Republican Rep. Dan Newhouse votes to impeach Trump

Rep. Dan Newhouse voted to impeach President Donald Trump on Wednesday, joining nine other Republicans.

“A vote against this impeachment is a vote to validate the unacceptable violence we witnessed in our nation’s capital,” he said in a statement before the vote.

Newhouse, a Republican, represents central Washington, including the Tri-Cities area, in Congress.

“The mob was inflamed by the language and misinformation of the president of the United States,” he said.

He also criticized Trump’s lack of action after rioters entered the Capitol building.

“He did not strongly condemn the attack nor did he call in reinforcements when our officers were overwhelmed,” he said. “Our country needed a leader, and President Trump failed to fulfill his oath of office.”

The nation is at a pivotal and solemn moment in its history, he said.

“I wholeheartedly believe our nation — and the system of government it was founded upon — may well be in jeopardy if we do not rise to this occasion,” he said. “This is not a decision I take lightly.”

Turning a “blind eye to this brutal assault on our republic” is not an option, he said.

He called those who stormed the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, leading to the death of a U.S. Capitol police officer and others, “hateful and unAmerican extremists” and a “brutal mob.”

They attacked not only the Capitol, which is the structural representation of the republic, but also the values promoted by the citizens of the United States, said Newhouse.

“This violent mob, intent on disturbing the constitutional duties of Congress, resulted in the tragic loss of American lives, including a U.S. Capitol Police officer,” he said. “The mob was inflamed by the language and misinformation of the President of the United States.”

Newhouse evacuated

The U.S. House began voting on the article of impeachment for “incitement of insurrection” early Wednesday afternoon, with The Associated Press reporting that Trump had been impeached at about 1:45 p.m.

Newhouse was one of at least six Republicans who have said they would vote to impeach as of late Wednesday morning, with that number reportedly increasing to 10 by early afternoon.

Newhouse had previously raised questions about the legitimacy of the November election results. He signed onto a brief supporting a Texas lawsuit contesting the results in four states.

But on Jan. 4, two days before the Capitol building was stormed by protesters, Newhouse said Congress didn’t have the constitutional power to object to the Electoral College decision and that he would vote to certify the Electoral College results.

On Jan. 6 before the vote, Rep. Dan Newhouse was at his desk on the floor of the U.S. House when security officers swept in.

They quickly evacuated the congressional members to secret, windowless rooms where they could be protected.

“We are all in a state of disbelief,” said the Eastern Washington Republican during a news conference a few hours later. “I am disappointed, disgusted and horrified. This is not the United States of America.”

This story was originally published January 13, 2021 at 11:05 AM.