine do? Tell me what Ukraine did.

speaker 2

Are you gonna mind? Biden bragged about — about bribing Ukraine with a billion dollars. Exercise you desire to hear information technology?

lisa chow

They're but looking at the facts in a totally different way.

speaker two

What criminal offense? Name one. Name one crime. You jumped in, I'm listening. Name 1 crime.

speaker 3

Abuse of power.

speaker ii

That'southward not — O.Yard., that — proper name what exactly did he exercise to abuse — to abuse power?

Say one.

speaker 4

Having a foreign country meddle in the election. That'due south one.

speaker 2

He didn't! The Democrats did!

speaker 4

Y'all really are insane, aren't you? Open your eyes.

lisa chow

O.One thousand. So.

lisa chow

Finally, we head into the auditorium, and it'due south a large room.

lisa chow

People are registering, and and then walking into the auditorium.

lisa chow

The room is packed.

lisa grub

How many chairs are here?

speaker

418. So nosotros set up for most 400 people.

lisa chow

O.Thousand. It'due south filling upwardly.

lisa chow

There are tons of media, national and local press covering this upshot.

lisa chow

Can you tell me where you're from?

speaker 1

The Flint Journal and mlive.com.

speaker 2

MIRS news.

speaker three

I'm here for NPR today.

speaker 4

Simone from Roll Call.

speaker v

The Detroit Free Printing.

speaker vi

The Oakland Press.

speaker 7

Detroit News.

speaker 8

The New York Times.

speaker nine

Huffington Post.

speaker 10

Washington Mail.

speaker 11

Associated Printing.

speaker 12

The Michigan Advance.

speaker thirteen

CNN.

lisa chow

And it'southward clear that this is the story, which is moderate Democrats and their vulnerability in this vote that they're taking.

speaker

Let's please welcome to the stage Congresswoman Slotkin.

michael barbaro

Then what happens next?

lisa chow

She'due south introduced by ane of her staffers, and she takes the stage.

crowd

[Auspicious AND JEERING]

lisa grub

Immediately, the crowd erupts in both cheers and boos.

elissa slotkin

O.Yard., guys. O.K.

speaker

All correct, everybody. Thank y'all.

elissa slotkin

O.K., well, I'chiliad thrilled to see such a peachy turnout today.

speaker

Permit's delight — please let her speak.

oversupply

[YELLING]

lisa grub

And she basically can't get a word in.

speaker

Let's please respect the people around y'all who are here to listen.

lisa chow

In that location is a very loud group in the corner of the room that is making information technology almost impossible for her to exist heard past the remainder of the room.

elissa slotkin

So in an attempt to be transparent, I'm going to walk you lot through my logic. And I know it'southward articulate that we don't all agree. I thought nosotros needed to let the election of 2020 make up one's mind what was going to happen in our country. But those inverse — that changed for me on the very basic facts that the president of the United States came out — and his lawyer came out and said, very specifically —

lisa grub

And they're screaming all sorts of things, like —

speaker

Liar! Liar!

lisa chow

Liar, shame on y'all.

elissa slotkin

And that is very unlike than how presidents typically build their power, right? To exist honest with you, I worked at the National Security Council nether George Bush. I worked under the National Security Council under Barack Obama. And presidents regularly wield their power.

michael barbaro

So the Michiganders don't quite requite her the chance to explicate herself that she told u.s.a. she'd been hoping for.

lisa chow

Not really.

elissa slotkin

They regularly leverage their position to influence other countries. That's a normal part of what a president does. Only what was fundamentally different for me is that the president —

lisa grub

And there'southward 1 guy in item in the back —

speaker

The Democrats are run by "the squad"!

lisa chow

— who screams —

speaker

The Democrats are run by the squad!

lisa chow

— y'all're role of the squad.

speaker

Democrats are the political party of the squad!

lisa chow

The squad runs the Democrats.

michael barbaro

Right, the four best-known House freshmen liberals.

lisa grub

Exactly. And at one point, he even gets up and yells —

speaker

You belong to Rashida!

lisa chow

You lot vest to Rashida. And what's so fascinating about this moment is that when we started reporting at the outset of this year on the freshman class of Democrats, it was exactly that conflation that people like Elissa Slotkin were trying to avoid.

michael barbaro

Right.

lisa chow

Because they knew the Republicans would try to lump all the Democrats together every bit Trump-hating left-wing progressives.

michael barbaro

Right. They would effort to make a Slotkin and a Tlaib duplicate, even though they're very unlike.

