(This is a developing story. Please check back for videos, votes, etc.)
Arizona's delegation votes party line on impeaching Donald Trump for his role in last week's mob violence.
10 Republicans did cross the aisle to indict the President, and the final vote is 232-197.
Arizona Rep. Andy Biggs (R-CD5) was the first of Arizona's delegation to speak on the floor during today's historic impeachment debate. He expressed his "morbid curiosity" (transcript below)
(Transcript, Biggs: IT IS WITH A MORBID CURIOSITY THAT I WATCHED THE BEAST ATTEMPT TO DEVOUR PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP AGAIN. THE CRAVING TO CRUSH PRESIDENT TRUMP HAS NEVER BEEN SATISFIED. NOT THROUGH INVESTIGATIONS, NOT THROUGH FALSE ALLEGATIONS, AND NOT EVEN THROUGH AN IMPEACHMENT THAT WAS WHOLLY WITHOUT MERIT. AND THE TIMING OF THIS IMPEACHMENT MAKES LITTLE SENSE. YOUR CANDIDATE, YOUR CANDIDATE WILL TAKE OFFICE IN A FEW HOURS AND PRESIDENT TRUMP WILL RELINQUISH THE LEVERS OF POWER TO PRESIDENT-ELECT BIDEN. BUT YOUR CRAVING WAS NEVER A BIDEN VICTORY, NOR WAS IT EVEN A TRUMP DEFEAT. YOU BELIEVE THAT YOUR HUNGER WILL BE FINALLY SATIATED BY IMPEACHING THIS PRESIDENT WITHOUT COMPLETION OF HIS FULL TERM OF OFFICE. YOU DON'T MERELY SEEK VICTORY, BUT YOU SEEK OBLITERATION OF YOUR INDEMNIFY SILLS. THE THIRST FOR TRUMP'S DESTRUCTION WILL NOT BE SLAKED, HOWEVER, EVEN IF YOU'RE SUCCESSFUL TODAY AND WERE THE SENATE TO CONVICT PRESIDENT TRUMP. YOURS WILL BE A PURIC VICTORY, FOR INSTEAD OF STOPPING THE TRUMP TRAIN, HIS MOVEMENT WILL GROW STRONGER FOR YOU WILL HAVE MADE HIM A MARTYR. SURELY YOU'RE AWARE OF THIS AND THAT IS WHY YOUR ALLIES IN THE MEDIA SEEK TO SENSOR CONSERVATIVE VOICES. YOUR CHUMS THAT SIT ON THE BOARDS OF CORPORATE AMERICA, YES, THE SAME COMPANIES THAT THE LEFT VILIFIES, PROMISE TO STARVE REPUBLICANS FROM RECEIVING THEIR P.A.C. DONATIONS. BUT I BET THE GROUNDSWELL OF SUPPORT FOR PRESIDENT TRUMP AND HIS POLICIES WILL NOT GO AWAY. YOU SEE, THE MOVEMENT HE STARTED IS BASED ON BUILDING AN INCREDIBLY ROBUST ECONOMY, ON A FOUNDATION OF LOWER TAXES AND FEWER REGULATIONS THAT HAS THE WONDERFUL EFFECT OF PUTTING MORE PEOPLE TO WORK THAN EVER. IT IS BUILT UPON A STRONG MILITARY THAT IS EXTRICATED FROM ENDLESS WARS, BORDER SECURITY, AMERICA-FIRST TRADE AGREEMENTS, MIDEAST PEACE AND STABILITY. THOSE ARE THE THINGS THE AMERICAN PEOPLE WANT. YOUR FOUR-YEAR APPETITE WILL BE TEMPORARILY ASSUAGED. WHILE YOU WILL NO DOUBT CONTINUE TO CHASE AFTER LEADERS OF THIS MOVEMENT. BUT YOUR APPETITE WILL BE UNFULFILLED. I URGE YOU, PLEASE DO NOT, I'M MIXING METAPHORS HERE, ATTEMPT TO DOUSE THE REMAINING EMBERS OF THIS MOVEMENT WITH GASOLINE. NO ONE WANTS THAT. I URGE YOU PLEASE TO RECONSIDER THE RECKLESS ACTION IN WHICH YOU ENGAGE TODAY.)
Here is Rep. Debbie Lesko (R-CD8), saying that this impeachment is "dangerous":
(Transcript, Lesko: I RISE IN OPPOSITION TO THE RESOLUTION, AT A TIME WHEN OUR COUNTRY NEEDS UNITY IT IS CONCERNING THAT MY DEMOCRATIC COLLEAGUES HAVE BEGUN IMPEACHMENT PROCEEDINGS AGAINST A PRESIDENT WHO HAS SEVEN DAYS LEFT IN OFFICE. ALL LEGAL CHALLENGES HAVE BEEN EXHAUSTED. CONGRESS HAS CERTIFIED ELECTORS OVER OBJECTIONS AND JOE BIDEN WILL BE THE NEXT PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES. PRESIDENT TRUMP HAS INDICATED HE WILL PEACEFULLY TRANSFER TO PRESIDENT-ELECT BIDEN NEXT WEEK. SO WHY PURSUE IMPEACHMENT JUST ONE WEEK BEFORE HE LEAVES OFFICE? I HAVE HEARD MY COLLEAGUES ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE AISLE SAY THEY HAVE TO IMPEACH THE PRESIDENT BECAUSE HE IS TOO DANGEROUS TO STAY IN POWER YET THEY KNOW THAT IT IS IMPOSSIBLE FOR THE SENATE TO REMOVE HIM BEFORE HIS TERM EXPIRES. SO WHAT IS THE POINT? THIS MOVES AND SETS A DANGEROUS PRECEDENT FOR OUR NATION. IF CONGRESS IS GOING TO IMPEACH A PRESIDENT, IT MUST NOT ONLY BE DONE AFTER INTENSE DEBATE AND DELIBERATION, NOT RUSHED THROUGH AT THE 11TH HOUR TO MAKE A POLITICAL POINT. THIS IMPEACHMENT ATTEMPT IS DANGEROUS FOR OUR COUNTRY AND HAS FAR REACHING IMPLICATIONS FOR OUR FUTURE. WITH THAT, I YIELD BACK.)
Finally, here is Democrat Greg Stanton (D-CD9), saying "we can't move forward without accountability":
(Transcript, Stanton: DONALD TRUMP IS THE FIRST PRESIDENT TO INCITE AN INSURRECTION AGAINST OUR OWN GOVERNMENT, AGAINST OUR OWN PEOPLE. IT IS A SHOCKING BETRAYAL OF HIS OATH OF OFFICE AND OUR AMERICAN VALUES. WE DON'T KNOW YET IF THE PRESIDENT WILL FACE CRIMINAL CHARGES, BUT WE DO KNOW HE MUST BE HELD TO ACCOUNT. EACH ONE OF US IN THIS HOUSE TOOK AN OATH TO PROTECT AND DEFEND OUR CONSTITUTION AGAINST ALL ENEMIES, FOREIGN AND DOMESTIC, EVEN IF THAT ENEMY IS THE PRESIDENT. WE MUST MOVE FORWARD AS A NATION FROM THESE DARKEST DAYS, BUT WE CAN'T MOVE FORWARD WITHOUT ACCOUNTABILITY. WE MUST IMPEACH THIS PRESIDENT. I YIELD BACK.)
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