WASHINGTON, Calif. -   The U.S. House of Representatives voted Wednesday to impeach President Donald Trump for inciting an insurrection at the U.S. Capitol on January 6th. The article of impeachment passed by a bipartisan vote of 232-197. 

Among those who voted to impeach was Rep. John Garamendi (D),  of the 3rd District of California.  He issued the statement below. 

“I rise today with great sadness and anger over the events that transpired on January 6th, and with a steadfast determination to ensure those who incited and committed the unconscionable acts on that day are brought to justice.

“Last week’s violent insurrection on the U.S. Capitol, which has left at least six people dead and dozens injured, was a stain on our nation. The President’s blatantly false claims about election fraud, which were parroted by current administration officials and Members of the House and Senate, finally reached a tipping point last week when these bald-faced lies gave way to a violent assault on our Capitol. Even after 64 failed attempts in federal court to substantiate the baseless claims about election fraud, the President, his administration, and members of Congress continued to double down and use these mistruths to incite a mob that staged a bloody insurrection against the United States Government. They beat and murdered police officers, planted pipe bombs, brandished weapons, and left our nation shocked and in mourning.

“What does it mean, then, for America that a sitting President invited thousands of his most fervent supporters to Washington and incited them to commence a violent occupation of the world’s citadel of democracy – the United States Capitol?

“Without a proper check and proportional response to these events, we will be doomed to re-live the same hell over and over again. In time, we will lose our democracy, our hallowed institutions, and irreparably tear at the very fabric of our nation. As elected leaders of this nation, we have a right, but more importantly, a moral obligation to respond to those who incited this riot in the strongest possible terms.

“Just as this Congress returned mere hours after this insurrection to certify the lawful results of the 2020 Presidential election, we stand here today prepared to take firm, decisive, and necessary action to restore our country from the heinous state it spiraled into on 1/6/2021.

“The President’s violent rhetoric and actions pose a significant threat to our nation. No President who invites thousands of his most devoted supporters to Washington and urges them to ‘fight’ his political enemies by committing a seditious attack on our Capitol should be allowed to remain in office. Our nation has endured and persevered through so much, and it will survive this President. But if we do not act and hold him accountable, then we will leave our nation vulnerable to a future demagogue. That brings us here on this somber day to carry out our sacred oath to defend and protect the Constitution from all enemies foreign and domestic.

“Today, I voted to impeach President Donald Trump,” Garamendi said.