[music]

lisa chow

Exactly. And Slotkin has been so cautious in this process. She's been thorough. She has had careful reasoning. But none of that matters in this moment. She is Rashida Tlaib, according to those protesters.

speaker 1

Do you correspond your party or do you stand for your Constitution?

speaker 2

Allow her say that. Let her say that. That she is non a office of the squad!

speaker 1

She did!

speaker 2

No, she should did not! She has to say! Let her say that! Let her say that!

lisa chow

I think that's exactly what gets under Slotkin's skin — this feeling of not existence understood in the way that she understands herself. That no affair what she says, no thing what she believes, a pregnant number of her constituents are merely going to see her as this kind of caricature of a Democrat. And they're never going to agree with her, and she'southward not going to be able to become through to them. You could tell from her voice that maybe, you lot know, she expected this. Maybe this scene didn't surprise her. But information technology'southward all the same hard.

speaker

All right, everyone. Thank you lot very much for coming out today. Please go out safely.

elissa slotkin

Cheers. Thanks for listening. Appreciate information technology. Thank you for being good citizens.

lisa grub

Then the auditorium is cleared out. Now that's over. And I estimate next, nosotros're headed to Washington to comprehend the actual vote.

michael barbaro

We'll be right dorsum.

michael barbaro

Did you bring water? Or did I simply, like — idiotically, I left my water on the other side of the Capitol. Information technology's O.One thousand. Information technology'southward OK. It's OK.

lisa chow

O.K. And then Michael, where are we correct at present?

michael barbaro

So we're in the U.S. Capitol, standing merely outside the Firm sleeping accommodation. Y'all can kind of see it through these double doors. And inside that chamber —

archived recording

House will exist in guild.

michael barbaro

In that location'due south near six more hours of debate happening. A lot of it very predictable. Democrats are saying —

archived recording

No i is above the constabulary.

michael barbaro

That after great care and lots of prayer —

archived recording

Today, sadly, nosotros are voting to impeach President Donald John Trump.

michael barbaro

They're taking a principled vote to impeach the president. Republicans are saying —

archived recording

They hate this president.

michael barbaro

— Democrats have made something out of absolutely aught, and that this is a sham.

archived recording

They recall Hillary Clinton should be president, and they want to fix that.

michael barbaro

And I'grand kind of imagining Elissa Slotkin in there preparing for a monumental vote that a lot of people in her district have just said they don't want her to take. But there's actually somebody else and I have been thinking virtually.

michael barbaro

Congresswoman.

rashida tlaib

Hi, Michael. How'due south it going?

michael barbaro

And that'due south Rashida Tlaib. Because she has been talking virtually impeachment from the beginning.

rashida tlaib

Howdy.

michael barbaro

Hullo.

rashida tlaib

How are y'all?

michael barbaro

I'm skilful.

rashida tlaib

Expert.

michael barbaro

You look well.

rashida tlaib

Yes. Today is something that I've been talking to my 14-year-old almost, Adam. He's and then funny. Before he went to school, I had a conversation with him.

michael barbaro

What did you say?

rashida tlaib

Oh, just, you know, told you mommy is going to follow through on making sure the peachy is not going to remain using the well-nigh powerful position in the earth to his personal gain and personal profit. I want him to however believe that people have the power, and that the truth always prevails. And so I experience like this gets us closer to that.

michael barbaro

So a lot of the focus in this impeachment vote has been on the moderates who are putting themselves at political risk in taking this vote. I'm mindful that it was in January of this year that you came into role and pretty much immediately generated a little flake of news by calling for the impeachment of the president, long before Speaker Pelosi and many of the moderate Democrats were ready to accept that action. I think I was actually here with y'all in the Capitol when that happened. And we had talked at that point nigh the fearfulness that you and other progressive freshmen in the House might push the party to left in a manner that could jeopardize those moderate colleagues. And now here we are, right? So I wonder what you make of that journeying of the whole House Democratic delegation?

