How Can I Help Trump Not Get Inpeached

Trump Impeached for Abuse of Ability and Obstruction of Congress

Voting nearly along party lines, the Business firm approved two articles of impeachment confronting President Trump, making him the third president in history to face up removal past the Senate.

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transcript

transcript

House Votes to Impeach Trump

The Autonomous-led Firm of Representatives charged President Trump with abuse of power and obstruction of Congress.

"The yeas are 230, the nays are 197, present is one — Commodity 1 is adopted. The question is on adoption of Commodity 2. On this vote, the yeas are 229, the nays are 198, present is one — Article 2 is adopted." "I don't know well-nigh you, only I'm having a good time, it's crazy. Oh, I think we have a vote coming in. So we got every unmarried Republican voted for us. Whoa, whoa, wow — wow, most 200. This is the showtime impeachment where in that location's no crime. I say, tell me what I did please. Well, we don't know — you violated the Constitution. I'm the beginning person that always get impeached and at that place'southward no criminal offence. Similar, I feel guilty. You lot know they call it: impeachment light. It'due south impeachment low-cal." "And what is the defense from my colleagues? When you cut through information technology all, when you cut through all the audio and the fury, signifying cipher, what it actually amounts to is this: Why should we care? We used to care about democracy. We used to care well-nigh our allies. We used to stand up upward to Putin and Russia. We used to." "I'll tell you what, Madam Speaker, let me have merely a few minutes, end the clock, and let me go around to the press corps and everybody hither and I'grand going to accuse you of something. You did it. Y'all did information technology. You did it. You did information technology. Now prove it'due south wrong. Y'all did it. Judge what: You lot don't want to, considering deep downward you lot know that that'south turning the entire jurisprudence of this land upside down. You lot're not guilty until you bear witness it — you're innocent. And today from this floor, we have heard the majority leader say this president is guilty and non the other way effectually." "This impeachment is permanent. Information technology will follow him around for the rest of his life and history books will record it. And the people know why nosotros impeached. Information technology'southward all very unproblematic. No one is above the constabulary." "Unfortunately, many of my colleagues accept diminished what should be a solemn and grave proceeding into an absolute political circus." "If y'all think I exaggerate in alarm that our elections can be undermined, I'd urge you to come down to Georgia, notice a blackness human being or woman of a certain age, and they'll tell yous: The danger is real." "So this vote, this twenty-four hours, is virtually one matter and ane thing only: They hate this president."

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

Published Dec. 18, 2019 Updated Feb. 10, 2021

WASHINGTON — The Business firm of Representatives on Wednesday impeached President Trump for abuse of ability and obstruction of Congress, making him the third president in history to exist charged with committing high crimes and misdemeanors and face removal by the Senate.

On a day of constitutional consequence and raging partisan tension, the votes on the 2 articles of impeachment fell largely along party lines, subsequently a bitter debate that stretched into the evening and reflected the deep polarization gripping American politics in the Trump era.

Just two Democrats opposed the article on corruption of power, which accused Mr. Trump of corruptly using the levers of authorities to solicit ballot assistance from Ukraine in the form of investigations to ignominy 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 Business firm rostrum.

On the 2d charge, obstruction of Congress, a third Democrat joined Republicans in opposition. The vote was 229 to 198.

The impeachment votes set up the stage for a historic trial beginning early next twelvemonth in the Senate, which will take final say — x months before Mr. Trump faces re-ballot — on whether to acquit the 45th president or convict and remove him from office. The timing was uncertain, subsequently Ms. Pelosi suggested tardily Wed that she might wait to send the manufactures to the Senate, holding them out as leverage in a negotiation on the terms of a trial.

Acquittal in the Republican-controlled bedroom may be likely, but the proceeding is certain to further aggravate the political and cultural mistake lines in the country that Mr. Trump's presidency has brought into dramatic relief. Regardless of the outcome, the impeachment votes in the House put an indelible stain on Mr. Trump's presidency that cannot be wiped from the public consciousness with a barrage of tweets or an angry tirade in forepart of thousands of his auspicious supporters at a entrada rally.

On Wednesday, Democrats characterized his impeachment every bit an urgent action to stop a corrupt president whose misdeeds had unfolded in manifestly view from damaging the United States whatever farther.

"Over the course of the terminal three months, nosotros have found incontrovertible bear witness that President Trump abused his power past pressuring the newly elected president of Ukraine to announce an investigation into President Trump'due south 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 accept done in the face of impeachment, Mr. Trump instead offered an indignant defence force as the House weighed his fate, raging on Twitter from the White Business firm.

Image

Credit... Doug Mills/The New York Times

"SUCH Awful LIES Past THE RADICAL LEFT, Exercise Goose egg DEMOCRATS," the president wrote as the fence took identify on the other end of Pennsylvania Avenue. "THIS IS AN Attack ON AMERICA, AND AN Assault ON THE REPUBLICAN Party!!!!"

