A moderate Democrat senator asked his colleagues on Monday to consider censuring President Donald Trump, rather than vote to convict him, as the Senate impeachment trial is set to wrap up later this week.
Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV) “has prepared a censure resolution for fellow senators to consider in the coming days, which would be a less severe rebuke than removal from office for Trump’s efforts in pressuring Ukraine to investigate his domestic political rival,” The Washington Post reported.
“I know this is not a difficult decision for many of my friends on colleagues on both sides of the aisle, but it is one that has weighed heavily on me,” Manchin said on the Senate floor. “Voting whether or not to remove a sitting president is no easy decision and it shouldn’t be as the consequences for our nation are severe.”
“Never before in the history of our Republic has there been a purely partisan impeachment vote of a president,” Manchin said. “Removing this president at this time would not only further divide our deeply divided nation, but also further poison our already-toxic political atmosphere.”
Manchin continued: “I see no path to the 67 votes [requried to convict and remove] President Trump. However, I do believe a bipartisan majority of this body would vote to censure President Trump. … Censure would allow this body to unite across party lines.”
The following is the text of Sen. Joe Manchin’s (D-WV) resolution to censure President Donald Trump:
Whereas Donald John Trump used the Office of the President of the United States to attempt to compel a foreign
nation to interfere with domestic political affairs for his own personal benefit;
Whereas Donald John Trump wrongfully enlisted his personal lawyer to investigate a domestic political rival by
meddling in formal diplomatic relations in a manner that is inconsistent with our established National Security
Strategy;
Whereas Donald John Trump hindered the thorough investigation of related documents and prohibited Congress
and the American people from hearing testimony by firsthand witnesses with direct knowledge of his conduct;
Whereas Donald John Trump, through his conduct in this matter, abused the trust of the American people;
Whereas Donald John Trump fully deserves censure for engaging in such behavior;
Whereas Donald John Trump’s conduct in this matter is unacceptable for a President of the United States, does demean the Office of the President, and creates disrespect for laws of the land;
Whereas Donald John Trump’s conduct in the matter has brought dishonor to himself, the Nation, and the Office
of the President;
Whereas future generations of Americans must know that—
(1) such behavior is not only dangerous to our national interest but does not align with American values and the principles of the Constitution of the United States; and
(2) such actions bear grave consequences, including loss of integrity, trust, and respect; and
Whereas no one, not even the President, is above the law:
Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That—
(1) the Senate does hereby censure Donald
John Trump, President of the United States, and
does condemn his wrongful conduct in the strongest
terms;
(2) the Senate recognizes the historic gravity of
this bipartisan resolution, and trusts and urges that
future Congresses will recognize the importance of
allowing this statement of censure and condemnation
to remain intact for all time; and
(3) the Senate now move on to other matters
of significance to our people, to reconcile differences
between and within the branches of Government,
and to work together—across party lines—for the
benefit of the American people.
This report has been updated to include additional information.