rashida tlaib

Y'all know, I don't like information technology when people say nosotros're moving folks to the left or moving folks to the right. We're moving folks towards the truth. To me, that's nonpartisan. The fact of the matter is something was wrong here. Children were beingness caged at the border. He was profiting off of being a sitting C.E.O. in the White House. At that place was a number of impeachable offenses before I even got here, and these are things that I was hearing from my residents all the time.

michael barbaro

Only that's not what today is nigh.

rashida tlaib

Oh, of course not. You know, ane of the things I said after this happened, after, you know, the Ukraine call happened, is that that's what got u.s.a. to 218. I mean, look, I am non a person that pushed this opinion of what was happening from the White House onto my colleagues. That was non my intention. My intention was to serve the residents of the Thirteenth District. They elected me out of a number of candidates, saying that this is too about electing the jury that volition hold this president answerable. And that's exactly what I did from day 1. For many of my colleagues, they didn't run on this issue, correct? But, I mean, the time has plant us, as Speaker Pelosi kept saying. And it's very true, I think many were very hesitant, merely the Ukraine telephone call took them over the edge, for many of these folks.

michael barbaro

Well, permit me talk about one of these districts, because before this calendar week, Lisa and I went to Michigan, your state. We drove through your district on the way to the district of one of your colleagues, Elissa Slotkin, who flipped her seat from Republican to Democrat. And the threat to her seat and the acrimony of constituents who now know she's going to be voting for impeachment, it was really apparent right abroad. There was a lot of fury directed at her.

rashida tlaib

Yeah, I mean, I retrieve, Michael, it'south really of import for folks to know Congresswoman Elissa Slotkin'due south district is so unlike from mine.

michael barbaro

Correct.

rashida tlaib

And she has to represent her district. I call back for my residents and I, there's a sense of liberation. They've been calling with excitement of finally some sense of accountability. I think when nosotros see injustices, we see things that just don't make any sense, we experience like it's hurting the country, hurting people, that people are really in true, real emotional pain from things around the racist abuse of power to even threats to our national security. It creates so much anxiety around the country. And for folks, they just want to feel like somebody is fighting for them. That somebody here has their dorsum.

michael barbaro

This feels like a moment of that for them?

rashida tlaib

Yep. I think they want people to speak up. It's similar, why aren't they saying anything? Why aren't people doing anything about it? Isn't that illegal? Shouldn't those folks be in jail? Yous know, these are the kinds of things I hear from my residents all the fourth dimension. Then for today, it is very much an incredible moment that they finally feel a sense that they are believed. And and then yes, that's the one matter. I respect that she has a different commune than mine. I don't impose my opinion onto her district, and I think she doesn't do the same to mine.

michael barbaro

Let me create a picture for yous and I want to know what you retrieve of it. The House flips, Democrats lose it, the president is impeached, just but in the Business firm, not in the Senate. Is it worth it? Is information technology worth it?

rashida tlaib

Yes! Why isn't information technology worth it? Information technology is protecting our future. Do you know — if we always decided to function from political strategy, we wouldn't get things washed. Would the Affordable Care Deed pass? It wasn't perfect, just you know what? Nosotros really saved lives. And some people couldn't come dorsum because they voted for that. Only if we were to go back, do we want to do it all over once again? Yeah, we would. Nosotros would, to salve people's lives. And for usa, this is nigh saving our democracy. And sometimes that means putting our neck out. And yeah, they're going to use this confronting us and try to vilify what we tried to exercise, which is put our country first.

michael barbaro

Isn't that easier to say when you're from a —

rashida tlaib

Admittedly it is.

michael barbaro

— bluish district?

rashida tlaib

Only don't think my life hasn't been threatened. Don't recollect that the first actual coffee hour I had, I didn't have the same protesters that Elissa Slotkin had that said, impeach Rashida Tlaib. I have three people now getting prosecuted for threatening my life. You know, I feel similar, in many means, my life has completely been transformed because I volition not stand down. I volition not allow this corrupt president to corruption his power, nor put people in the pain that they are going through right now, because he decided to obstruct Congress. That he decided that he doesn't really care nearly the procedure, and the rules, and the laws. You don't take over the U.s.a. of America. You get elected, and you serve it. And and so we're going to served the The states of America today past holding this president accountable and setting a very clear bulletin that we won't permit this danger precedent in our history to continue. Because information technology could be a Democrat or a Republican downwards the line that would do the aforementioned and get away with information technology. And that, to me, is what is at stake more than being in the majority or winning an election.

