At least five Republicans plan to vote to impeach President Donald Trump amid reports that Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell supports the move.
Rep. Liz Cheney, R-Wyo., became the first Republican to publicly support the impeachment vote on Tuesday.
"The President of the United States summoned this mob, assembled the mob, and lit the flame of this attack," Cheney said. "Everything that followed was his doing. None of this would have happened without the President. The President could have immediately and forcefully intervened to stop the violence. He did not. There has never been a greater betrayal by a President of the United States of his office and his oath to the Constitution."
Illinois Rep. Adam Kinzinger, Michigan Rep. Fred Upton, Washington Rep. Jaime Herrera Beutler, and New York Rep. John Katko also plan to vote to impeach.
“The President’s offenses, in my reading of the Constitution, were impeachable based on the indisputable evidence we already have,” said Herrera Beutler. “I understand the argument that the best course is not to further inflame the country or alienate Republican voters. But I am a Republican voter… I believe President Trump acted against his oath of office.”
Mitch reportedly backs impeachment:
McConnell has “concluded that President Trump committed impeachable offenses” and believes impeaching him “will make it easier” to “purge” him from the party, according to The New York Times.
McConnell has “made clear in private discussions that he believes now is the moment to move on” from Trump, blaming the president for Republicans losing in Georgia.
The two men have not spoken since December, when McConnell congratulated President-elect Joe Biden on winning the election.
“This failed attempt to obstruct the Congress, this failed insurrection, only underscores how crucial the task before us is for our republic,” McConnell said after Wednesday’s riot. “Our nation was founded precisely so that the free choice of the American people is what shapes our self-government and determines the destiny of our nation.”
McCarthy won’t oppose:
The Times also reported that while House Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy personally opposes impeachment, he and other party leaders would not lobby members to oppose the vote.
McConnell has wondered whether he should call on Trump to resign and even reached out to House Democratic Leader Steny Hoyer to see if Democrats would support a bipartisan motion to censure the president, which Hoyer rejected.