After, as members cast their votes to impeach him in Washington, Mr. Trump took the stage to roars of applause from his supporters at an arena-style campaign rally in Battle Creek, Mich. He brushed bated the ramble confrontation as a "hoax" based on unfounded charges, fifty-fifty as he conceded that it would be a permanent blot on his presidency.

"I'm non worried," Mr. Trump said. "You don't practice anything wrong and you go impeached. That may exist a record that will last forever."

"Merely yous know what they have washed?" he said of Democrats. "They have cheapened the impeachment process."

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

Heed 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 past Lisa Grub, Austin Mitchell, Adizah Eghan, Annie Brown and Theo Balcomb, with help from Alexandra Leigh Young; and edited past Lisa Tobin and Thousand.J. Davis Lin

In a divided House, moderate Democrats are begetting the brunt of answering for the impeachment vote.

michael barbaro

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

Today: The United States House of Representatives has impeached President Trump for corruption of ability and obstruction of Congress. My colleague Lisa Chow and I on the story of how a fractious Autonomous Party, which started the yr divided on impeachment, ultimately united around it.

It's Thursday, December 19.

lisa chow

And how far away from Holly?

speaker

35 miles from the home.

lisa grub

O.Thou. Then yeah, we will become there in fourth dimension. You lot want to describe what y'all're seeing outside the window?

michael barbaro

So we're driving by a strip mall well-nigh 45 minutes outside Detroit. In that location's a Best Buy, 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

And so we are headed to the home of Congresswoman Elissa Slotkin.

archived recording

Elissa Slotkin has a lead of more than than 2,000 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. So the but fashion —

michael barbaro

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

archived recording

The blue wave. The blueish wave that swept Democrats into power in the House.

michael barbaro

Simply the moment she gets into office —

archived recording (rashida tlaib)

Because we're going to go in there, we're going to impeach the motherfucker. [Cheers]

michael barbaro

— people like Rashida Tlaib, the congresswoman who represents a district merely to the s here that we but drove through, they're proverb that the findings of the Russia enquiry 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 shop and talking to me about. They desire to know —

michael barbaro

She is skeptical of that, she'southward opposed to it. It's not part of her political brand to desire to impeach the president. And so all of a sudden, the whistle-blower report comes out, and she reads it, and she's very troubled. And she and a scattering of her moderate swing-district Autonomous Firm colleagues write an op-ed in The Washington Mail service calling for an impeachment inquiry.

archived recording

They write, nosotros take devoted our lives to the service and security of our country. Now we join as a unified group to uphold —

michael barbaro

And their voice carries a tremendous amount of weight, because they are moderates, because they helped win back the House for Democrats. And soon later, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi opens an impeachment research.

archived recording (nancy pelosi)

I'yard announcing the Business firm of Representatives is moving forward with an official impeachment inquiry. The president must exist held accountable. No one is higher up the law.

michael barbaro

And right away, it's articulate that there are political consequences for Slotkin.

elissa slotkin

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

michael barbaro

We went to three boondocks halls in her district and just listened every bit constituents pelted her with questions nearly why she was doing this.

oversupply

[JEERING]

michael barbaro

Two months go by. The impeachment inquiry unfolds. Hearings happen, a report is filed. And at present she has to make a determination — 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 think it's O.K. I hateful, we're a trivial early on. What're you gonna practise? We are arriving at Slotkin'south house in the middle 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 Lord's day dark.

lisa chow

How do y'all experience?

michael barbaro

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

lisa chow

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

michael barbaro

You're going to regret it when you're in the middle of this interview and you're starving.

elissa slotkin

Hi, guys. Come on in.

michael barbaro

Hi.

elissa slotkin

I'm Elissa.

michael barbaro

Congresswoman, so prissy to see you.

elissa slotkin

So squeamish to meet you lot. Hi.

michael barbaro

Thank yous for letting us — Lisa.

elissa slotkin

Come on in, come on in.

michael barbaro

This is a truly a farmhouse.

elissa slotkin

Oh yeah, I'm sorry, I'm sorry. I think of you lot guys as audio, and so I'm not doing a very nice chore, simply this is 1895 farmhouse. My family bought it in the '50s. We held off lighting a fire considering we didn't know if the dissonance would be annoying, but we tin can definitely calorie-free a fire.