michael barbaro

I know you have to become. I want to thank y'all for spending the last year with u.s..

rashida tlaib

Yes, of form. Thank you so much. It's been an incredible journeying.

michael barbaro

And letting us tell your story.

rashida tlaib

Thanks. Thank y'all, Michael. I'm speaking on the floor, then —

michael barbaro

Proficient luck with your voice communication.

rashida tlaib

Thanks.

michael barbaro

Bye.

rashida tlaib

Appreciate it.

archived recording (jerry nadler)

Madame Speaker, I at present yield one minute to the gentlelady from Michigan, Miss Tlaib.

archived recording (diana degette)

The gentlelady is recognized for one infinitesimal.

archived recording (rashida tlaib)

Cheers. I rise today in support of impeachment.

I learned so much every single day from my residents at home. Their common sense and understanding of what is right and incorrect is centered on why they oppose any person using the most powerful position in the world for personal gain. Doing zero hither, Madame Speaker, is not an option. Looking away from these crimes against our country is not an selection. This is well-nigh protecting the hereafter of our nation and our democracy from abuse, abuse of ability, criminal cover-ups and bribery. And this, Madame Speaker, this vote is besides for my sons and the futurity of and so many generations. So I urge my colleagues to delight vote yeah on these articles of impeachment. With that, Madame Speaker, I yield.

archived recording (diana degette)

Gentleman from Georgia.

archived recording (doug collins)

Thank you, Madame Speaker.

michael barbaro

Shortly after 8:00 p.grand. on Midweek night, the Firm voted on the outset commodity of impeachment against President Trump — abuse of ability.

archived recording (nancy pelosi)

On this vote, the yeas are 230, the nays are 197. Present is i. Article one is adopted.

michael barbaro

Presently after, a vote was held on the second article of impeachment, obstruction of Congress.

archived recording (nancy pelosi)

On this vote, the yeas are 229, the nays are 198. Present is one. Article 2 is adopted.

michael barbaro

With that, Donald J. Trump became the tertiary president in American history to be impeached by the House of Representatives.

archived recording (donald trump)

With today's illegal, unconstitutional and partisan impeachment —

archived recording (crowd)

[BOOING]

archived recording (donald trump)

— the do-nothing Democrats, and they are do-zippo, all they want to do is focus on this. What they could be doing are declaring their deep hatred and disdain for the American voter.

michael barbaro

During a rally in Michigan as the Firm voted, President Trump described the impeachment vote equally an attack on his supporters and predicted that it would backlash on Democrats at the polls.

archived recording (donald trump)

This lawless, partisan impeachment is a political suicide march for the Democrat political party. Have yous seen my polls in the last 4 weeks?

archived recording (crowd)

[Cheering]

archived recording (donald trump)

It's crazy.

michael barbaro

That's information technology for "The Daily." I'm Michael Barbaro. Meet you tomorrow.

Despite years of speculation, Mr. Trump'southward impeachment did not, in the end, grow out of the two-yr investigation into Russian election meddling by Robert S. Mueller Three, the special counsel, or the seemingly endless series of other accusations of corruption and misconduct that take plagued this White House: taxation evasion, profiting from the presidency, payoffs to a pornographic pic extra and fraudulent activities by his charitable foundation.

Instead, the existential threat to Mr. Trump'south presidency centered around a half-hour telephone call in July. On it, he pressured Ukraine's president to denote investigations into former Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr. and other Democrats at the same fourth dimension he was withholding virtually $400 million in vital military machine assistance for the country and a White House meeting.

Congress learned near the phone call afterward an bearding C.I.A. official lodged a whistle-blower complaint in August — pulling a cord that helped unravel an effort past the president and his allies to pressure a foreign government for aid in smearing a political rival. Over a menses of weeks this autumn, a parade of diplomats and other administration officials confirmed and expanded on those revelations.

When Congress sought to investigate, the president ordered his administration to defy its every request, leading to what the Firm said Wed was a violation of the separation of powers and a de facto assertion by Mr. Trump that he was above the law.

