WASHINGTON, D.C. (KERO) — On Wednesday 218 democrats and 10 House Republicans voted in favor to impeach President Donald Trump. Including Kern County Congressman David Valadao. Shortly after the vote Valadao tweeting the reason behind his decision.
"Based on the facts before me, I have to go with my gut and vote my conscience. I voted to impeach President Trump. His inciting rhetoric was un-American, abhorrent, and absolutely an impeachable offense. It’s time to put country over politics."
Now that Trump has been impeached again the next move must come from the Senate. Unlike a majority House vote for impeachment the Constitution requires a two-thirds vote of the Senate to convict.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell rejected an attempt to call the chamber into an emergency session for an impeachment trial of Trump. McConnell stating, proceedings won't occur until after Trump leaves office and it's still unclear when he will call the Senate back next week.
Jeremy Adams, a political analyst, and lecturer says, the big question the Senate must answer next is will they reach a two-thirds majority?
"Mitch McConell has said that he actually favors impeachment. You have people like the senator of Utah Mitt Romney who have spoken out very vociferously and passionately against the president. You have people like Ben Sasse of Nebraska. You have all these people who would very easily say yes but that doesn't mean you'll get to 67. That's why we've had three presidential impeachments, but we've never had a removal, even though Andrew Johnson came within one vote," said Adams.
Another question the senate must consider is if this is the correct course to take once a president has left office?
"The constitution is very clear about what you do with presidents who seem to have violated the law after they leave office, and that is that they go into a normal court and they have a normal trial, and they have normal hearings," said Adams.
Adams suggests politicians on both sides of the isle may favor a senate trial to stop trump from running again in the future.
"I think even some republicans would probably favor the Senate trial as a way of saying he can never run again, we don't want any mischief in 2024. Let's move on."