And this — I should but say, this desk, for whatsoever information technology's worth, is sort of one of the big heirlooms in my family. This was my great-granddad's desk. And if you lot encounter on the plate hither —

michael barbaro

Information technology is kind of a resolute desk.

elissa slotkin

Yes. So it was used past 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 great-granddaddy, Sam Slotkin. And information technology'southward been passed down.

michael barbaro

Is this where y'all go to brand big decisions?

elissa slotkin

This is where I brand my large decisions.

michael barbaro

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

elissa slotkin

Aye. This is — well, it'south a lot, I gauge, more than it. It is — allow's meet. My team has diligently tabbed information technology out for me. So this is the impeachment documents that came down, I guess, what at present, iii weeks ago —

michael barbaro

From the Judiciary Committee.

elissa slotkin

Yes, from the Judiciary Committee. This is the HPSCI report, the House Intelligence report.

michael barbaro

May I see this?

elissa slotkin

You're welcome to.

michael barbaro

Clinton articles of impeachment. Nixon manufactures of impeachment. And I run into you've done a bunch of underlining.

elissa slotkin

Yeah. For me, this is, bluntly, a very standard way that I look at things, which just comes from my preparation as a C.I.A. officer, which is sequester yourself away, go all the original base documents. And then you lot practice some historical research and then make an objective decision not based on what yous encounter in the news or what someone's telling yous.

michael barbaro

Cheers for letting us interrupt information technology.

elissa slotkin

Where would you lot guys like to prepare? Would yous similar to be —

michael barbaro

Where would you like us to fix up?

elissa slotkin

Have the dining room.

michael barbaro

All right, we'll go set ourselves upwards.

elissa slotkin

Certain.

lisa chow

O.K., check, cheque, check, cheque.

michael barbaro

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

elissa slotkin

Of course.

michael barbaro

— during a really important moment for you.

elissa slotkin

Yeah.

michael barbaro

The last fourth dimension we talked to you, you had only fabricated a conclusion to support an impeachment inquiry, which concluded upwards beingness a very consequential conclusion.

elissa slotkin

Yep.

michael barbaro

Tell me what the terminal couple of months have been like for you equally that inquiry has unfolded. What'due south that experience been similar?

elissa slotkin

Well, I would say it'southward probably been some of the most intense months I've had equally a working professional person, that's for sure. The principal 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 inquiry, was this very basic thought 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 design.

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 practise things that we want, right? That happens all the time. And anyone who gets to a senior-plenty level has been in that position. The divergence here was that the president was doing information technology for his ain personal political gain, not for the national security interests of the The states. Then for me, the primal idea was whether the president asked for foreigners to get involved in the American political procedure.

michael barbaro

So did the inquiry and did the hearings plant that?

elissa slotkin

Well, that'south what I've been trying to parse through. What became clearer and clearer through what I read and what the reporting produced was that y'all accept a lot of people who were aware that, for example, security assist was held up in exchange for something. And we have Ambassador Sondland proverb very directly that it was held upward because they were waiting for the Ukrainians to alive upwards to their end of the bargain.

michael barbaro

To conduct these investigations on —

elissa slotkin

Yes, to denote investigations. That'due south the hardest thing for me about my peers who may make up one's mind not to vote on these manufactures, is that practice they take that it'southward O.Yard. to invite strange help into the American political procedure?

michael barbaro

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

elissa slotkin

Well, I'm sad, and I think that history will testify them to exist misguided. And mayhap it'due south because I was a C.I.A. officeholder, 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 once again in my prior life. And that's the same approach I accept to these decisions.

michael barbaro

I hear you hinting that a difficult conclusion that you're capable of making may be heading in ane management.

elissa slotkin

Well, heed, I hateful, no offense, merely I'm non going to tell The New York Times earlier I tell my ain constituents. It'southward why nosotros're having a big boondocks hall tomorrow. My hope and my responsibleness is to exist transparent with the constituents of the Eighth District, to exist available to heed to their current concerns and answer them, and to exist honest with them.

michael barbaro

Then understanding that you lot're not going to be disclosing your intentions just now at this table in your house, I want to talk virtually your constituents for merely a moment.

elissa slotkin

Certain.

michael barbaro

Based on my understanding of your commune, which voted for Trump by a healthy margin, and co-ordinate to you, does not seem to support impeachment equally a whole, you could find yourself very much at odds with your ain constituents.

elissa slotkin

I mean —

michael barbaro

Are you comfortable with that?

elissa slotkin

This is what it means to be an elected leader. You have to make tough calls. And in a district like this, I'm never going to make everyone happy. If I lose my seat considering I stood up for my principles, that'southward O.K. I, of form, want to be re-elected, and I want to maintain the House majority. I think it's an important check and balance. Only I'k non going to compromise my principles just to keep that job. I'k only not. And I hope that people want that kind of an elected representative.

michael barbaro

I do have to ask yous the kind of political version of this question, which is mathematically, your vote isn't required to impeach the president. And so there're kind of two ways to look at this. On the one hand, if you vote yes, that would be very politically risky. The other manner to expect at this is that if you vote no, that's its ain set of risks, because every bit a moderate, you would exist sending a bulletin that the people in the centre who started all this, who said there should exist an research, don't recollect there's plenty there to actually impeach. And that would exist a very complicated bulletin to send in 2022 when the president's running for re-election. It'south essentially that impeachment was a projection of the far left. And so in that location's basically a ton of adventure no matter what you lot do, and I wonder how you weigh those risks.

