This archive report was first published on 14 December 2019.
The Breach Widens as Congress Nears a Partisan Impeachment ¶
Published on December 14, 2019
On the eve of the House Judiciary Committee's vote to impeach President Trump, Democratic Chairman Jerrold Nadler made a rare attempt at persuasion, urging his Republican colleagues to put aside partisan politics and work together to hold the president accountable for his actions.
However, the appeal fell on deaf ears, and the debate that followed was marked by rancor and personal attacks. The committee's vote to approve two articles of impeachment, charging Mr. Trump with abusing his power and obstructing Congress, was a foregone conclusion, with Democrats voting along party lines and Republicans making a last-ditch effort to strike the most critical lines from the articles.
Throughout the debate, lawmakers from both parties engaged in a heated and partisan exchange, with each side accusing the other of lying and demagoguery. The passion was similar, but the substance was not, with Democrats and Republicans living in different impeachment realities.
As the committee members delivered impassioned arguments, the weight of history hung in the air. The debate was a stark contrast to the rare moment of sincerity and persuasion that had marked the beginning of the proceedings.
Ultimately, the committee's vote to impeach President Trump was a partisan one, with Democrats voting along party lines and Republicans making a last-ditch effort to strike the most critical lines from the articles. The breach between the two parties had widened, and the country was left to grapple with the consequences of a deeply divided Congress.
