The House Democrats’ attempt to impeach President Trump for the second time in connection with last week’s US Capitol riot is “so reckless”, Senator Joe Manchin, DW.Va. told the “Special Report” Monday.
Manchin told host Bret Baier that party leaders “know there are no votes” to remove Trump from office with the Senate not scheduled to return to work until the day before Joe Biden takes office.
“I think this [impeachment] it’s so reckless [while] Joe Biden [is] coming in, trying to heal the country, trying to be the president of all people when we are so divided and fighting again, “said the senator.
“Let the justice system do its job. We are a country to move forward, that is the basis of who we are,” added Manchin. “May this take its place. May the investigations continue and the evidence appear and then we will leave.”
The Democrat added that Trump will already be out of office when the Senate can vote to condemn him, leaving a vote to bar the president from taking office again as the only other recourse.
Turning to the takeover of the Capitol on Wednesday by Trump supporters, Manchin recalled having discussions with some Republican lawmakers who opposed the Arizona voter list before the violation.
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“I said, ‘I know you have a right within the Senate to do what you are doing, but look what you are doing to our country, shouldn’t you think about it?’ We are better than that, “he said, adding that he would not support any punishment for lawmakers who continued their objections after the building was cleared of protesters.
“They have to live with their conscience and with themselves,” said Manchin. “They have to go to their constituents.”