elissa slotkin

Well, I mean, listen, voting on articles of impeachment is right upwardly at that place with Congress's role in declaring war. I mean, it'due south got to be one of the top two things that a fellow member of Congress will always vote on in their career — nigh important things. And then when you have a vote like that, it'southward beyond that political calculus. I think information technology should be. It certainly is for me. And I've certainly had people advise to me, you lot know, just vote no, save your seat.

michael barbaro

Your vote isn't needed, anyhow.

elissa slotkin

I've had people say that to me.

michael barbaro

And what do you say?

elissa slotkin

I have to look at myself in the mirror. Like, I have to come away from this experience with a sense that I haven't done what so many people here in Michigan think of elected officials. I cannot only become that cynical political person who just orients their major decisions around what would save their seat. I simply —

michael barbaro

Or fifty-fifty their party.

elissa slotkin

Yous know, we have the president admitting that he reached out to a foreigner to ask for help in an American political election. If you think about that outside the normal insanity that we have right now on Boob tube and all the events that are happening, if you think almost that, which I've been trying to practice today here quietly at my farm, that is — that is wrong. And I remember that sending a signal in the most clear terms nosotros tin is of import enough even to risk the majority.

michael barbaro

So information technology'southward seven:30 on Sunday nighttime and you're planning to make an announcement tomorrow forenoon in front of your constituents. How are you doing inside? How are yous feeling?

elissa slotkin

I actually feel pretty clear. I've done the work. I've kept an open mind, and I've sat with the documents, I've sat with the transcripts, and I've made my best assessment. And so I'm going to try and be as present and available as I tin. I trust my voters, I do. And I call back —

michael barbaro

Trust them to do what?

elissa slotkin

I trust them every bit Michiganders to requite 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

Thank y'all.

michael barbaro

We'll exist right back

oversupply

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

michael barbaro

And so Lisa, I headed back to New York to host the show. You stayed in Michigan. So what happens the side by side day, afterward we had talked to Elissa Slotkin?

lisa chow

Then the next day, I get in very early, and already in that location are people there.

crowd

Ho ho, Elissa Slotkin has got to go!

lisa chow

And they're upset, they're pissed. And that'south because Slotkin had already appear her decision in the local paper that morn.

michael barbaro

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

lisa chow

Yes, simply she hadn't yet told her constituents. And then in this op-ed, she says very conspicuously that she is voting yes on both articles of impeachment.

speaker i

She must become now!

speaker 2

Land over party! Impeach and remove Trump!

lisa chow

So people are lining up to get inside the auditorium where the town hall meeting will be held. And outside, there was a bunch of protesters with big signs maxim, "Impeach Slotkin, keep Trump," in bright red letters. And some of them are carrying much smaller signs that say, "We have your back."

michael barbaro

Which is a message to Slotkin.

lisa grub

Exactly.

speaker 1

Practice you lot understand that?

speaker 2

You're yelling.

speaker i

Practice you like Russians?

lisa grub

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

speaker ane

Because I take to talk over your people. Do you like Russian federation? Do you similar Russia? Because I'm a veteran, and I do not support Russia!

speaker 2

Have a word.

speaker 1

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

lisa grub

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

speaker 1

You're standing here as an American, equally 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 i

Our flag is ruddy, white and blue, not red and blue. Information technology is cherry, white, and blue. Put your country starting time for once, O.K.?

speaker two

I am. Would you like to discuss? Run into?

lisa chow

So people are really challenging each other's patriotism.

speaker 1

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

speaker 2

Are you gonna listen? Biden bragged about — about bribing Ukraine with a billion dollars. Do you want to hear information technology?

lisa chow

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

speaker 2

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

speaker 3

Abuse of power.

speaker 2

That's non — O.K., that — name what exactly did he do to abuse — to corruption power?

Say one.

speaker iv

Having a strange country meddle in the election. That's one.

speaker 2

He didn't! The Democrats did!

speaker iv

You lot actually are insane, aren't you? Open your eyes.

lisa grub

O.One thousand. And so.

lisa chow

Finally, we caput into the auditorium, and it's a large room.

lisa chow

People are registering, and then walking into the auditorium.

lisa grub

The room is packed.

lisa chow

How many chairs are here?

speaker

418. So nosotros ready for about 400 people.

lisa chow

O.K. Information technology's filling up.

lisa chow

At that place are tons of media, national and local press roofing this event.

lisa chow

Tin can you tell me where you're from?

speaker 1

The Flint Journal and mlive.com.

speaker 2

MIRS news.

speaker 3

I'm here for NPR today.

speaker four

Simone from Scroll Phone call.

speaker 5

The Detroit Gratuitous Printing.

speaker 6

The Oakland Press.

speaker 7

Detroit News.

speaker 8

The New York Times.

speaker 9

Huffington Postal service.

