Let’s get right to it, shall we? Today the House voted on proceeding with the impeachment proceedings with 232 in favor and 196 voting no. No surprise; the voting followed party lines.
Speaker Nancy Pelosi spelled it out in clear terms:
‘What is at stake is our democracy. What are we fighting for? Defending our democracy for the people.’
The genius of the Constitution, a separation of powers. Three coequal branches of government to be a check and balance on each other,’ Pelosi told colleagues.
‘Sadly this is not any cause for any glee or comfort. This is something that is very solemn that is something prayerful.’ Addressing arguments that the House was authorizing something that has already begun, she said: ‘We had to gather so much information to take us to this next step.’
Meanwhile, angry Republicans accused the speaker of running a ‘cult.’ And apparently Trump was behind the scenes wildly calling on Republicans to stand with him and re-tweeting messages from his supporters.
What does this mean exactly? The just-passed resolution outlines the rights and procedures that will guide the process including the ‘public presentation of evidence’ and how Mr. Trump and his legal team will be able to eventually mount a defense.
This is only the third time in modern history that the House has taken a vote on an impeachment inquiry into a sitting president.