Republicans slam House Dems for 'fast-tracking impeachment'

The U.S. House of Representatives moved on Wednesday (January 13) toward a vote on impeaching President Donald Trump for his role in last week's siege of the U.S. Capitol, when Trump supporters breached the building's security, sent lawmakers fleeing and left multiple dead in their wake, including a police officer.

At least five Republicans have said they would join Democrats in supporting impeachment, although just seven days remain for a Senate trial to expel Trump from office. If the Democratic-led House approves it, Trump would become the first president impeached twice.

But many Republicans, who spoke on the House floor on Wednesday, said the process was being rushed.

"The U.S. House of Representatives has every right to impeach the president of the United States. But what we’re doing today, rushing this impeachment in an hour- or two-hour-long debate on the floor of this chamber and bypassing (the) Judiciary (Committee) poses great questions about the constitutionality of this process," said Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC) in her first speech on the House floor.