Alaska Congressman Don Young voted against impeaching President Donald Trump on Wednesday, declining to join the handful of U.S. House Republicans who sided with Democrats in voting yes.
Young cast his vote remotely, through a proxy. He did not participate in the impeachment debate.
With the help of 10 Republicans, the House majority easily had enough votes for impeachment. The final vote was 232-197.
The House has now formally accused Trump of inciting the insurrection at the Capitol last week. He is the only U.S. president to be impeached twice.
But the Senate will not convene until Jan. 19, the day before Trump’s term ends, so today’s action will not result in Trump’s ouster.
The Senate can still still try him after he leaves office.
Sen. Lisa Murkowski called on Trump to resign last week, saying he was responsible for inciting the mob violence at the Capitol. But she said then impeachment is not a good way for Joe Biden to begin his presidency.
“How is he able to move forward with getting his cabinet in place quickly, if the Congress is continuing, again, to focus, all eyes, all energy on Trump?” she asked.
Young, in a Facebook statement after the vote, said he didn’t think impeachment was a good way forward, but did not discuss whether Trump incited insurrection.
It’s everyone’s obligation “including President Donald Trump and Speaker Nancy Pelosi, to tone down the rhetoric and help foster a political climate worthy of this great country,” Young said.
Young, Alaska’s sole member of the House since 1973, also voted by proxy Tuesday night, against asking Vice President Mike Pence to remove Trump using the 25th Amendment.
Liz Ruskin is the Washington, D.C., correspondent at Alaska Public Media. Reach her at lruskin@alaskapublic.org. Read more about Liz here.
