Thread by @Grace_Segers

The House is now beginning two hours of debate on the article of impeachment charging President Trump with "incitement of insurrection."

Pelosi is the first speaker.

"He must go. He is a clear and present danger to the nation that we all love," Pelosi says. She says that removing Trump from office is "a constitutional remedy to make sure the republic is safe from this man."

Pelosi says the rioters "were not patriots," they were "domestic terrorists."

She asks House members, looking at the GOP side: "I ask you to search your souls and answer this question: is the president's war on democracy in keeping with the Constitution?"

Jim Jordan now says Democrats want to "cancel the president," one week to the day since insurrectionists attacked the Capitol.

He says Dems are "canceling the president and anyone who disagrees with them" - right after he said Liz Cheney should step down for voting to impeach.

GOP Rep. Tom McClintock is saying that all Trump did is give "a fiery speech to a group of partisans," and that most of the protesters on Wednesday were peaceful. He calls impeachment "petty, vindictive and gratuitous." His speech was met with scattered applause from Republicans.

Democrat Zoe Lofgren: "If we don't impeach, we will fail our own oath to protect and defend the United States against all enemies foreign, and yes, domestic."

Adam Schiff, last year's lead impeachment manager, gives very brief remarks: "Let us say enough. Enough."

GOP Rep. Issa says Trump "isn't a clear and present danger."

"The president has acted essentially the same for four years," he says, perhaps inadvertently echoing people who have criticized Trump since the beginning.

Dem Rep. Cedric Richmond, in his last speech on the House floor before joining the Biden admin, says GOP members may have been "co-conspirators" and asks his Republicans to "stand up, man up, woman up."

"Simply put, we told you so. Richmond out," he concludes.

Dem Rep. Hakeem Jeffries: "Donald Trump is a living, breathing impeachable offense."

Majority Whip Clyburn, third-ranking Dem in House, blames Trump for inciting last week's violence: "If we do not hold him accountable...a future attempt may very well be acceptable."

Rep. Ken Buck said that one Democratic member said Trump supporters should be harassed in public.

"That's what I said," says Rep. Maxine Waters casually, walking past him.

In his speech, Dem Rep. Jamie Raskin angrily notes that rioters wanted to hang Mike Pence and threatened violence against lawmakers.

Raskin: "They could have killed us all."

Democrats have booed Matt Gaetz, who has made reference to the "Biden crime family." The disdain for him on that side of the aisle is palpable.

"This president has faced unprecedented hatred...from big media, big Tech, and big egos."

Calls for order after Gaetz starts yelling about the anti-racism protests over the summer. "The left in America has incited far more political violence in the right!"

Gaetz received applause from Republicans when he concluded.

Dem Rep. Joaquin Castro: "Donald Trump is the most dangerous man to ever occupy the Oval Office." He asks Republicans, "What do you think they [rioters] would have done if they had gotten in? And who do you think sent them?"

Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy: "Some say the riots were caused by Antifa. There is absolutely no evidence of that. And conservatives should be the first to say so. "

Minority Leader McCarthy: "A vote to impeach would further divide this nation. A vote to impeach would further fan the flames of partisan division." (Reminder that McCarthy voted to object to the Electoral College results last week.)

He says he supports censuring the president.

McCarthy, saying what so many Republicans still won't: "Let’s be clear, Joe Biden will be sworn in as the President of the United States in one week because he won the election."

GOP Rep. Lauren Boebert, saying that Democrats haven't been held accountable for anti-racism protests over the summer: "I call bullcrap." (First time I've ever heard "bullcrap" on the House floor.)

GOP Congressman Dan Newhouse said that he would support impeachment after releasing a statement saying he would do so.

"There is no excuse for President Trump's actions," Newhouse said, adding that he would vote for impeachment "with a heavy heart." Democrats applauded after.

GOP Rep. Jaime Herrera Beutler on why she will vote to impeach: "I am not choosing a side, I am choosing truth. It is the only way to defeat fear."

Shout out to all the lawmakers who speak so succinctly that I barely have time to take down some of their quotes

Quite a few Republicans claiming they are being silenced while they speak on live TV

Dem Rep. Cori Bush pushes back against Republican criticism of the anti-racism protests over the summer. "We have a mandate to legislate in defense of black lives," she says, calling for "impeaching the white supremacist in chief." She was booed by some Republicans.

One week after a violent mob attacked the Capitol, seeking to overturn the election, GOP Rep. Tom Tiffany says Dems are "punishing those who voted for someone else." He calls on Biden to "call off this effort to rub salt in the wounds of millions of Americans."

It appears that GOP Reps. Herrera Beutler and Newhouse - who are both voting to impeach - have been sitting next to each other and chatting ever since they concluded their speeches.

Dem Rep. Gerry Connelly to GOP: "This is the moment of truth, my friends. Are you on the side of chaos and the mob or on the side of constitutional democracy and freedom?"

GOP Rep. Jodey Arrington elicited groans from Democrats when he said: "I'm not saying the president didn't exercise poor judgment." But the rioters acted on their own, he says, and the president didn't incite violence.

GOP Rep. Chip Roy says Trump "deserves universal condemnation for clearly what was in my opinion impeachable conduct." However, he opposes impeachment, arguing that it could lead to policing of political speech.

Dem Rep. Mike Quigley says there needs to be "accountability" for the president. He notes that Republicans are calling for unity *after* the divisive events of last week.

You'd think that House members would have learned how to wear a mask correctly 11 months into a global pandemic, but alas.

Common line of attack from the GOP: Republicans have repeatedly slammed Democrats for their support of the anti-racism protests over the summer, saying that Democrats were inciting violence.

GOP Rep. Doug LaMalfa says that the impeachment is "all about the unbridled hatred for the president." He says Dems hate Trump because he is pro-life and puts America first, etc.

GOP Rep. Barry Moore opposes impeaching Trump with "seven days left in his first term." The choice of the words "first term" is interesting - does he not think Trump is leaving office? Did he think Trump will run again? Or did he misspeak?

Dem Rep. Jim Himes to Republicans: "Where he [Trump] goes in history, you go in history."

GOP Rep. Lee Zeldin asks: "Why is it okay if a House Democrat to call for violence on the streets, but not if you're a Republican?"

Setting aside his claim about Democrats inciting violence, does this mean he believes Trump did call for violence as well?

Dem Rep. Rashida Tlaib calls Trump the "racist in chief."

"Those who incited an attack on the people's House do not get to talk about healing and unity," she says.

Dem Rep. Seth Moulton notes that are more troops in DC right now than there are in Afghanistan, and says it's because of the president. He urges Republicans to "take a tough vote."

Dem Rep. Marc Veasey says that if the situation were reversed, and Republicans were seeking to impeach an outgoing Dem president who incited violence, "we would be joining them, not making comparisons."

At long last, we are wrapping up "two hours" of debate over the article of impeachment.