HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Seven of nine House Democrats from Pennsylvania now say they will support the two articles of impeachment against President Donald Trump that were under consideration in the House Judiciary Committee on Thursday.
Freshman Rep. Conor Lamb, of suburban Pittsburgh, added his support to six of his colleagues from Pennsylvania, saying in a statement that he believes that Trump “abused his power and obstructed Congress.”
Lamb’s district was won narrowly by Trump in the 2016 presidential election, although Lamb won it handily last year, beating a third-term Republican incumbent.
Two Democrats, freshman Rep. Chrissy Houlahan of suburban Philadelphia and fourth-term Rep. Matt Cartwright of northeastern Pennsylvania, have declined to say how they will vote. Trump won Cartwright’s district in 2016, although Democrat Hillary Clinton won Houlahan’s district.
Meanwhile, all nine Republican House members from Pennsylvania have said they will vote against the articles. That includes Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick of suburban Philadelphia, who on occasion breaks party ranks to vote with Democrats. Clinton narrowly won Fitzpatrick’s district in 2016.
Trump is only the fourth U.S. president to face impeachment proceedings and the first to be running for reelection at the same time.