Presidential candidate Tulsi Gabbard votes ‘present’ on impeachment
December 19, 2019
Democratic presidential candidate Rep. Tulsi Gabbard of Hawaii voted “present” on both articles of impeachment against President Donald Trump on Wednesday, later slamming the process as politically motivated.
Gabbard’s vote did not jeopardize the easy House majorities to charge Trump with abuse of power followed by obstruction of Congress. But the move aligned with her previously wavering on impeachment, having run as the sole Democrat not in favor of an impeachment inquiry before deciding to support it.
“After doing my due diligence in reviewing the 658-page impeachment report, I came to the conclusion that I could not in good conscience vote either yes or no,” Gabbard, who declined to talk with reporters following her votes, said in a statement soon afterward.
Read more at https://edition.cnn.com/2019/12/18/politics/tulsi-gabbard-present-impeachment/index.html
Gabbard rips Pelosi for delay of impeachment articles
Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (Hawaii), a 2020 Democratic presidential candidate, criticized Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) after she said that she would delay delivering House-passed impeachment articles against President Trump in an effort to ensure a fair trial in the Senate.
“I was surprised to hear that,” Gabbard told Hill.TV on Thursday, breaking with fellow Democrats who have rallied behind Pelosi over the move.
“You can’t kind of just shift and change and make up the rules as you go along,” she said. “If you’re going to pursue this process, you’ve got to let it play out the whole way through.”
Gabbard said the delaying their delivery perpetuates a sense of hyperpartisanship, adding that both parties are to blame.
“This is not just on part of the Democrats — you see on those who are defending Donald Trump, you see a blind loyalty to their party’s leader,” she said.
Read more at https://thehill.com/hilltv/rising/475305-gabbard-rips-pelosi-for-delay-of-impeachment-articles
