House Votes 332-95 To Kill Articles Of Impeachment, Displaying Democratic Divide

The House of Representatives voted on Wednesday to kill articles of impeachment introduced by Rep. Al Green (D-Texas) after the president tweeted on Sunday that four congresswomen of color should “go back” to where they came from.

In a 332-95 vote the measure was swiftly killed in a whole-chamber vote this week. The Democratic Party leadership, including the Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-California), Majority Whip Jim Clyburn (D-South Carolina), House Democratic Caucus Chairman Hakeem Jeffries (D-New York), and House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Maryland) sided with the Republicans in ending the bill, reflecting the standing establishment view that impeachment was not a sound strategy.

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The party leadership faced considerable opposition from within its own party, as 95 Democratic representatives chose to break with their leaders and vote for impeachment. This most recent vote is a clear indicator of how while Pelosi is still in charge of her chamber, party infighting is continuing to grow. Before President Donald Trump tweeted his attacks on the four House freshmen, the lawmakers⁠—Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-New York), Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-Michigan), Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minnesota), and Rep. Ayanna Pressley (D-Massachusetts)⁠—were engaged in a battle with the speaker over her alleged singling out of representatives of color.

Green first introduced articles of impeachment in 2017 over the president’s inflaming of racial tensions, but only received around 50 votes in support of his bill. While he received more support this time around, many question why he decided to attempt impeachment now, a week before former Special Counsel Robert Mueller is set to testify before House committees.

“We must bring forward our best evidence on obstruction, emoluments violations, and other potential crimes — not simply focus on the president’s latest horrible remarks, harmful though they are. I worry that the House of Representatives would forfeit its vital role in this process if today’s resolution passed,” Rep. Don Beyer (D-Virginia) said in a statement criticizing Green for attacking the president’s personality instead of his criminal actions.