WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Representative Abigail Spanberger today released the following statement after voting with a bipartisan majority to impeach President Donald Trump for his incitement of an insurrection against the U.S. government.

“Last Wednesday, our country watched in shock and horror when extremists – inspired by the President’s months of lies and invigorated by the President’s speech earlier in the day – attacked the U.S. Capitol building with aims to perpetrate violence and undermine our democracy. Inside the building, we barricaded ourselves against domestic terrorists who were there out of loyalty to one man – not loyalty to our country. These terrorists did not succeed, and Congress completed its constitutional duty and confirmed the results of the 2020 presidential election.

“For the sake of national healing, the preferred outcome would have been the outright resignation of the President. In the absence of this action, the Vice President and the Cabinet should have immediately invoked the 25th amendment and protected our democracy. However, neither of these paths were followed.

“The President’s incitement of an insurrection is an impeachable offense, and in recent days, we have seen principled Republicans join the effort to uphold our oaths to the constitution and protect our democratic republic. This vote represents a united response to a disgusting act of brutality and sedition.

“Today is a solemn moment in our nation’s history. In the coming weeks, I look forward to welcoming an administration that will bring hope to our citizens, renew our sense of purpose, focus on the shared priorities of the American people amid the continued COVID-19 crisis, and ensure that those responsible for sedition are brought to justice.”

Spanberger cosponsored the articles of impeachment earlier this week.

Last week, Spanberger called for Vice President Pence to invoke the 25th amendment and made clear that – in the absence of action from the Vice President and the President’s Cabinet – Congress would have no choice but to take further action to hold the President accountable and protect the U.S. democratic system.

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