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Impeached, Again

2021-01-14 | 🔗

“A clear and present danger.” Those were the words used by Nancy Pelosi to describe President Trump, and the main thrust of the Democrats’ arguments for impeachment on the House floor.

While most House Republicans lined up against the move, this impeachment, unlike the last, saw a handful vote in favor.

Today, we walk through the events of Wednesday, and the shifting arguments that led up to the history-making second impeachment.

Guest: Maggie Haberman, a White House correspondent for The New York Times. 

For an exclusive look at how the biggest stories on our show come together, subscribe to our newsletter. You can read the latest edition here.

Background reading: 

For more information on today’s episode, visit nytimes.com/thedaily 

This is an unofficial transcript meant for reference. Accuracy is not guaranteed.
From New York Times. Unlike other borrow, this is a deal today for the second time president. Try, is impeded by the United States House of Representatives. This time, with the support of Republicans white, reporter Maggie Haven on the historic vote and what happens now? It's Thursday January fourteenth. Maggie. I want to start with what we understood heading in to this historic day, the impeachment a present from for the second time so, Michael as this day began, a number of factors had come into play. Vice president, MIKE
had made clear to Democrats in the house that he was not considering invoking the twenty fifth amendment and moving to remove President Trump from office. That meant that impeachment was the the option forward for House Democrats if they wanted to move before he leaves office now we knew it there small number of Republicans in the house who were speaking on saying they supported impeachment and would vote in favour of those articles. one of them was very significant. It was less trainee converse from. Why homing, who is number three? house european leadership and, of course, the daughter of a former republican vice president, the daughter of a form republican vice president and very much a representative of an school establishment wing of party, who has been supportive of the president,
not unconditionally, and she released this statement the night before the impeachment vote that set the stage for her thinking and why she was going to vote the way she did and what she said was without mincing words quote the President of the United States. Some under this mob assembled this mob and lit the flame of this attack. Everything that followed was his doing. None of this would have happened without president. The president could have immediately and forcefully intervene to stop the violence. He did not that's a bow as strongly worded a statement as you can imagine from a member of it a party- and this is the number three republican and ass. Absolutely we have heard few notes: condemnation from Democrats that were held sure than this, and we have heard very You condemnations from Republicans that did not offer some fig leaf to other Republicans by
So criticising Democrats at the same time was Cheney, went right at President Trump and made very clear that she is laying the blame for last week's violence and last week's deaths in the capital at his feet. So heading into, one What we understood is that this in what was going to be different because, unlike the last in which not a single Republican voted for impeachment this, was very likely to be a bipartisan impeachment Donald Trump. That's exactly right, Michael and its signal can not because there is such a volume of Republicans who were going to vote for it there warrant, but it was significant because the first impeachment president Trump which took place in the house a little over a year ago. There were zero. Republicans was a strict party line vote and the republican leadership in the house the Senate whooping their members to keep
them in line to support president Trump. That is the opposite of what we are seeing right now house, minority leader in the car. They made very clear that he favoured a censure motion. He does not favour impeachment when he did think that the President hell blame for last week, and that is a friend and Mitch. Mcconnell had let it be known heading into today that, while the Senate, if there is a trial, was not going to be involved for a little while ago that he was pleased by what Democrats were do as Jonathan Martin and I reported, and that he was open to voting our conviction, that is a huge difference to rights overcome traditional scaffolding of protection that we expect from The republican Party, it was just gone. Certain the scaffolding that we have seen under President Tromp, which has just been an iron fist, was gone. It didn't wipe out completely.
Surely in the house, where a lot of these Republicans or from districts where Donald Trump is very popular, The tone of it all was very different than what we saw last time so maybe describe how this day starts in Washington more so Michael, the day began with a site. We had never before, and the images were striking and drawing up of National guard soldiers just everywhere, sleeping on the floor in the capital. in long rows, lying down inside the capital visitors Centre, which is this huge cavernous chamber, it was a story. Scene of militarization of the capital which We will see for several days going forward now because of the attack. On the building and because there, as a presidential inauguration Washington next week at that building, and it was against this backdrop that the house has convened
and law makers who had been the subject of this attack at this very place, began, debate over whether to impeach the president for having allegedly instigated at the German from New York Minster. Now those seek recognition. Members vigour restored the house resolution, forty one, I cuelap house resolution twenty four and ask your immediate consideration in the house- might do something very personal about all of us, because the targets of the debate are now holding the impeach the debate is very close to their hearts. Absolutely Michael! This happened to all of them, but to Nancy Policy in particular. She was hunted by members of this riot crime. This is a deeply deeply personal thing Many speakers have one minute to distinguish speaker the house, the gentle lady from California miserable right and core she starts things.