speaker 10

Washington Mail.

speaker xi

Associated Press.

speaker 12

The Michigan Accelerate.

speaker 13

CNN.

lisa chow

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

speaker

Permit's delight welcome to the stage Congresswoman Slotkin.

michael barbaro

So what happens adjacent?

lisa chow

She'due south introduced by one of her staffers, and she takes the phase.

crowd

[CHEERING AND JEERING]

lisa chow

Immediately, the crowd erupts in both thanks and boos.

elissa slotkin

O.One thousand., guys. O.1000.

speaker

All right, everybody. Thanks.

elissa slotkin

O.K., well, I'm thrilled to see such a bang-up turnout today.

speaker

Permit's please — delight allow her speak.

crowd

[YELLING]

lisa grub

And she basically tin't become a give-and-take in.

speaker

Let's delight respect the people around y'all who are hither to listen.

lisa chow

At that place is a very loud group in the corner of the room that is making it almost impossible for her to be heard by the balance of the room.

elissa slotkin

So in an attempt to exist transparent, I'm going to walk yous through my logic. And I know information technology'southward clear that we don't all hold. I thought we needed to allow the ballot of 2022 decide what was going to happen in our land. Just those inverse — that inverse for me on the very basic facts that the president of the Usa came out — and his lawyer came out and said, very specifically —

lisa chow

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

speaker

Liar! Liar!

lisa chow

Liar, shame on you.

elissa slotkin

And that is very dissimilar than how presidents typically build their power, correct? To be honest with you, I worked at the National Security Council nether George Bush-league. I worked under the National Security Quango nether Barack Obama. And presidents regularly wield their power.

michael barbaro

Then the Michiganders don't quite give her the chance to explain herself that she told u.s. she'd been hoping for.

lisa grub

Not really.

elissa slotkin

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

lisa chow

And there's one guy in particular in the back —

speaker

The Democrats are run past "the squad"!

lisa chow

— who screams —

speaker

The Democrats are run by the squad!

lisa chow

— you're part of the squad.

speaker

Democrats are the party of the squad!

lisa grub

The team runs the Democrats.

michael barbaro

Right, the four best-known House freshmen liberals.

lisa grub

Exactly. And at 1 point, he fifty-fifty gets up and yells —

speaker

You belong to Rashida!

lisa chow

You belong to Rashida. And what's and then fascinating virtually this moment is that when nosotros started reporting at the beginning of this twelvemonth on the freshman grade 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 effort to lump all the Democrats together as Trump-hating left-wing progressives.

michael barbaro

Right. They would try to brand a Slotkin and a Tlaib indistinguishable, even though they're very different.

[music]

lisa chow

Exactly. And Slotkin has been so cautious in this process. She'southward been thorough. She has had conscientious reasoning. Merely none of that matters in this moment. She is Rashida Tlaib, co-ordinate to those protesters.

speaker 1

Practice you stand for your political party or do you correspond your Constitution?

speaker 2

Let her say that. Let her say that. That she is not a part of the squad!

speaker i

She did!

speaker ii

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

lisa chow

I think that's exactly what gets nether Slotkin's skin — this feeling of not beingness understood in the manner that she understands herself. That no matter what she says, no matter what she believes, a significant number of her constituents are just going to encounter her equally this kind of extravaganza of a Democrat. And they're never going to agree with her, and she'due south not going to be able to get through to them. You could tell from her voice that mayhap, you know, she expected this. Maybe this scene didn't surprise her. But information technology'southward yet difficult.

speaker

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

elissa slotkin

Thanks. Thanks for listening. Appreciate information technology. Thanks for being adept citizens.

lisa chow

So the auditorium is cleared out. Now that'south over. And I guess side by side, we're headed to Washington to cover the actual vote.

michael barbaro

We'll be right back.

michael barbaro

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

lisa grub

O.K. So Michael, where are nosotros right now?

michael barbaro

So nosotros're in the U.S. Capitol, standing just exterior the House chamber. You can kind of see it through these double doors. And within that chamber —

archived recording

House will be in order.

michael barbaro

There'south about six more hours of debate happening. A lot of it very anticipated. Democrats are saying —

archived recording

No ane is above the law.

michael barbaro

That after nifty care and lots of prayer —

archived recording

Today, sadly, we 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 accept fabricated something out of absolutely nothing, and that this is a sham.

archived recording

They think Hillary Clinton should be president, and they want to set that.

michael barbaro

And I'thousand 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 desire her to have. Only there'south actually somebody else and I have been thinking nearly.

michael barbaro

Congresswoman.

rashida tlaib

Hi, Michael. How's it going?

michael barbaro

And that's Rashida Tlaib. Considering she has been talking about impeachment from the beginning.

rashida tlaib

Hi.

michael barbaro

Hi.

rashida tlaib

How are you?

michael barbaro

I'thousand good.

