Kaptur, Jordan reflect partisan split on impeachment

SANDUSKY — The U.S. House's Wednesday night vote to impeach President Donald Trump was almost entirely along party lines.That split also occurred in Erie County, represented by two members of Congress.U.S. Rep. Marcy Kaptur, D-Toledo, voted in favor of impeachment and issued a statement criticizing Trump's "systematic betrayal of our values and national security in favor of our adversary Vladimir Putin." Kaptur represents much of Erie County, including Sandusky and Perkins Township.U.S. Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Urbana, voted against impeachment and tweeted that Democrats have presided over a "sham impeachment process.""This is all about attacking the president," wrote Jordan, who represents portions of southern Erie County, including Milan.Congress voted on two articles of impeachment Wednesday.The first charge alleged abuse of power. It passed 230 to 197. Every Republican voted against it.Two Democrats voted with Republicans: Collin Peterson of Minnesota and Jeff Van Drew of New Jersey, who has announced he plans to leave the Democratic Party and become a Republican.The second article claimed obstruction of Congress, and every Republican also voted "No." Three Democrats voted with the Republicans: Peterson, Van Drew and Jared Golden from Maine.Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, a Democrat from Hawaii running for president, voted "Present" on both articles. Rep. Justin Amash, a Michigan independent who left the Republican Party, voted to impeach Trump. Ohio's 16-member House delegation — 12 Republicans and four Democrats — voted along party lines.Kaptur issued a statement explaining she voted for impeachment "in defense of our democracy.""I am deeply concerned by President Trump's systematic betrayal of our values and national security in favor of our adversary Vladimir Putin," Kaptur said."Putin has sought to sow disarray and destabilize our democracy and the NATO Alliance. He has coordinated murders, election hacking, propaganda, and the entrapment of willing fools who would put their own self-interests over liberty – President Trump among them," Kaptur said."No one is above the law, not even the president. Donald Trump is a threat to our republic and should be removed from office without delay," she said.Jordan has largely stopped putting out news releases explaining his positions; the last one on his official website is dated April 2. He has not responded to questions from the Register about the impeachment process.Jordan tweeted out his three-minute speech on the House floor, in which he charged Democrats "forgot about the facts and they forgot about fairness."He said Republicans were not allowed subpoena power, were not allowed to call witnesses and did not get to ask all of their questions.Jordan said Democrats never accepted the election of Trump, despite the fact that Trump won."We are less than 11 months before the election," Jordan said. "Let the American people decide who should be president."U.S. Rep. Marcy KapturJim Jordan