and begins to present the case against president taking a speaker. I thank you. Four yielding importers, leadership. That's right and her me, case by the house, speaker was a Democrat, was that the president is a clear and present danger to the country. We now that we face enemies of the constitution we now we experienced the insurrection that violated the sanctity of the people's capital and attempting to overturn the duly recorded will of the american people, and we know that the President of the United States inside it this insurrection, this armed rebellion against our common country. He must go. He is a clear and in danger to the nation that we all love. She then pointed to the fact that, since the election in November fits the presidential election in November, an election the president lost he has
Heatedly lied about the outcome and sewed self serving doubt about democracy, Irving doubt about democracy and unconstitutionally, sought to influence state officials to repeal reality, and then she described and then came the day of fire. That day of fire LOL experienced the president must be a page and I believe the president must be conducted by the Senate, a constitutional remedy that will ensure that the republic will be safe from this man. It was so resolutely determined to tear down the things that we hold dear and that hold us gather full Maggie like this was the recurring and central case for impeachment. From Denmark, on a house floor on Wednesday and in some ways it's pretty simple every day down trumpets president. He presents an ongoing danger to our lives as members of this body and
to the lives of Americans. That's exactly right is a clear and present danger, so the health safety and well being of the american people. Donald Trump, is a living, breathing and people of it. We don't have a minute to spare he's a clear and present danger to the people. That is why, even though its only seven days before the end of his term, we have the fierce urgency of now. Seven days is too long for him to be in power. He could declassified state secrets. He could monetize NASH the draft report as its area? Can you get even hours? Time is its by the person the woman is expanding down a new round of near their case is not just about last week. Their cases. The last week was combination of two months,
damaging lies told by the present United States for two months. Donald Trump use the biggest megaphone in the world to organise a campaign of outright lies to overturn a free and fair elections, and that his lies had consequences because his supporters hearted as a call to action to go to the capital and do damage they were radicalized by his lies and conspiracy theories. He spent months fuelling many of which I have heard on this floor. The last week you had Representative Castra from Florida thanking Mr Speaker arise today to urge the impeachment of Donald Trump describe it as the single most depraved betrayal of the? U S: constitutional mouth, deprave, betrayal, of the! U S constitution ever committed by a president ever committed by a precedent, Incitement, so how did democrats clues out their case for impeachment? This is it troubled turn a third time.
It is time we're all of us have stood almost to a person and lamented the violence and the assault on this capital and the assault on democracy itself, sustaining higher the house. Temperature democratic got up and he called on Republicans with a pretty urgent call. Soon the clerk will pull the role he said soon, the clerical com- roll and ask for our votes. Make no mistake. This will be no ordinary roll call with just seven days left in the present term. This vote is not about timing, it is about principle and fidelity to our constitution somewhere demonstrates that this is not just about the momentary consequence of behaviour, because
Much about the Donald Trump error has just been about being in the present. These votes will be on the role of history, a record of courage and of our commitment to country and constitution of our commitment to the rule of law and renewal of that which we inherited and hope to pass on, unbroken unshattered, scribes. This is a moment that history is going to record and remember not just about one day at the capital its clearly a message, not so much directed at his democratic colleagues at the Republicans on the other side of that room. It is a message intended for Republicans who Democrats how many of them, not all of them by any means, but many of them are deeply disturbed by what and last week and hoping to appeal, them to join them in voting for impeachment flyers. This house, who, among us Muslims,
who will be recorded on the role of history for their courage. Their commitment, the constitution and their country vote for this forum. Where are you back the balance by TAT time, fire to house resolution? Forty one? Yes, we'll be right back
Even when we have to be a part, sales forces finding new ways to bring companies and customers together its sights of helping companies, you their teams on one customer relationship management platform, so they can deliver the seamless experiences that keep customers happy with sales force, customers Sixty everything from marketing the customer service can operate under one digital roof, breaking I'm silos in giving you a comprehensive single source of truth to learn more had to sales force. That comes three sixty hi, I'm clarity, tennis gutter, I'm one of the many names you here in the list of credits on the daily every week, a big part of my job as a producer is shocking. My colleagues to New York Times reporters to get their expertise on the news. But we also want to explore the human side of the news and so another
