The impeachment vote had no tricks — and no treats
Washington may have celebrated, collectively, over the Nationals’ World Series win this week, but that’s the only real recent example of Capitol Hill coming together.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s call for a House vote to formalize the impeachment investigation’s procedures caused both parties to dig in their heels as the impeachment inquiry moves out from behind closed doors.
The House’s historic first vote on impeachment (held on Halloween) went as expected, splitting along party lines (of 232-196) saw all but two Democrats stick together to support formalizing the investigation’s next steps. Those two “no” votes came from Democrats who just won in 2018 in districts Trump won last presidential cycle.
Meanwhile, the Republicans stuck together, with none siding with the Democrats as Trump and his backers made it clear that the vote was a proxy for impeachment — and Trump himself.
Trump continued to dig in on the root of the impeachment issue, saying on Thursday that “at some point, I’m going to sit down, perhaps as a fireside chat on live television” to read the transcript with his phone call with Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky. The President maintained that “when you read it, it’s a straight call.”
Questions around that transcript continue to come up in closed-door impeachment depositions — and Pelosi said that call between Trump and Zelensky ultimately compelled her to move forward on the impeachment investigation.
Despite that, Trump’s campaign essentially turned the lemon that is impeachment into lemonade in the form of campaign cash. With the help of a seven-figure World Series ad, campaign manager Brad Parscale said the campaign raked in $3 million online in one day.
The Point: No one was surprised by how the first impeachment-related vote went down, but the split sets up a holiday season battle.Â
Monday:
- Senate GOP takes credit for forcing House impeachment vote but fears damage to Trump already done
- Judge kicks newest impeachment lawsuit into high gear
- Trump shares image of hero dog injured in Baghdadi raid
Tuesday:
- George Papadopoulos is running for Congress in California district vacated by Katie Hill
- Trump claimed ISIS leader ‘whimpered’ in final moments. Top officials don’t know where he got that detail
- House committee unveils impeachment resolution text
- Shouting match erupts in Vindman deposition as Democrats accuse Republicans of trying to out whistleblower
Wednesday:
- Vindman testified he was convinced Ukraine aid became part of Trump’s demand for Biden investigations
- White House national security official set to testify in impeachment inquiry stepping down soon
- Impeachment investigators invite John Bolton to testify
- With impeachment consuming Congress, lawmakers fear threat of a government shutdown
Thursday:
- Schiff says transcripts from impeachment inquiry interviews could come ‘as early as next week’
- Trump ditches New York to become a Florida resident, court documents show
- White House ramps up Senate outreach after House Republicans stick together on impeachment inquiry vote
- House to take first vote related to Trump impeachment inquiry
Friday:
- Trump campaign says impeachment vote was a fundraising boon
- No clear leader among 2020 Democrats for Iowa caucusgoers in new poll
And that was the week that was in 17 headlines.