rashida tlaib

Good.

michael barbaro

You look well.

rashida tlaib

Aye. Today is something that I've been talking to my 14-year-old near, Adam. He's so funny. Before he went to school, I had a chat with him.

michael barbaro

What did you say?

rashida tlaib

Oh, merely, y'all know, told you lot mommy is going to follow through on making certain the swell is not going to remain using the most powerful position in the world to his personal gain and personal turn a profit. I desire him to yet believe that people take the ability, and that the truth e'er prevails. So I feel similar this gets us closer to that.

michael barbaro

And then a lot of the focus in this impeachment vote has been on the moderates who are putting themselves at political take chances in taking this vote. I'm mindful that it was in January of this twelvemonth that yous came into office and pretty much immediately generated a little bit of news by calling for the impeachment of the president, long earlier Speaker Pelosi and many of the moderate Democrats were prepare to take that action. I call up I was actually here with you in the Capitol when that happened. And we had talked at that point about the fear that you and other progressive freshmen in the Firm might push button the party to left in a way that could jeopardize those moderate colleagues. And now hither we are, right? Then I wonder what you lot make of that journey of the whole House Democratic delegation?

rashida tlaib

You lot know, I don't like it when people say nosotros're moving folks to the left or moving folks to the right. Nosotros're moving folks towards the truth. To me, that's nonpartisan. The fact of the matter is something was incorrect here. Children were being caged at the border. He was profiting off of existence a sitting C.E.O. in the White Business firm. There was a number of impeachable offenses earlier I even got hither, and these are things that I was hearing from my residents all the time.

michael barbaro

But that's not what today is virtually.

rashida tlaib

Oh, of course not. Yous know, one of the things I said after this happened, after, y'all know, the Ukraine call happened, is that that'due south what got usa to 218. I mean, look, I am not a person that pushed this opinion of what was happening from the White House onto my colleagues. That was not my intention. My intention was to serve the residents of the Thirteenth Commune. They elected me out of a number of candidates, maxim that this is too nigh electing the jury that will concur this president accountable. And that's exactly what I did from day one. For many of my colleagues, they didn't run on this issue, right? But, I mean, the time has plant us, every bit Speaker Pelosi kept saying. And information technology'south very true, I think many were very hesitant, but the Ukraine call took them over the edge, for many of these folks.

michael barbaro

Well, let me talk nigh one of these districts, considering earlier this week, Lisa and I went to Michigan, your land. Nosotros 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'southward going to exist voting for impeachment, information technology was really credible correct away. At that place was a lot of fury directed at her.

rashida tlaib

Yeah, I mean, I think, Michael, it'southward really important for folks to know Congresswoman Elissa Slotkin'due south district is so different from mine.

michael barbaro

Right.

rashida tlaib

And she has to stand for her district. I think for my residents and I, in that location'southward a sense of liberation. They've been calling with excitement of finally some sense of accountability. I remember when we see injustices, nosotros see things that just don't make any sense, nosotros feel similar information technology'southward hurting the country, pain people, that people are actually in true, real emotional hurting from things effectually the racist corruption of power to fifty-fifty threats to our national security. Information technology creates then much anxiety effectually the country. And for folks, they simply want to feel similar somebody is fighting for them. That somebody here has their back.

michael barbaro

This feels like a moment of that for them?

rashida tlaib

Yes. I think they desire people to speak up. It's like, why aren't they maxim anything? Why aren't people doing annihilation about it? Isn't that illegal? Shouldn't those folks be in jail? You know, these are the kinds of things I hear from my residents all the time. So for today, it is very much an incredible moment that they finally feel a sense that they are believed. And and then yeah, that'southward the one thing. I respect that she has a different district 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 desire to know what you recollect of it. The House flips, Democrats lose information technology, the president is impeached, merely just in the House, not in the Senate. Is it worth information technology? Is information technology worth it?

rashida tlaib

Aye! Why isn't it worth it? Information technology is protecting our hereafter. Exercise you know — if we ever decided to role from political strategy, we wouldn't get things done. Would the Affordable Care Act pass? It wasn't perfect, simply yous know what? We actually saved lives. And some people couldn't come dorsum considering they voted for that. Only if we were to get back, do we want to exercise it all over again? Yeah, we would. We would, to salve people's lives. And for us, this is about saving our commonwealth. And sometimes that ways putting our neck out. And yes, they're going to use this confronting us and effort to vilify what we tried to do, which is put our state first.

michael barbaro

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

rashida tlaib

Admittedly information technology is.

michael barbaro

— blue commune?

