Scanlon makes her case for impeachment of ‘threat’
— U.S. Rep. Madeleine Dean, D-4
“The president, and many in this chamber, have shamelessly peddled dangerous untruths about the election despite the warnings of where those lies would lead. And last Wednesday, those lies and dangers found themselves inside this capitol.”
Three House Democrats from Southeastern Pennsylvania joined 229 others and 10 Republicans Wednesday in voting to make Donald Trump the first president in history to be impeached twice.
In addition to her vote, U.S. Rep. Madeleine Dean, D-4, was one of the effort’s managers, having been selected for the post by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi Tuesday night.
Dean, who represents most of Montgomery County and a portion of eastern Berks County, has seen her national profile rise and after appearing several times on national television, as well as in local newspapers, to talk about her experience during the violence on Jan. 6.
The Abington resident, who was overwhelmingly re-elected in November to the district that comprises most of Montgomery County and a sliver of eastern Berks County, was joined in debate supporting impeachment by fellow Democrats Chrissy Houlahan, D-6 of West Chester, and Mary Gay Scanlon, D-5 of Swarthmore.
Houlahan’s district includes Chester County and most of southern Berks County plus the City of Reading. Scanlon represents Delaware County and a small portion of Philadelphia.
“The president, and many in this chamber, have shamelessly peddled dangerous untruths about the election despite the warnings of where those lies would lead. And last Wednesday, those lies and dangers found themselves inside this capitol,” Dean said during Wednesday’s two-hour debate.
“This hateful rhetoric is another deadly virus. It is time to remove it from its host. To heal we need accountability and truth. That begins by acknowledging the president’s dangerous lies and their deadly consequences,” she said.
“Removing Donald Trump is the beginning of restoring decency and democracy. What happened last week will not be forgotten, and what we do this week will long be remembered,” said Dean.
“Last evening an 11-year-old girl joined our telephone town hall. Her question shook me to my core,” Houlahan said when she was allowed 30 seconds to speak. “She was worried about the future of this great nation, and I am too.”
Houlahan said, “That is why I must move forward with the impeachment of this president. He has endangered this nation and betrayed his oath. I do this now for all of us, for our Constitution and our republic. I do this to tell the world that this great democracy will stand and no one is above the law.”
“And I do this for future generations,” Houlahan said. “And I urge us all to unite and to vote yes on impeachment.”
“On Jan. 6, President Trump launched an attack against the United States Capitol,” Scanlon said during her 30 second-speech.
“I too urge my colleagues to unite, but to unite in love of country and to hold this president accountable. What unites our country is respect for the rule of law,” Scanlon said. “Without accountability for those who would shatter the rule of law, by overturning a presidential election, we cannot take seriously these cries of being a united people.”
She concluded, “This president remains a serious threat to our country and must be held accountable.”
The motion to make Trump the first president in U.S. history to be impeached twice, passed by a tally of a final vote of 232-197, with 10 Republicans joining Democrats to support impeachment. None of those Republicans are from Pennsylvania.
The lone charge of “inciting of insurrection” goes to the Senate for a trial, which is scheduled to begin on Jan. 19, the day before Trump leaves office.