Government & Politics

How Pa.’s members of Congress reacted to Trump impeachment articles

By: John L. Micek - December 10, 2019 1:15 pm

On Tuesday, President Donald Trump made history by becoming just the fourth American president to face impeachment by the U.S. House of Representatives.

The majority-Democrat chamber unveiled two articles of impeachment against Trump, stemming from his conversation earlier this year with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, where he made U.S. military aid and a White House visit conditional on an investigation of former Vice President Joe Biden.

The articles charge Trump with abusing the power of his office and obstructing Congress’ inquiry of his conduct, according to The Washington Post.

“We must be clear: No one, not even the president, is above the law,” House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerrold Nadler, D-N.Y., where he was joined by U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., and other House leaders, the Post reported.

Here is how every member of Pennsylvania’s Congressional delegation responded to Tuesday’s history-making announcement. This rolling list will be updated as more reaction becomes available.

U.S. Sen. Bob Casey, D-Pa:

U.S. Sen. Pat Toomey, R-Pa.:

U.S. Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick, R-1st District:

U.S. Rep. Brendan Boyle, D-2nd District: Boyle’s office told the Morning Call of Allentown that Boyle supports both impeachment articles.

U.S. Rep. Dwight Evans, D-3rd District: “Today is a somber and historic day, necessary for upholding our oath of office and the Constitution,” Evans said in a statement. “Benjamin Franklin said after the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia that we have ‘a republic, if you can keep it.’ House Democrats intend to keep it.”

U.S. Rep. Madeleine Dean, D-4th District: “President Trump withheld crucial, Congressionally-appropriated military aid to Ukraine – a democratic ally under siege from Russia – in exchange for a promise from Ukraine’s president to investigate our President’s domestic political rival,” Dean wrote in a Capital-Star op-Ed published Tuesday. “President Trump’s corruption and self-dealing are breathtaking; his willingness to risk the lives of allied soldiers is heartbreaking; and his eagerness to undermine American elections for his own gain is unprecedented.”

U.S. Rep. Mary Gay Scanlon, D-5th District:

No president in history has used the power of the Presidency to betray our democracy & corrupt our elections as this one has. Abuse of power & obstruction of Congress are the highest of high crimes under our Constitution.

President Trump must be impeached.#DefendOurDemocracy https://t.co/yLLkAp6Huq

— Congresswoman Mary Gay Scanlon (@RepMGS) December 10, 2019

U.S. Rep. Chrissy Houlahan, D-6th District: Houlahan’s office told the Morning Call that she is “reserving judgment until the final articles come to the Floor after being marked up by Judiciary.”

U.S. Rep. Susan Wild, D-7th District:

“It is with sincere sorrow that I will be voting in support of the articles of impeachment introduced this morning against President Donald Trump.

“I did not come to Congress to impeach the president. I ran for office to bring down health care and prescription drug costs, raise wages, fix our trade agreements, rebuild our infrastructure, combat the opioid epidemic, and expand opportunity for my children and yours.

“But my most important responsibility is to uphold my oath of office to defend and protect the Constitution. And after thoroughly reviewing the testimony and evidence presented over the past several weeks, from career professionals and Trump Administration appointees alike, it is beyond clear to me that President Trump, through his interactions with Ukraine — an ally under attack by Russia — abused the powers of his office to put his own political interests above the interests of the American people.

“To make matters worse, President Trump then deliberately obstructed Congress’s constitutional oversight responsibilities — an egregious violation of our system of checks and balances and a betrayal of the vision set forth by our founding fathers of a government composed of three coequal branches.

“Make no mistake: this is by no means an easy decision. Throughout this process I was patient and deliberative, speaking out only when the president left me no choice but to do so. The House of Representatives must now conclude this process swiftly, and it is my hope that the Senate will conduct an impartial and expeditious trial — putting their dedication to our Constitution above partisan loyalties.

