WASHINGTON D.C. – The House of Representatives officially impeached President Donald Trump on two charges: abuse of power and obstruction of justice on Wednesday.
One father and daughter, California natives, said they will never forget where they were when the 45th president was impeached.
Rory Belcher and her dad, Jim, spent hours at the Capitol Wednesday, taking a tour and then spending 2.5 hours watching as lawmakers debated two articles of impeachment against President Trump.
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“That’s a bond we’ll always have,” said Jim, about him and his daughter. “That we were there watching that.”
Together, they bought gifts for family back home, while feeling the heavyweight of impeachment around the Capitol.
Rory studies political science and says she and her father both love history. They planned this trip to Washington weeks ago and felt lucky to see their Capitol tour date fall on the same day as the impeachment vote.
“I think it’s historic,” said Rory. “My dad always talks about all the things that happened in history that he wished he had gone to but didn’t and I’m happy that I was able to be a part of this.”
Her dad said witnessing the debate only confirmed a bigger picture for him, a sharply divided Congress and, in turn, a divided nation.
“Scared for my daughters,” said Jim. “I thought that we had left some time soon I’ll pass away, and I would have liked to have left the world in good condition but not right now, not now. So what are we going to do? I’m scared, very scared.”
This father and daughter both hope for changes in politics that will ease tensions and build a more bipartisan future.
“Now I get to be a part of the history that my kids,” said Rory. “And my grandkids will read about.”
On Thursday, Senator Mitch McConnell and Senator Chuck Schumer met to discuss what their version of the Senate trial should look like.
The president called the impeachment “atrocious” and said the proceeding went against democracy. President Trump repeated he felt the impeachment was a “Witch Hunt.”