Part of my job is talking to people about how they are experiencing what's happening in the world that can mean walking to people on the street, making cold cause. its many months, making sure we represent all sides of restoring whether it's about what shapes what of identity is or how a copy. with crises. We always like there's something to learn from these conversations we Did you ever listeners that these types of stories are what makes the daily special and we want it? He bringing them to you, we can't that without subscriber support. If you haven't I have to the New York Times. You can do that at an Mai times, dot com, Slash subscribed and thanks turn to Republicans baggy and when they had to say during this impeachment too, but you had told us that the de began with the understanding that a small handful of them would vote to impeach but, of course, it was just going to be a small. That's right, Michael, the White House was prepared for as many as two dozen, but they were hopeful
It would be a small group and it was indeed a relatively small group. It was a minority of the minority that minority most of them were never going to be behind this in general, and they offered a bunch of different reasons, basically, four or five as to why they weren't, whereas the Democrats were very united, what they were saying about not just impeachment but about the violence. Last week Republicans were sort of splintering let's talk about those republican arguments. What was the first camp here that we heard from So one of the main camps that we heard from of defenders of the president historically, the gentleman from Ohio was recognized, was led by another speaker. You myself, times are making Jim Jordan of Ohio is a house freedom, carcass member and an ally of the president's ninety minutes
four years ago, on inauguration day January 20th, two thousand and seventeen nineteen minutes into President Trump's administration. At one thousand, two hundred and nineteen p dot M the Washington Post headline was campaign to impeach. President Trump has to be and he began by making an argument, you could have imagined hearing how to download trumps own twitter feed if he still had one in three: your Mahler investigation, nineteen lawyers, forty agents, five hundred witnesses, twenty five hundred subpoenas, forty million dollars to find nothing where he said. Basically, Democrats want to cancel the president, why politics and the fact that they wanted they want to cancel the president salt been about getting the president, no matter. What that this effort essentially began when he took office seems to me that impeachment is an issue that doesn't go away with just one scratch and Jordan was joined in this pipeline
mad gates of Florida. Another staunch ally of the president. This president has faced unprecedented hatred and resistance from big media, big tech and big egos from congressional leaders on both sides of the Isle, who just like Jordan betrayed this is the combination of yours, long effort to wound President Trump, I denounced political violence from all ends of the spectrum, but make no mistake. The left in America has incited far more political violence than the right for months. Our cities burned police stations, burned subsided. The metaphor that the President lit the flame will very let actual flames, actual fires, and we spire and there will be an order right to this camp can be summarized as unbridled in its defence of Troy
and seeing this impeachment as just another chapter in what they see as Democrats singular focus on undermining as president, but there really acknowledging what happened last week and the president's role in it. That's exactly right. They made no mention of the president's speech. Were the president's repeated claims, false claims election had been stolen from him. The German from California is recognised for four minutes. There was bigger. You know I didn't like the president's speech on January six. It was wrong to set such a confrontational tone and politically tense situation, but what did he actually say? So? The next group of Republicans need the argument that lock this article impeachment is fundamentally flawed and on technical basis quote. I know that everyone here will soon be marching over the capital building to peacefully and patriotically make your voice is heard. Unquote,
as the president cited a riot, but that's not provable and that's unimpeachable. That's called politics. He s politician, saying incendiary things all the time when this Led by a congressmen, Tom Mclean, talk and he made a very interesting claim. He said if WHAM paged, every politician, who gave a fiery space to a crowd of partisans, this capital would be. Deserted every politician who ever made a fiery speech were impeached. This room would be empty He is arguing. This congressmen is, is saying basically that lunatics or are going to be lunatics and essentially that politics often attracts lunatics, but it did seem to ignore the evidence that some writers had said We are here where the capital, because the president told us to be here that is recorded, that is on tape. As the next camp, I've Republicans during his hearing Armstrong the gentleman from
the quotas working. There is for one minute, Frank, you, Madam Speaker, what happened last Wednesday is an absolute tragedy and not only where are we part of dealing with it? Now we were part of it that, but when emotions are afraid and tensions, are this high process matters more? so it matters more. Their argument, Michael this third group of Republicans, was that these speed, this impeachment, which which was extraordinarily fast, could not possibly be fair to President Trump has any one of those individuals who brought violence on this capital been brought here to answer whether they do that because of our president, that there was not time for real investigation, there are no witnesses, no hearings
So there was a forty eight hour impeachment process and therefore a rush to judgment and condemn this is so dangerous. What you're doing forgetting all the pressure we can argue back and forth, but you're using this is a weapon and your destroying this little experiment. Self government, in a year's time on this time, has expired. It needs are just a yoke back and part of where that argument from this group of Republicans Michael got some traction even with dammit, that's privately, but with some Democrats, was that as policy was weighing the impeachment process she allowed house membership a home for the weekend concern was losing time, and if this is an emergency,