“I have heard from many constituents across the 7th District on this issue. It is important to me that they know that I carefully considered their perspectives, although I am aware that some among them will inevitably disagree with the decision I have come to. Moving forward, I will continue to work with my Republican and Democratic colleagues to tackle the priorities of the Greater Lehigh Valley. While today is a solemn one in the history of our country, we must work together to ensure a brighter tomorrow. I am honored to play a part in that effort, and I will keep working to unify all Americans so that we can build a better life for our children and for generations to come.”

(Via The Morning Call of Allentown)

U.S. Rep. Matt Cartwright, D-8th District:

U.S. Rep. Dan Meuser, R-9th District:

U.S. Rep. Scott Perry, R-10th District:

U.S. Rep. Lloyd Smucker, R-11th District:

Tweet, as of 12/6:

There is nothing “fun” about dividing and failing the American people.

What is clear is the Democrats agenda. They are more interested in doing what serves them best, not what serves the nation and the American people best.

As @realDonaldTrump says, “We’ll do it anyways.” https://t.co/krohJO3uP5

— Rep. Lloyd Smucker (@RepSmucker) December 6, 2019

U.S. Rep. Fred Keller, R-12th District: “The announcement of articles of impeachment today is a sad day for our republic,” Keller said in a statement released by his office. “Those who do not like President Trump’s policies and resent him working to restore the power of the government to the people have worked tirelessly from the moment he announced he was running for President to find any possible means to tear him down.

“The articles of impeachment announced today are not fueled by any facts or first-hand accounts, but rather a fantastical hatred for the President of the United States of America.”

“The actions of Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff, and their House Democratic colleagues have done—and will continue to do—nothing but tear this country apart.”

U.S. Rep. John Joyce, R-13th District: “Speaker Pelosi and House Democrats have been planning to impeach President Trump since Election Day 2016. For years, they have sought to undermine the President and prevent him from fulfilling his Constitutional responsibilities, Joyce said in a statement released by his office. “Since gaining control of the House in January, Speaker Pelosi and House Democrats have obsessed over endless investigations of the Trump Administration, grasping at straws while withholding evidence from elected Members of Congress.”

“In spite of this sham impeachment process, the American people have yet to see any direct evidence of wrongdoing. Rather than point to facts, the impeachment inquiry has revealed the depth of House Democrats’ disdain for President Trump and their disregard of the legitimate votes of the American people, including the constituents of PA-13,” he continued. “Under the leadership of Speaker Pelosi, this process has been a failure, specifically in transparency and fairness, that is beneath the dignity of the U.S. House of Representatives.”

U.S. Rep. Guy Reschenthaler, R-14th District:

House Democrats want to impeach @realDonaldTrump because they know how much he has done for our nation:

✅Red hot economy
✅Unemployment rate the lowest in 50 years
✅China at the negotiating table
✅Better trade deals for the American worker (2/2)

— Rep. Guy Reschenthaler (@GReschenthaler) December 9, 2019

U.S. Rep. Glenn ‘GT’ Thompson, R-15th District:

“Impeachment has been a foregone conclusion for the Democrats. By politicizing the most severe powers reserved for Congress, they will undoubtedly leave a lasting stain on the institution. After considering all of the information presented, I have only heard emotional arguments that do not rise to the level of impeachment. Therefore, I will not vote in favor of the articles of impeachment. The American people deserve much better than this spectacle, and I encourage my colleagues to refrain from trying to score cheap political points on the campaign trail and get back to the people’s work,” Thompson said in a statement obtained by The Morning Call.

U.S. Rep. Mike Kelly, R-16th District:
A Dec. 9 Facebook post:

U.S. Rep. Conor Lamb, D-17th District:

U.S. Rep. Mike Doyle, D-18th District:

A retweet on Dec. 9:

Today, @HouseIntel and @HouseJudiciary committees will present to the American people its evidence on the Impeachment Inquiry of President Donald J. Trump. #DefendOurDemocracy https://t.co/Yulpqo8vyv

— House Democrats (@HouseDemocrats) December 9, 2019

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