Northeast Florida lawmakers share thoughts ahead of impeachment vote in full U.S. House

The two articles of impeachment against President Trump head to the full U.S. House of Representatives after today’s vote in the House Judiciary Committee, and now we’re hearing from area lawmakers who will be involved next week.

Democratic U.S. Rep. Al Lawson says he doesn’t think anything else could come up to change his mind between now and a vote in the full House, pointing to the testimony he’s heard and evidence he’s seen as reasons he will vote in favor of the articles.

Meanwhile, Republicans John Rutherford and Michael Waltz say they aren’t convinced by what Democrats have been saying over the course of the impeachment inquiry.

“What the president’s been alleged to have committed does not rise to the level of bribery, treason or a high crime and misdemeanor,” Waltz says.

He says impeachment is something that’s almost sacred in the Constitution, and the bar should be “fantastically high” with clear evidence if one branch of the government is deciding to essentially fire another branch.

Rutherford says he’s a little disappointed the Committee decided to hold a vote after House Speaker Nancy Pelosi had made a commitment that they wouldn’t move forward with impeachment if there wasn’t clear, bipartisan support for it.

“I was a little surprised that they’re going to go all the way with this, it looks like,” Rutherford says.

He says he’s heard all that he needs to hear, and the allegations are pretty weak.

Lawson says he’s not surprised by the way both Republicans and Democrats are handling the situation. He says the 2020 election year has both parties looking to keep as many seats as possible, so everyone is digging their heels in.

But it’s hard to say if everyone truly feels the way they are acting publicly, Lawson says.

“It’s a whole different story when you’re talking to them off the record, but as it stands right now with the 2020 election looming, people are standing firm on both sides,” Lawson says.