Hawai‘i US Reps Vote in Favor of Trump Impeachment

A bipartisan majority in the US House of Representatives voted to impeach President Donald Trump on Wednesday.

US Congressmen Ed Case and Kai Kahele, both of Hawaiʻi, were among those who voted to impeach the president for “inciting violence against the United States government.”

“The Senate now has an obligation to act quickly, consider these charges, and conduct a fair trial,” said Rep. Case.

US Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) released a statement saying:

“The article of impeachment approved by the House of Representatives today lays out what we have all witnessed over the last few months – President Trump lied repeatedly about the results of a free and fair election, attempted to cheat by pressuring election officials, and incited an insurrection that resulted in a violent attack on the US Capitol and the deaths of five Americans.”

The single count of impeachment, approved by the House on a vote of 232-197, charged that President Trump incited the Jan. 6 violent attack on the US Capitol for the purpose of interfering with the US Congress’ constitutional duty to certify the results of the 2020 Presidential election.

“I carefully reviewed the resolution of impeachment, evidence, historical precedents, debate in the House, and the view of my constituents,” said Case. He continued saying:

“I concluded that the charges in the resolution were correct and that the extreme remedy of impeachment of the President was necessary and appropriate. I further concluded that for me to vote otherwise under these circumstances would be in dereliction of my own oath to defend our Constitution, would approve intolerable conduct by our President, and would set a deeply damaging and unacceptable precedent for future Congresses and Presidents.”

Case called it a “deeply troubling and sad day and week.” He said, “I take no pleasure in casting my second vote for impeachment of this President, but there was no other choice consistent with my duty. I can only recommit with all of my fellow citizens to finding our way through this dark chapter to a better way forward for our country.”

The resolution of impeachment is now referred to the US Senate, which must determine whether to convict or acquit the President of the specific charge of incitement.

The vote to impeach follows passage on Tuesday night of House Resolution 21, a measure that called on Vice President Michael Pence to invoke Section 4 of the 25th amendment to “declare President Donald J. Trump incapable of executing the duties of his office and to immediately exercise powers as acting President.” The Vice President informed US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi in a letter that he would not abide by that House resolution.

This is the second time the US House has voted to impeach Trump, a first in US history. In December 2019, a majority of House members approved two articles of impeachment charging the President with abuse of power and obstruction of Congress for his specific actions involving Ukraine. The Senate subsequently acquitted the President on both articles.