House debates impeachment of President Trump
(KION) The House voted to impeach President Donald Trump for a second time Wednesday, accusing him of incitement of insurrection.
This comes one week after Trump supporters breached the U.S. Capitol.
Here on the Central Coast, thoughts on this impeachment are largely divided along party lines. KION spoke with representatives from both parties Wednesday.
Local democrats feel the impeachment was appropriate after what happened at the Capitol, but local republicans KION spoke with think this is a losing battle with few days left until the President is out of office.
The Santa Cruz County Democratic Central Committee supports the move.
“I think it’s appropriate. I believe that the President of the United States led an insurrection against our government,” Santa Cruz County Democratic Central Committee Chairperson Coco Raner-Walter said.
She feels that President Trump has been inciting his supporters and that the impeachment sends a message to future presidents.
“There has to be consequences for unacceptable, illegal behavior. He is not above the law. If you or I had done that, we would be in jail,” Raner-Walter said.
But Jeff Gorman with the Monterey County Republican Party said it’s far fetched to say the president incited the riot.
"I didn’t hear anything like a smoking gun where he was telling who to do what. That doesn’t mean someone somewhere wasn’t orchestrating and ordering this be done or that be done, but I certainly didn't hear President Trump do that,” Gorman said.
Gorman told KION he feel this is more of a partisan issue with leadership.
“Nancy Pelosi and Chuck Shumer are trying to bury Mr. Trump as much as they can and censor him,” Gorman said.
While the house secured a majority vote for impeachment, it remains to be seen if this will get through the senate.
“I think it’s fairly ridiculous to impeach someone 6 days before they leave office," Gorman said. “It will probably be a losing battle for this to get time and hearing in the senate after President Trump has already left office.”
Trump leaves office on Jan. 20. It would take a vote from two-thirds of the US Senate to remove the president.
Click here for live updates as members debate on the House floor: https://kion546.com/national-politics/2021/01/13/live-updates-jordan-reads-statement-from-trump-on-house-floor/
