House Republicans Argue Against Impeachment Resolution

Lawmakers debated articles of impeachment Wednesday morning, January 13, accusing President Trump of inciting the deadly attack that unfolded on January 6 at the US Capitol.

South Carolina Rep Nancy Mace said before House lawmakers on Wednesday, “After the violent events of last week, watching and witnessing how heartbreaking this was, thank God I sent my kids home on Monday morning because I was worried about the rhetoric leading up to the events and to the rally on January 6, the violence that could transpire.”

Mace publicly opposed the impeachment, writing on Twitter before taking the floor on Wednesday morning that “a rushed impeachment … isn’t the right or legal approach” for lawmakers to take.

“Rushing this impeachment in an hour- or two-hour-long debate on the floor… bypassing judiciary, poses great questions about the constitutionality of this process,” Mace said before lawmakers on Wednesday. “I believe we need to hold the president accountable. I hold him accountable for the events that transpired, for the attack on our Capitol last Wednesday. I also believe we need to hold accountable every single person, even members of Congress, if they contributed to the violence that transpired here.”

House Democrats passed a resolution Tuesday night calling upon Vice President Mike Pence to invoke the 25th Amendment, assuming the office of the presidency and removing Trump from office before the inauguration. Pence said in a letter to Speaker Nancy Pelosi that he did not support the action.

Trump would be the first US president in history to have been impeached twice.

“I do not think impeachment is a wise course,” Oklahoma Rep Tom Cole said on Wednesday. “I would urge my friends in the majority to reconsider. There’s still time to choose a different path, one that leads to reconciliation and hope for a better and brighter day.” Credit: CSPAN via Storyful