President Donald Trump is pictured on TV in this screengrab addressing supporters shortly before they stormed the Capitol on Jan. 6. Many Democrats and some Republicans blame Trump for the violence.

Staff Report

WASHINGTON – The US House of Representatives voted on Wednesday, Jan. 13, to impeach President Donal Trump for inciting last week’s riots at the Capitol that left five dead.

It marks the first time in US history that a president has been impeached twice.

The impeachment article was passed by a vote of 232-197 with 10 Republicans joining Democrats in support of the effort.

The article of impeachment specifically accuses Trump of inciting an insurrection.

The next step would be a trial in the Senate, which could result in Trump’s removal from office. But with just a week left in his term as president, that is not expected to happen.

The Senate could still take up the matter after Trump leaves office on Jan. 20 when Joe Biden is sworn in as the 46th president.

Both members of Congress who represent parts of Kosciusko County – 2nd District Rep. Jackie Walorski and 3rd District Rep. Jim Banks – voted against impeachment.

Walorski released the following statement after voting against the impeachment:

“In the wake of a divisive election and last week’s horrific attack on the U.S. Capitol, Congress should be entirely focused on uniting the American people and strengthening our country. Impeaching the president with less than a week left in his term will not advance either of these goals.

She continued: “President Trump has pledged an orderly transition to President-elect Biden’s administration, and I call on all Americans to support this effort by remaining peaceful and rejecting all violence. Anyone who commits violent or destructive acts will be held accountable to the fullest extent of the law.”

On Twitter, Banks posted a video summing up his vote.

“The Democrat party is dividing America when we should be doing everything we can to unite the country,” Banks said.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said he has “not made a final decision” on whether he would vote to convict the president during a trial.

Rep. Liz Cheney, of Wyoming, was the highest-ranking Republican to vote for impeachment. In a prepared statement, Cheney wrote:

“Much more will become clear in coming days and weeks, but what we know now is enough. The President of the United States summoned this mob, assembled the mob, and lit the flame of this attack. Everything that followed was his doing. None of this would have happened without the President. The President could have immediately and forcefully intervened to stop the violence. He did not. There has never been a greater betrayal by a President of the United States of his office and his oath to the Constitution.