Today the House of Representatives voted to impeach President Trump for inciting an insurrection against the federal government. Ten Republicans broke party ranks to vote in favor. This came a week after pro-Trump extremists stormed the U.S. Capitol building, leaving five people dead.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said today he would not recall the Senate for a trial before Joe Biden’s inauguration next week, meaning Trump will likely finish his term. But McConnell didn’t rule out voting to convict Trump. He could bring enough Republicans with him to make Trump the first president ever convicted by the Senate.
“Congress doesn't move fast. But they moved fast here on this particular issue, I think, out of real concern about what the next week holds,” says Philip Bump, Washington Post national correspondent.
He describes the Republicans who voted to impeach Trump: “This was not just simply moderate Republicans trying to win in blue districts. … This is a lot of people in really deep red districts who decided to send a message to the president about his behavior.”