then we should be moving now. There is something to be said for the fact that in impeachment process is supposed to have witnesses and hearings and evidence. Ah, the flip side of that is this event took place in the capital for an at the capitol these members witnessed a lot of it. So that argument is that the normal rules of necessary hearings and presenting evidence are made. No, because people saw things what allies, but does the unique case in which lawmakers themselves are basically witnesses exactly ok. So what about the fourth group? I Republicans this insane ways. Michael is the largest camp and their argument is that the president's behaviour was wrong. They are displeased with him. There disappointed him, but that impeachment is a trauma on the country. It is bad for country it was so disunity and
is the wrong way for the button. Ministration too began. California, Mister Mcmurphy, gentlemen from California, is recognised for one minute legitimate freely. Madam speaker, let me be clear and most prominently of all, among Republicans in this argument was Taos republican Minority later Kevin Mccarthy. The president bears responsibility for Wednesdays attack on Congress by mob. leaders who went out of his way to make clear who was responsible for the attack from say the riots were caused by intifada. There is absolutely no evidence of that key dismissed the president's suggestions that it was And if I said it was not, you should have, admittedly, denounced the mob when he saw what was unfolding these facts,
require immediate action, but president trunk, and he said that the present is responsible for it and should be held accountable. Truly this past week, with one of the most difficult for Congress and our nation, He said the last Wednesday was the worst thing I have ever seen in Congress soon in Congress or country is deeply hurt, but here is what a vote to impeach would do. A vote to impeach would further divide this nation. but he said the Congress members need to remember that there could still hear to deliver a better future for all Americans, but times like these, when we must remember who we are ass, Americans and what we as a nation stand for and in its history shows you know about not an option and the necessity and these trying times, may God continued to bless America unless chart a course that history will PETE but not what's happening today,
you're back the german Niels benefits. So what do you make of? What Mccarthy is up to here in this speech? Mccarthy is trying to. make clear that he condemns the behaviour in part for the institution in part, because he believes it politically the right thing to do, but in part, because I think he is, is genuinely second by what he saw last week, but he's also got a carcass. There is much trump easier than the Senate there lot of house Republicans who are from districts where Donald Trump remains very popular and he is trying. To maintain his leadership role, while also coming the behaviour and not allowing president from in his post presidency to contain to galvanise the Republican Party the way he has in the past, and this very different in tone and tenor than Matt Gates or Jim Jordan, but at the end of the day, not to see all of them as a kind of collective.
finding a way to defend the president against the most dire consequence. Is of a very deadly event that, by all accounts, the present it played a clear will in triggering that's exactly right, at the end of the day, Republicans as it is a case where a bulwark against this impeachment so who were those are up against besides List Cheney, who said that they were willing in there. is to vote to impeach baby, Mr Jordan. Madam speaker, this is a sad day and our republic but not a sad or disheartening. As the violence we witnessed in the capital last Wednesday, we are all responsible for those who who signal that they were going to vote in support of the article on peace.
Were congressmen Dan New House of Washington state? These articles of impeachment are flawed and he still criticized the articles. Impeachment said they were flawed, but that he would not use process as an excuse. There is no excuse for president transactions that there was no excuse for the president's actions. That is why, with a heavy heart and clear resolved, I will vote yes on these articles of impeachment, and then there were was his colleague from Washington, Jamie Herrera Butler, my fellow Americans. I rise today to stand against our enemy and to clarify our enemy. Isn't the president or the President Elect fear? Is our enemy,
and she asked what our colleagues were afraid of, I'm afraid of what people will say or think, I'm afraid of being devalued, I'm not afraid of losing my job, but I am afraid that my country will fail, I'm afraid- and she said that her vote for teaching the sitting president was not fear based. I am not using aside and choosing truth. It's the only way to defeat Germany, that it was the only way to defeat fear, reserve, Maggie the most senior Republican to call for impeachment whose statement you read the beginning. This conversation list any she did not speak On Wednesday from the floor, she was silent and I wonder why you think that was what I think- and this is my my guess, based on the weakest politics. Is, and the way that part of the general works is it's a lot safer to put out a paper, stable then you have a video like that of yourself, giving that speech that would it
used over and over again against you. So in the same way that commerce one Where was asking her colleagues what they were afraid of in not voting to support? The impeachment articles, I think, even though is Cheney, did support them there is still some fear of the future associate with doing so. All time for debate has expired pursuant to house resolution, forty one. The previous question is ordered on the resolution. So after this to our debate, the votes were cast. Her say, I suppose, say now pity and other charity eyes habit. It was two hundred and thirty two in support of the articles impeachment one, ninety seven against and ten of those in support or Republicans
