BUFFALO (WBEN) - For the first time in history, a U.S. President has been impeached twice, as the House of Representatives voted 232-197 in favor of impeaching Donald Trump Wednesday afternoon.
Republican Congressmen Chris Jacobs and Tom Reed both opposed impeachment, both claiming the process was too hastened to be legitimate, while also questioning what yet another impeachment process would do to unite the country in a very divisive time.
"The process was incredibly rushed, overriding and undermining the long tradition of deliberative process when we do this thing that should be very rare," said Jacobs. "Trump will be out of office before this occurs, so really it means it was just a political act, and that's going to breed cynicism in the electorate and our citizens, and it's not going to help the efforts to bring us together."
"I think snap impeachment is not the way to go," added Reed. "It's not substantively the right thing to do in regards to not having an investigation, not respecting due process rights, and not respecting and raising, debating the issue of Constitutional free speech."
Democratic Congressman Brian Higgins has taken a strong stance in favor of impeachment ever since the Capitol insurrection took place last Wednesday.
"The facts are clear and compelling - President Trump incited an insurrection against America's democracy," said Higgins in a statement following the vote. "Through his words and actions, Trump publicly broadcast the evidence in the lead-up to the attack. The outcome of his actions was on full display for the world to see with Members of Congress serving as both targets and first-hand witnesses. Efforts to minimize, accept or excuse this insurrection represents a failure by Members to live up to our oath and a failure to protect the democracy this country was founded on and other nations have aspired to model. Members who oppose impeachment are either wrong, weak, or both."
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer spoke briefly about impeachment after the vote was concluded, and he not only said President Trump shouldn't be in office, but he added that Trump shouldn't be allowed to hold office again.
"Who caused this? We all know who caused this - Donald Trump," said Schumer. "He encouraged them to come, he encouraged them to march on the Capitol, he used violent words...and so I'm glad the House impeached Donald Trump - he shouldn't be in office, and he shouldn't be allowed to hold office in the future."
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell reportedly told Schumer that McConnell would not reconvene the Senate before President-elect Joe Biden takes office, essentially ensuring any impeachment trial wouldn't begin until after Trump leaves.
"We have no choice but to take this up in the Senate - that's the law - and we're going to figure out the best way to handle it because there's lots else to do as well," said Schumer. "We have an obligation to do this and do it in the right way."