rashida tlaib

Merely don't retrieve my life hasn't been threatened. Don't think that the kickoff actual java 60 minutes 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 like, in many ways, my life has completely been transformed because I will not stand downwards. I will not permit this corrupt president to abuse his power, nor put people in the pain that they are going through right at present, because he decided to obstruct Congress. That he decided that he doesn't really care nigh the process, and the rules, and the laws. Y'all don't accept over the United States of America. You get elected, and you serve information technology. And then we're going to served the Us of America today by holding this president accountable and setting a very clear message that we won't allow this danger precedent in our history to continue. Because it could be a Democrat or a Republican downwards the line that would do the same and get away with information technology. And that, to me, is what is at stake more being in the majority or winning an election.

michael barbaro

I know you have to get. I desire to cheers for spending the final yr with us.

rashida tlaib

Yes, of course. Thank you lot so much. Information technology'southward been an incredible journey.

michael barbaro

And letting us tell your story.

rashida tlaib

Thank you. Cheers, Michael. I'm speaking on the floor, so —

michael barbaro

Skilful luck with your oral communication.

rashida tlaib

Thank yous.

michael barbaro

Bye.

rashida tlaib

Appreciate it.

archived recording (jerry nadler)

Madame Speaker, I now yield ane minute to the gentlelady from Michigan, Miss Tlaib.

archived recording (diana degette)

The gentlelady is recognized for one minute.

archived recording (rashida tlaib)

Give thanks you. I rising today in support of impeachment.

I learned so much every single 24-hour interval from my residents at dwelling. Their mutual sense and understanding of what is right and incorrect is centered on why they oppose whatever person using the most powerful position in the globe for personal gain. Doing nothing here, Madame Speaker, is not an option. Looking abroad from these crimes against our state is not an selection. This is nigh protecting the hereafter of our nation and our democracy from corruption, abuse of ability, criminal cover-ups and bribery. And this, Madame Speaker, this vote is also for my sons and the future of so many generations. And then I urge my colleagues to please vote yes on these manufactures 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

Presently after viii:00 p.m. on Wednesday dark, the Business firm voted on the get-go 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 one. Commodity ane 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. Commodity 2 is adopted.

michael barbaro

With that, Donald J. Trump became the 3rd 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 practice-zilch, all they want to do is focus on this. What they could exist doing are declaring their deep hatred and disdain for the American voter.

michael barbaro

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

archived recording (donald trump)

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

archived recording (crowd)

[Cheering]

archived recording (donald trump)

It'south crazy.

michael barbaro

That'southward it for "The Daily." I'thousand Michael Barbaro. See you lot tomorrow.

Despite years of speculation, Mr. Trump's impeachment did not, in the cease, abound out of the two-year investigation into Russian ballot meddling by Robert Southward. Mueller 3, the special counsel, or the seemingly endless serial of other accusations of corruption and misconduct that accept plagued this White House: tax evasion, profiting from the presidency, payoffs to a pornographic picture extra and fraudulent activities past his charitable foundation.

Instead, the existential threat to Mr. Trump's presidency centered around a half-hour phone call in July. On it, he pressured Ukraine's president to announce investigations into former Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr. and other Democrats at the aforementioned time he was withholding nearly $400 one thousand thousand in vital military assist for the country and a White House meeting.

Congress learned well-nigh the call subsequently an anonymous C.I.A. official lodged a whistle-blower complaint in August — pulling a cord that helped unravel an effort by the president and his allies to pressure a foreign government for assist in smearing a political rival. Over a period of weeks this fall, a parade of diplomats and other administration officials confirmed and expanded on those revelations.

When Congress sought to investigate, the president ordered his assistants to defy its every request, leading to what the House said Wednesday was a violation of the separation of powers and a de facto assertion by Mr. Trump that he was higher up the law.

United in their opposition, Republicans accused the Democrats, who fought their fashion back from political oblivion in 2022 to win the Business firm in 2018, of misusing the power voters had invested in them to harangue a president they never viewed equally legitimate by manufacturing a case against him. Though they conceded few of them, they insisted the facts against Mr. Trump nonetheless fell woefully short of impeachment.

Image

Credit... Erin Schaff/The New York Times

"When all is said and done, when the history of this impeachment is written, it will exist 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 Marker Meadows, Republican of Northward Carolina.

Throughout the enquiry, even as Republicans raged against the procedure and sought to offer benign explanations for Mr. Trump's conduct, none disputed the central facts that served equally its basis: that he asked Ukraine'southward president to "practise us a favor" and investigate Mr. Biden, a prospective rival in the 2022 campaign, and other Democrats.

Mr. Trump'due south impeachment had the potential to change the trajectory of his presidency and redefine an already volatile political landscape. Democrats, including the almost vulnerable moderates, embraced the manufactures of impeachment with the full knowledge that doing so could damage them politically, potentially even costing them control of the House.

The only Democratic dissenters from the abuse of ability accuse on Midweek were Representatives Collin C. Peterson of Minnesota and Jeff Van Drew of New Bailiwick of jersey, a freshman who has announced that he volition switch parties and become a Republican. Representative Jared Aureate of Maine, another centrist freshman, joined them in opposition to the obstruction of Congress charge.

