House Republicans Stew Over Members Who Caused Upheaval.
Politics
House Republicans stewed over members who caused upheaval
It has been three weeks since House Republicans voted to begin impeachment proceedings against President Trump, resulting in the acquittal of Trump by a vote of 231-199. With this outcome, Republicans were left frustrated and disappointed after attempting to replace the president under Article II of the Constitution. The Senate had not yet convened for a trial when the Republican delegation issued a press release expressing their disapproval with the decision. Many lawmakers contemplating how they could improve the situation made bold statements in public. Rep. Tom McHale, R-NJ, stated that he would run for president in 2024 if Democrats succeeded in removing Trump from office. Similarly, former Vice President Joe Biden implied that McHale should resign in light of his statement. In response, Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-LA, tweeted, "Bill Cassidy will defend the integrity of our democracy." Meanwhile, another prominent Republican, Rep. Justin Amash, tweeted that he was considering challenging Republican leaders. He added, "I can imagine how it must feel to have accomplished what others haven't. I cannot imagine wanting to leave an organization after reaching a collective goal." However, the most shocking declaration came from Rep. John Katko, R-FL, who announced that he would challenge House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) in a primary election. It is unclear whether or not Katko's threat is authentic because he has no political affiliation outside of being the chairman of the House Judiciary Committee. Overall, the statement generated a lot of discussion in Congress and beyond about politics as usual. Although Pelosi stated that she had been "working on these issues since day one," she also commented that there were instances when her colleagues "used the words impeachment without taking a position." In conclusion, the Republican leadership's announcements that they would oppose Trump's removal from office was not unexpected.
