By Akemi Tamanaha, AsAmNews Associate Editor
This is a developing story. AsAmNews will update periodically.
5:45 PST
Young Kim, a newly elected representative from Southern California, released a statement explaining why she opposed impeachment. The Republican said she would have supported censure.
“The violence we saw last week was disgusting. Our law enforcement was attacked, lives were lost and more were put in danger. These rioters must be held accountable. Words have consequences and I believe the president should also be held accountable.
“The election is over. I announced my intention to certify the electoral votes before these events with the hope that we can move forward, deescalate our rhetoric, and work together to heal our wounds. This violence and division must stop. However, I believe impeaching the president at this time will fail to hold him accountable or allow us to move forward once President-elect Biden is sworn in. This process will only create more fissures in our country as we emerge from some of our darkest days.
“I believe censuring the president is a better option. This would be a strong rebuke of his actions and rhetoric and unite our country and chamber, rather than divide it. That is why yesterday I joined several of my colleagues in introducing a strong resolution censuring the president for his actions on January 6.
“Words matter. Both of our parties must set better examples for our constituents, the nation, and the world. We must condemn violence in all forms and be able to peacefully debate issues and have disagreements without being disagreeable or making personal attacks on one another. As Americans, we are better than this violence and must move forward. The first Koreans came to the United States on this day in 1903 in search of a better life, and now 118 years later I am one of the first Korean American women to serve in Congress. I know we are the land of opportunity that welcomed me and my family into its fabric and allowed me to realize my American dream by receiving an education, starting a business, raising a family and now giving back to the community I call home as a member of the House of Representatives. This is the America we all know and love. I will do my part and look forward to working with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle for the betterment of America and the people of California’s 39th Congressional District.”
2:00 pm PST
The House of Representatives voted to impeach Trump today. The votes were 232 in favor and 197 opposed. Here are how AAPI Congress members voted.
Voted in favor of impeachment
- Rep. Bobby Scott (D-VA)
- Rep. Doris Matsui (D-CA)
- Rep. Judy Chu (D-CA)
- Rep. Ami Bera (D-CA)
- Rep. Grace Meng (D-NY)
- Rep. Mark Takano (D-CA)
- Rep. Ted Lieu (D-CA)
- Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-WA)
- Rep. Ro Khanna (D-CA)
- Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL)
- Rep. Stephanie Murphy (D-FL)
- Rep. Andy Kim (D-NJ)
- Rep. Kai Kahele (D-HI)
- Rep. Marilyn Strickland (D-WA)
Voted against impeachment
- Rep. Michelle Steel (R-CA)
- Rep. Young Kim (R-CA)
9:00 am PST
As the House of Representatives prepares to vote on the impeachment of President Trump, several Asian American and Pacific Islander Congress members are speaking out in favor of his removal.
Democractic House majority leader Nancy Pelosi named Rep. Ted Lieu (D-CA) as one of the nine House managers of the impeachment process. Rep. Lieu was one of the lawmakers who drafted the articles of impeachment during the attack on the Capitol.
“Donald Trump incited a mob to stop Congress from certifying the Electoral College results and multiple people died,” Rep. Lieu said in an interview with CBS News. “That is a high crime. It is a felony, and he needs to be removed as president immediately.”
This morning, Rep. Lieu called on Republicans to support impeachment in a tweet.
At this morning’s impeachment hearing Rep. Chu spoke about the terrifying experience she and her fellow Congress members endured last Wednesday, January 6. She said the terrorists who attacked the Capitol building had been radicalized by President Trump and called for his removal from office.
“The need to remove this president could not be more urgent,” Rep. Chu said at the hearing. “He is too dangerous to remain in office.”
Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-WA) has said she will vote in favor of impeachment. The Congresswoman will be voting today by proxy as she tested positive for COVID-19, CNN reports. She believes she contracted the virus during the attack on the Capitol as several Republican Congress members refused to wear masks.
Several other Democratic Congress members have announced their intention to vote in favor of impeachment. Rep. Grace Meng (D-NY) and Rep. Andy Kim (D-NJ) have also spoken out in favor of impeachment.
There are currently two AAPI Republican Congress members: Rep. Michelle Steel (R-CA) and Rep. Young Kim (R-CA). It is unclear whether the two Congresswoman will vote in favor of impeachment. Rep. Steel has tested positive for COVID-19 recently and is in isolation.
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