How the Indigenous Delegation Voted on Trump’s Second Impeachment

Credit: via CBS News

This story is a project of the Indigenously newsletter. Sign up today. It’s free.

WASHINGTON — For the first time in history, a sitting U.S. president has been impeached not once, but twice. President Donald Trump was sanctioned by the U.S. House of Representatives on a single article for inciting an insurrection on Jan. 6.

A Senate trial is not expected to take place before Trump leaves office on Jan. 20, when Democrat Joe Biden will be inaugurated to succeed him.

Lawmakers voted 232–197 to hold Trump accountable for the violent riot on the U.S. Capitol which resulted in five deaths. While the vote fell heavily on party lines, 10 Republicans joined the Democratic majority to impeach the president, the most bipartisan presidential impeachment in history.

Of the six-member Indigenous delegation — a record number of Native representatives elected to Congress — the vote to impeach Trump was split down party lines, 3–3.

Democratic Reps. Sharice Davids, Ho-Chunk, of Kansas, Kai Kahele, Kanaka Maoli, of Hawaii, and Deb Haaland, Laguna and Jemez Pueblos, of New Mexico, voted in favor of impeachment. Republic Reps.

Republicans Tom Cole, Chickasaw, Markwayne Mullin, Cherokee, both of Oklahoma, and Yvette Herrell, Cherokee, of New Mexico, voted against. Here they are in their own words:

Congressman Tom Cole (OK-04) released the following statement after he voted against H. Res. 24, an article to impeach President Donald Trump for high crimes and misdemeanors.

Rep. Yvette Herrell (R-New Mexico), a new member of Congress, addresses the U.S. House of Representatives for the third time on January 13, 2021.

Rep. Markwayne Mullin (R-OK) after voting ‘No’ against impeaching President Trump, Jan. 13, 2021.

Reprints and reposts: Indigenously encourages you to make free use of this article by taking these easy steps.