Republican U.S. Representatives from Montana and Wyoming split Wednesday in votes to impeach President Donald Trump over the deadly insurrection at the Capitol.
As members of the U.S. House debated impeaching Trump for a second time in 13 months, Montana’s Republican Representative Matt Rosendale wrote in a Tweet, “This is just another episode of the Democrats’ disgraceful political theater.”
Rosendale has not been made available for an interview with YPR since he assumed office.
In Tweets before and after the vote, the freshman Representative also called for Liz Cheney of Wyoming, the third highest ranking House Republican, to step down as House Republican Conference Chair.
Cheney was one of ten Republicans who joined Democrats to pass the single article of impeachment on a 232 to 197 vote.
In a statement Tuesday, Cheney said insurrection at the Capitol last week caused “injury, death and destruction in the most sacred space in our Republic” and that the president “lit the flame of this attack.”
The Montana Republican Party issued a statement Wednesday applauding Rosendale’s opposition to impeaching Trump. The Montana Democratic Party also issued a statement, saying lawmakers who "enabled President Trump and played a role in last week’s events like Gov. Gianforte, Sen. Daines, and Rep. Rosendale must also be held accountable for their words and actions.”
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell blocked a quick Senate trial but has not ruled out a vote to convict Trump, according to the Associated Press.
Montana’s Republican Senator Steve Daines has rejected calls of impeachment. In a statement Wednesday, Daines said, “Now is the time to stand united, move forward together and have a peaceful transition of power. Pushing a rushed, largely partisan driven impeachment through Congress will further divide our country.”
A spokesperson for Democratic Senator Jon Tester told YPR, “Senator Tester believes President Trump’s incitement of the insurrection at the Capitol is an impeachable offense. He joins many of his Republican and Democratic colleagues in calling on those that attacked our nation’s Capitol, as well as the President and his enablers in Congress that incited the mob, to be held fully responsible for their actions.”
