Predictable, partisan impeachment an ‘assault on America’, says Donald Trump

Until the end, Donald Trump declared war against his impeachment, never admitting to the acts that led to the historic vote.

It was appropriate that when Don­ald Trump became only the third US president to be impeached, he was in a place called “Battle Creek” urging his loyal supporters to deliver a fiery revenge to Democrats in next year’s election.

Until the end, Mr Trump declared an unrelenting war against his impeachment, never admitting wrongdoing or remorse for the acts that led to the historic vote on Thursday in the House of Representatives.

Even as the house debated his fate, Mr Trump thumped out angry tweets declaring that his ­impeachment was an “ATROCIOUS LIE” and an “ASSAULT ON AMERICA”. He even urged his supporters to pray for him.

Donald Trump urged his supporters to pray for him. Picture: AP

At the very time the President was impeached by the house — in a split screen moment for the ages — he told the rally at Battle Creek in the key state of Michigan that impeachment would be “a political suicide march for the Democrat party”. “After three years of sinister witch hunts, hoaxes, scams, tonight house Democrats are trying to nullify the ballots of tens of ­millions of patriotic Americans,” he said.

Democrat house Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who claims somewhat dubiously that she prays for the President, walked into the house chamber for the big day dressed in funeral black. Her job was to execute a partisan impeachment that was all but certain from the day the Democrats launched their inquiry into the Ukraine controversy three months ago.

Ms Pelosi began the house debate by saying “if we do not act now, we would be derelict in our duty. It is tragic that the President’s reckless actions make impeachment necessary. He gave us no choice.”

Democrat house Speaker Nancy Pelosi walked into the house chamber for the big day dressed in funeral black. Picture: AFP

Republicans in the house mocked her claim that it was a sad and solemn occasion, accusing Democrats of using false solemnity to hide their glee at finally impeaching a president they have detested since he upset Hillary Clinton in 2016.

“I do not believe (them),” said Doug Collins, the ranking Republican on the house judiciary committee. “This is not a solemn occasion ... when you are looking for something for three years, you ought to be excited when you found it.”

Meanwhile, Mr Trump fired off tweets. “Can you believe that I will be impeached today by the Radical Left, Do Nothing Democrats, AND I DID NOTHING WRONG!” He tweeted. “A terrible Thing. Read the Transcripts. This should never happen to another President again. Say a PRAYER!”

Can you believe that I will be impeached today by the Radical Left, Do Nothing Democrats, AND I DID NOTHING WRONG! A terrible Thing. Read the Transcripts. This should never happen to another President again. Say a PRAYER!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 18, 2019

As Trump critics held rallies outside the Capitol building and around the country celebrating his looming impeachment, members of the house delivered an endless stream of two-minute speeches condemning or defending the President.

There were some strange moments, including when Republican Barry Loudermilk said Jesus before his crucifixion was afforded more due process than Mr Trump.

Another Republican, Mike Kelly, compared the day to Pearl Harbor, using Franklin Roosevelt’s words to say this impeachment day would “live in infamy”.

Democrat Joe Kennedy III read a letter to his young children explaining his vote to impeach. “This is a moment you will read about in your history books,” he told them.

When the vote was finally taken, it unfolded as everyone expected. The house passed article one of abuse on power by 230 to 197 and article two on obstruction of congress by 229 votes to 198.

Only two Democrats opposed article one and three opposed ­article two.

Not a single Republican voted in favour of either article, the first time in US history that a president has been impeached without his party contributing a single vote ­towards it.

But the impeachment vote is a permanent stain on Mr Trump’s record and one he is furious about. With the vote, Mr Trump becomes the third US president behind Democrat Bill Clinton in 1998 and Andrew Johnson in 1868 to be ­impeached.

The house impeachment means the Senate will now conduct a trial beginning next month, where the Republican majority means Mr Trump will almost certainly be easily acquitted.

Ms Pelosi told the house it was “an established fact” the President had violated the constitution with his actions involving Ukraine and his obstruction of congress.

“It is a matter of fact that the President is an ongoing threat to our national security and the integrity of our elections, the basis of our democracy,” she said.

Ms Pelosi finished her address by saying “today we are here to defend democracy for the people” — a comment that led to a standing ovation from Democrats.

After the vote, Ms Pelosi said: “I could not be prouder or more inspired by the moral courage of the house Democrats.

“I view this vote as something that we did to honour the vision of our founders … to defend our democracy and the Republic and the aspirations of our children that they will always live in a democracy.”

The White House said the vote was “one of the most shameful political episodes in the history of our nation”.

“Without receiving a single Republican vote, and without providing any proof of wrongdoing, Democrats pushed illegitimate ­articles of impeachment against the President through the House of Representatives,” it said. “All of these antics make clear that Democrats have lost sight of what this country needs, which is a congress that works for the people.”