United in their opposition, Republicans defendant the Democrats, who fought their way dorsum from political oblivion in 2016 to win the Business firm in 2018, of misusing the power voters had invested in them to harangue a president they never viewed as legitimate past manufacturing a case confronting him. Though they conceded few of them, they insisted the facts confronting Mr. Trump nonetheless fell woefully short of impeachment.

Epitome

Credit... Erin Schaff/The New York Times

"When all is said and done, when the history of this impeachment is written, it will be said that my Washington Democrat friends couldn't bring themselves to piece of work with Donald Trump, so they consoled themselves instead by silencing the will of those who did, the American people," said Representative Mark Meadows, Republican of North Carolina.

Throughout the enquiry, fifty-fifty as Republicans raged against the process and sought to offer benign explanations for Mr. Trump'southward conduct, none disputed the fundamental facts that served as its basis: that he asked Ukraine's president to "do us a favor" and investigate Mr. Biden, a prospective rival in the 2020 campaign, and other Democrats.

Mr. Trump'due south impeachment had the potential to modify the trajectory of his presidency and redefine an already volatile political mural. Democrats, including the near vulnerable moderates, embraced the articles of impeachment with the total knowledge that doing so could damage them politically, potentially fifty-fifty costing them command of the House.

The simply Democratic dissenters from the abuse of power charge on Wed were Representatives Collin C. Peterson of Minnesota and Jeff Van Drew of New Jersey, a freshman who has announced that he will switch parties and become a Republican. Representative Jared Golden of Maine, another centrist freshman, joined them in opposition to the obstruction of Congress accuse.

And Representative Tulsi Gabbard of Hawaii, a Democratic presidential contender who has built her reputation as a maverick in her party, voted "present" on both articles.

Republicans tethered themselves to Mr. Trump, as they take since he took function, yoking their political brands and fortunes to his.

The debate proceeded in historic terms in the well of the House, fifty-fifty as an odd sense of inevitability hung over Washington well-nigh Mr. Trump'southward fate.

"Today, as speaker of the House, I solemnly and sadly open up the debate on the impeachment of the president of the U.s.a.," Ms. Pelosi, dressed in all black, said equally debate opened on the articles around apex. "If we do not human action at present, we would be derelict in our duty. Information technology is tragic that the president'due south reckless actions make impeachment necessary. He gave us no choice."

After the votes, Ms. Pelosi would not say when she would transmit the articles to the Senate, indicating she might wait to do then until she got certain assurances about the fairness of a trial. With Mr. Trump and his allies interested in a speedy acquittal, Ms. Pelosi believes slowing the process could force Senate Republicans to ready procedures the Democrats like, people close to her said.

Her comments at least raised the prospect that the House could leave for the holidays with the matter unresolved and the timing of the trial in limbo.

In the Senate, Mitch McConnell, Republican of Kentucky and the majority leader, has already made articulate he views the Firm'southward case as "weak" and would prefer a swift trial in Jan that does not phone call whatever additional fact witnesses. That would increase the likelihood that Congress will simply never hear from several senior government officials with knowledge of the Ukraine thing who avoided House testimony.

Impeachment traces its origins to monarchical England, only the framers of the Constitution confined its utilise on presidents to rare occasions, when their actions corrupted the public interest for personal ones. Only twice previously has the House impeached a president, Andrew Johnson in 1868 and Pecker Clinton in 1998. President Richard G. Nixon resigned in 1974 rather than confront such a consequence.

Johnson remained in function by a single vote in 1868. Mr. Clinton more soundly beat the charges, with no more than than half of the Senate voting for conviction after more than a month of deliberations. The trial of Mr. Trump is likely to reach a like outcome, simply information technology could do so much more quickly, with some Senate Republicans discussing the possibility that the example could be resolved in picayune more than a week.

Image

Credit... Anna Moneymaker/The New York Times

Every bit he did in the confront of past accusations, Mr. Trump, 73, railed confronting impeachment as a "witch chase" and a "hoax," attacking his adversaries with a viciousness rarely heard from previous presidents.

"More due process was afforded to those accused in the Salem Witch Trials," the president seethed in an angry impeachment eve alphabetic character to Ms. Pelosi.

