By Chadwick Dolgos
-Congress-
U.S. Rep. Conor Lamb (D-17) has issued a statement defending his vote to impeach President Donald Trump for the second time.
“This impeachment vote was bipartisan because it wasn’t about politics,” Lamb said in his statement. “This is about public safety.”
The House brought an article of impeachment against Trump for “inciting an insurrection against the government of the United States,” to a vote Jan. 13, after violent events unfolded at the Capitol a week earlier on Jan. 6. The article of impeachment passed the House by a 223-205 vote, with 10 Republicans voting in favor.
Recognizing there was only one week left in Trump’s first term when the article was brought to the House for a vote, Lamb argued that this step was necessary in ensuring national security.
“Impeachment is necessary because Donald Trump is a clear and ongoing threat to our communities, to our military, and to our government,” said Lamb in the statement.
Lamb, who also voted in favor of a resolution urging Vice President Mike Pence to invoke the 25th Amendment, believes Trump must be removed from office to prevent future acts of violence against the government. The House’s vote grants the Senate authority to immediately strip power from the President if a similar event were to occur prior to Inauguration Day.
“We all saw how quickly he can incite them to commit serious violence, even against a hard target like the Capitol,” Lamb said in the statement, adding that, “Trump could start pardoning the people who invaded the Capitol or do any number of dangerous things to try and distract from the attack.”
The article of impeachment will now go to the Senate, who are not expected to convene until Jan. 19, one day before President-Elect Joe Biden’s inauguration.
The trial will continue after Biden’s Inauguration, though Trump will no longer be a sitting President. Senators will not only consider removing the former President from office, but also barring him from ever seeking public office in the future.
Trump was first impeached in December 2019.
Two articles of impeachment were brought against him: Abuse of power and obstruction of Congress. The charges arose after Trump allegedly attempted to illegally coerce Ukraine into providing evidence against Biden and gain information regarding Russia’s interference with the 2016 presidential election.
The first vote on abuse of power passed the House 230-197, with the Senate voting to acquit 52-48. The second vote on obstruction of Congress passed the House 229-198, with the Senate voting to acquit 53-47.
Lamb voted in favor of both articles of impeachment on Dec. 19, 2019 and to the one article of impeachment on Jan. 13, 2021.