which was less than I suppose the White House, feared, but still ten Republicans it was less than the white has feared. It was still ten more Republicans and voted for impeachment, the first time against President Trump little over a year ago, and that is a sign that his vice like grip on the party as he is leaving the White House at his on hand diminished figure that vice, like grip, has listened somewhat what happens now with this article of impeachment. How quickly will it had to the Senate? How quickly do expect a trial to start is not entirely clear, Michael because Mitch, Mcconnell has said, he is not going to bring the Senate back this week for a speedy trial before president from police office, so that leaves the fate of incoming majority leader Chuck shimmer. Moment. Is there a belief based on it
factions in the house, which tends to be more conservative than the Senate and the Republican Party that there, will be enough. Republican votes to convict present Trump its really to say, Michael and a lot of it will depend on what the president does in the coming days. If he continues to make inflammatory statements, he is guaranteeing. There will be more Republicans who vote against him, but if he is quiet and doesn't cause further damage to himself and to them, there might be fewer votes than the White House feared right now, but at a major question is what Mitch Mcconnell does. He has said his open to voting time that's not in those words, but that was the thrust of his statement and that is dangerous for President Trump because the council has been as protector in many ways over the last four years. You begin to at this, the president's behavior. What was he doing on one
day during this forward, so he was at the White House. While this vote was taking place following it. Along watching some coverage and recording a video Marcelo emerge from the oval office. I want to speak to you tonight about the troubling events of the past week. it was a form in video from behind the resolute desk. I want to be very clear. I unequivocally condemn the violence that we saw last He urged supporters not to engage in violence next week. Mob violence goes against everything I believe in and everything our movement stands. For. No true supporter of mind could ever endorse political violence. He insisted he condemns. Violence of any kind
ever MOB violence was his specific phrase. Like all of you, I was shocked and deeply saddened by the calamity at the capitalist. He did not mention the hundred the five people who died. the capital, we have seen too many riots too many mobs too many acts of intimidation and destruction. It must stop. He did not mention that here too Unimpeached, those who, in the attacks last week, will be brought to justice, and he did not mention like Joe Biden, but he did say that people
engage in violence, as we saw last week, our current quote attacking Trump movement. If you do any of these things, you're not supporting our movement, your attack in it and your attack in our country, we can not tolerated, and that was the furthest that he has gone since wednesdays violence. Let us choose to move forward united for the good of our families are communities and our country. Thank you. God bless you and God bless America. The video was in some ways for an audience of one and an audience of one is much Mcconnell to try to keep him from conducting and supporting any effort to further curtail president trumpet It was also taped because. Presidents president's advisers have repeatedly warned him. He could have legal exposure related to what took place last week.
Now not everyone agrees that the extent recently of illegal exposure, but that is one of the few things that president from in his life responds to an he did today. maggie. What you just said really me because when we talk of an audience of one over these past four years, always meant republican speaking to the president, and perhaps a testament to the present plug fortunes in this moment that when you said audience of one, it was the president speaking too much Mcconnell that power dynamic has changed the power dynamic, has changed dramatically. The world has shifted under president trumps feed very fast again in his own hand, but he does not come for others, the way he once did and he
to make sure the Mitch Mcconnell does not move more forcefully against whom I thank you Maggie you. Thank you. Thank you, Michael. I'll be right back traditional medicinal looks to the earth for all her Killing gifts, they believe that plants can do some pretty amazing things. That's why they use medicinal greater.
Like in Asia, eucalyptus and ginger in their teeth to help soothe and support your body. Naturally, every which way we turn mother need, or is there to remind us that she's got our back visit, traditional medicinal dot com, use coat and mighty twenty to see what makes their teeth so incredible. Here's what else you need tenderly on Wednesday, the F B. I urged police chiefs across the country to be on high alert. For extremist activity in the coming days, following The attack on the capital in a coal with police chiefs, the director of the F B, I warned of potential attacks on Steve Capitals, federal buildings and the homes members of Congress, yet the United States has said a new single day, death record in the pandemic, four thousand four hundred and six people
on January twelve that x. eat. The number of Americans who died. The attack on Pearl Harbor or the battle of Antietam, then deadliest battle of the civil war, explanations remains slow. So far about ten million, People have received their first dose far short, of a government school of twenty million by January. First tidies episode was produced by Rachel Cluster, asked the charter of eighty Michael Simon, Johnson and clear tennis getter. It was edited LISA chow each cow it Annalisa Tobin, an engineered by Chris would
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Transcript generated on 2021-01-15.