U.S. Rep. Derek Kilmer (D, WA-06)

The U.S. House of Representatives voted to impeach President Donald J. Trump for a second time Wednesday in a history-making 232-197 vote for "incitement of insurrection.” 

The vote on a single article of impeachment came a week after Trump incited a riotous mob that attacked the Capitol. Five people died in the insurrection.

U.S. Rep. Derek Kilmer (D, WA-06) released the following statement after voting:

“When the history books write about the failed insurrection of Jan. 6, 2021 that was incited by the President of the United States, there is a threshold question that we must answer. What do we want the next paragraph to say?

"I do not believe that the next paragraph should say that Congress did nothing and that there were no consequences for the riot or the actions that incited it. I do not want that next paragraph to say that Congress allowed the president the ability to use the remainder of his term in office to threaten our republic. I do not want the lesson to my kids — or to any Americans — to be that actions like these are acceptable and can happen without consequence.

"As most people know, I did not come to Congress to impeach a president. I came to Congress because I want to provide more economic opportunity for the folks I represent, and I want government to work better for them.

"But the very first thing I do in this job is raise my right hand and swear an oath to 'defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic.' 

"In my view, there is no question that the president’s actions were impeachable. Like many, I believe that the president should resign. Absent that, I believe Vice President Pence and the cabinet should remove him. They have failed to uphold their oaths — but I will not fail to uphold mine. With that in mind, I voted to support the article of impeachment.”