House Agriculture Committee chairman Collin Peterson of Minnesota and committee member Jeff Van Drew of New Jersey voted against the impeachment of President Trump on Wednesday. Peterson said afterward that impeachment was “a mistake, and the Senate will make short work of an acquittal.”
Peterson and Van Drew were two of only three Democrats to oppose impeachment. The other was Jared Goldin of Maine, who voted to impeach Trump for abuse of power and against the article accusing him of obstruction of Congress. Peterson and Van Drew voted against both articles. No Republican voted for impeachment.
“Throughout my career, I have worked from the guiding belief that only through bipartisan action can we address the country’s most pressing challenges,” said Peterson in a statement that lamented the lack of broad and bipartisan support for impeachment. “This process has not convinced the people in my district we have impeachable offenses and that the president needs to be removed. … History will show this to be a mistake, and the Senate will make short work of an acquittal.”
In the days leading up to the House vote, Peterson and Van Drew said they would vote “no,” although Peterson said he was open to new and persuasive evidence. In October, both voted against opening the impeachment inquiry. Van Drew has said he plans to become a Republican. Peterson says he will remain a Democrat. Both represent districts that voted for Trump in 2016 and both won by narrow margins in 2018.
The roll call to impeach Trump for abuse of power, passed 230-197, is available here.
The roll call to impeach Trump for obstruction of Congress, passed 229-198, is available here.