WASHINGTON, D.C., USA — President Donald Trump is the first and only president to ever be impeached twice by the House of Representatives. The historic vote fell 232-197. Of the 232 aye votes, just 10 were from sitting members of the GOP. Two of those ten represent parts of West Michigan.
Rep. Fred Upton (R-St. Joseph) said, "The Congress must hold President Trump to account and send a clear message that our country cannot and will not tolerate any effort by any President to impede the peaceful transfer of power from one President to the next."
Freshman Republican Peter Meijer (R-Grand Rapids) telegraphed his 'yes' vote in previous days. During an interview with 13 ON YOUR SIDE anchor Nick LaFave, Meijer said he was 'strongly considering' doing it. Ultimately, he was the only freshman Republican to do so. He wrote on Wednesday, "The President betrayed his oath of office by seeking to undermine our constitutional process, and he bears responsibility for inciting the violent acts of insurrection last week. With a heavy heart, I will vote to impeach President Donald J Trump."
Finally, Rep. Bill Huizenga (R-Zeeland) had several problems with this second impeachment. He cited procedural problems, with no hearings or investigations. He also said the move would not help the nation and that Trump did nothing that rose to the level of impeachment.
He told LaFave, "There are federal definitions of what inciting a riot is. There's penal codes. So, if the president had said, 'I'm gonna pardon anyone who goes down to the Capitol and drags people out and busts down doors, blow through and beats up cops,' that would be a problem. That, I would view as impeachable. If he had tried to detain or arrest the Vice President on his way to do his Constitutional duty, that would be that high crime and misdemeanor in my mind"
Huizenga also put a video statement out on his Facebook page.
The article of impeachment now goes to the Senate, where a trial is not expected to begin until Trump is out of office.
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