In Mr. Trump's reality, reinforced by the bourgeois cable news programs that swirl around him throughout the 24-hour interval, his three years in the White House have been more than successful than whatsoever other. Wednesday's impeachment intrudes on that, forcing the president and those around him to face up a different narrative, 1 in which he has — in the words of the articles of impeachment — "betrayed the nation" and acted "in a manner grossly incompatible with self governance and the dominion of law."

"Whether Donald Trump leaves in one month, 1 year or five years, this impeachment is permanent," said Representative Ted Lieu, Democrat of California. "It will follow him around for the rest of his life, and history books will tape information technology."

The absolutist defence force by many members of the Republican Political party and the partisan nature of Wednesday's votes underscored the remarkable hold that Mr. Trump, who has never allowable the back up of a majority of the nation, has come to have over the political party, remaking it in his image.

One Republican, Representative Barry Loudermilk of Georgia, compared Mr. Trump on Midweek with Jesus Christ, saying that the son of God had been "afforded more than rights" by Pontius Pilate than Democrats had given the president.

Democrats' most fervent supporters have fantasized since Inauguration Day 2017 about impeaching Mr. Trump, an extreme remedy for the ultimate insurgent they believed was shredding American institutions in his self-interest. The fence reached a new pitch this yr when they reclaimed control of the House after about a decade and awaited the results of a 2-twelvemonth Justice Department investigation into whether Mr. Trump's campaign had conspired with Russia to interfere in the 2016 election.

But as the left pushed harder for Mr. Trump's ouster, Democratic leaders resisted. "He's just not worth it," Ms. Pelosi said in March. The Russia investigation fizzled when the special counsel declined to recommend charges, even though his report detailed at least x instances of possible obstacle of justice by Mr. Trump when he tried to thwart the enquiry. By the time lawmakers returned to Washington this autumn after a summer pause, impeachment appeared all but dead.

Ms. Pelosi's calculations — and public opinion — shifted abruptly in September, when the C.IA. whistle-blower arrived on the House's doorstep.

Image

Credit... Erin Schaff/The New York Times

The inquiry information technology prompted moved with alacrity, even as Democrats did not have an independent counsel or special prosecutor on whose work they could build. Instead, the Business firm Intelligence Commission chosen senior American diplomats and White House officials for questioning and requested reams of documents.

In private and then in publicly televised hearings — and all in defiance of White Firm orders — they outlined a wide-ranging try by Mr. Trump and his allies to bend American policy on Ukraine toward conveying out what ane old White Firm official called "a domestic political errand" on the president's behalf.

Fueling the obstruction of Congress charge, a dozen more witnesses, some with straight knowledge of Mr. Trump'south actions, were blocked from speaking to investigators, and the Trump assistants refused to produce a single certificate under subpoena.

Every bit the facts tumbled into the open, there were moments when Republicans in the Business firm and in the Senate flirted with casting their lot against the president. After the acting White House chief of staff said in October that Mr. Trump had withheld military assistance in part to extract at least one politically beneficial investigation from Ukraine, Representative Francis Rooney of Florida said he was open to impeachment. But on Wednesday, he joined every Republican in voting no.

Testimony in November by Gordon D. Sondland, Mr. Trump'southward administrator to the European Marriage, that there had been a quid pro quo around a White House meeting and maybe around the foreign aid money prompted momentary fears of a mass defection. It did non materialize.

If annihilation, the procedure underscored the extent to which the nation was splitting in ii, with each side claiming its own news sources and fact sets that make meaningful contend betwixt Democrats and Republicans over the significance of president's conduct virtually impossible. Public opinion polls testify the nation is as closely divided over Mr. Trump'southward impeachment and removal as it was on Ballot Twenty-four hours 2016.

On Wednesday, neither lawmakers nor aides to Mr. Trump foresaw a resolution to the broader fight.

"We know how this partisan process will end this evening," said Representative Will Hurd of Texas, 1 of a handful of Republicans willing to criticize the president'south conduct and who is retiring from Congress. "But what happens tomorrow?"

Image

Credit... Jason Andrew for The New York Times

Sheryl Gay Stolberg, Emily Cochrane and Catie Edmondson contributed reporting.

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Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2019/12/18/us/politics/trump-impeached.html