Democratic Challengers on Trump’s Impeachment: ‘No One Is Above the Law’

“No one is above the law — not even the President,” Joe Biden tweeted

Joe Biden Fourth Democratic Debate
Photo credit: Win McNamee/Getty Images

The Democratic challengers to Donald Trump took to Twitter in reaction to Wednesday’s historic impeachment vote by the U.S. House of Representatives.

“President Trump abused his power, violated his oath of office, and betrayed our nation. This is a solemn moment for our country. But in the United States of America, no one is above the law — not even the President,” former vice president Joe Biden tweeted. The longtime Democratic politician participated in the impeachment trials of former presidents Nixon and Clinton.

Senators Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders, the other front-runners, spoke about their responsibilities when the impeachment moves to the Senate. “Donald Trump has abused our diplomatic relationships and undermined our national security for his own personal, political gain,” Warren wrote. “By voting to impeach him, the House has taken an important step to hold him accountable.”

Sanders, meanwhile, focused, on the next step in the process: the coming trial in the Senate in which he will serve as a juror. “I call on Mitch McConnell to conduct a full and fair trial to hold this president accountable,” Sanders tweeted, referring to the Kentucky Republican who serves as Senate Majority Leader.

“Today is a sad moment in our history,” Sen. Cory Booker of New Jersey tweeted, adding that he wanted a full trial. “This trial demands an impartial & thorough review of the evidence. We must be presented with relevant witnesses & documents, and follow the evidence where it leads.”

Sen. Amy Klobuchar, who will also vote in the Senate, echoed Biden and Sanders, saying “No one is above the law.”

South Bend, Ind., Mayor Pete Buttigieg, whose platform has focused on bringing together a post-Trump America (whether via impeachment or election), reminded his followers that “we need leadership to pick up the pieces and move our nation forward).

Businessman Tom Steyer stated simply, “Today, we stand on the right side of history.”

Candidate Andrew Yang, who will appear in Thursday’s debate, did not immediately post a response to the impeachment.

Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, the sole congressperson to cast a “present” vote for both articles of impeachment, did not tweet either. However, via statement, Gabbard said, “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 has not qualified for Thursday’s debate.

Sen. Kamala Harris, the California Democrat who recently suspended her presidential campaign, also spoke about her constitutional duty when the impeachment hits the Senate floor.

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