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

Republicans tethered themselves to Mr. Trump, equally they have since he took office, yoking their political brands and fortunes to his.

The debate proceeded in celebrated terms in the well of the House, even every bit an odd sense of inevitability hung over Washington about Mr. Trump'southward fate.

"Today, equally speaker of the House, I solemnly and sadly open the argue on the impeachment of the president of the U.s.a.," Ms. Pelosi, dressed in all black, said as argue opened on the articles effectually noon. "If we exercise not act now, we would be derelict in our duty. Information technology is tragic that the president's reckless actions make impeachment necessary. He gave us no selection."

After the votes, Ms. Pelosi would not say when she would transmit the articles to the Senate, indicating she might wait to do so until she got certain assurances nigh the fairness of a trial. With Mr. Trump and his allies interested in a speedy amortization, Ms. Pelosi believes slowing the process could force Senate Republicans to set up procedures the Democrats similar, 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 clear he views the House'southward case as "weak" and would prefer a swift trial in January that does non call whatever additional fact witnesses. That would increase the likelihood that Congress volition only never hear from several senior government officials with noesis of the Ukraine matter who avoided Firm testimony.

Impeachment traces its origins to monarchical England, but the framers of the Constitution bars its use 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 Bill Clinton in 1998. President Richard M. Nixon resigned in 1974 rather than face such a consequence.

Johnson remained in office by a single vote in 1868. Mr. Clinton more soundly trounce the charges, with no more half of the Senate voting for conviction afterwards more than a calendar month of deliberations. The trial of Mr. Trump is probable to achieve a similar outcome, but it could practise so much more quickly, with some Senate Republicans discussing the possibility that the case could be resolved in little more than a week.

Image

Credit... Anna Moneymaker/The New York Times

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

"More due procedure was afforded to those accused in the Salem Witch Trials," the president seethed in an aroused impeachment eve letter of the alphabet to Ms. Pelosi.

In Mr. Trump's reality, reinforced by the conservative cable news programs that swirl effectually him throughout the mean solar day, his three years in the White House have been more successful than any other. Wed'due south impeachment intrudes on that, forcing the president and those around him to confront a different narrative, ane in which he has — in the words of the articles of impeachment — "betrayed the nation" and acted "in a style grossly incompatible with self governance and the rule of law."

"Whether Donald Trump leaves in 1 month, one 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 defense past many members of the Republican Party and the partisan nature of Wednesday's votes underscored the remarkable hold that Mr. Trump, who has never allowable the support 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 Wednesday with Jesus Christ, proverb that the son of God had been "afforded more than rights" by Pontius Pilate than Democrats had given the president.

Democrats' almost fervent supporters have fantasized since Inauguration Twenty-four hours 2022 nigh impeaching Mr. Trump, an extreme remedy for the ultimate insurgent they believed was shredding American institutions in his self-involvement. The debate reached a new pitch this twelvemonth when they reclaimed control of the Business firm after nearly a decade and awaited the results of a 2-year Justice Section investigation into whether Mr. Trump'south campaign had conspired with Russian federation to interfere in the 2022 ballot.

Only 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 Russian federation investigation fizzled when the special counsel declined to recommend charges, even though his report detailed at least ten instances of possible obstruction of justice past Mr. Trump when he tried to thwart the inquiry. By the time lawmakers returned to Washington this autumn afterwards a summertime break, impeachment appeared all simply dead.

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

Image

Credit... Erin Schaff/The New York Times

The inquiry information technology prompted moved with alacrity, fifty-fifty as Democrats did non have an independent counsel or special prosecutor on whose work they could build. Instead, the House Intelligence Commission called senior American diplomats and White Firm officials for questioning and requested reams of documents.

In private and and then in publicly televised hearings — and all in defiance of White House orders — they outlined a broad-ranging attempt by Mr. Trump and his allies to bend American policy on Ukraine toward carrying out what i former White House official chosen "a domestic political errand" on the president'due south behalf.

Fueling the obstruction of Congress accuse, a dozen more than witnesses, some with direct knowledge of Mr. Trump's actions, were blocked from speaking to investigators, and the Trump assistants refused to produce a single document under subpoena.

Equally the facts tumbled into the open, there were moments when Republicans in the House and in the Senate flirted with casting their lot against the president. After the interim White House chief of staff said in Oct that Mr. Trump had withheld war machine assist in part to extract at least ane 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 union, that at that place had been a quid pro quo around a White House coming together and peradventure around the strange aid money prompted momentary fears of a mass defection. It did non materialize.

If anything, the process underscored the extent to which the nation was splitting in two, with each side claiming its ain news sources and fact sets that brand meaningful contend betwixt Democrats and Republicans over the significance of president'due south conduct almost impossible. Public opinion polls show the nation is equally closely divided over Mr. Trump's impeachment and removal equally it was on Ballot Day 2016.

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

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

Prototype

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

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