Several North Carolina Republicans are now attempting to censure Senator Richard Burr after he voted to convict the former president in this past weekend’s senate vote.
On Saturday, the Senate voted 57-43 in favor of the impeachment article of incitement of insurrection, falling just 10 votes short of the 67 votes (2/3rds majority) necessary for full conviction.
Senator Burr was one of the 7 Republican Senators who voted to convict the former President, along with both Independent Senators and all 48 Democratic Senators.
In a statement, Senator Burr said:
“When this process started, I believed that it was unconstitutional to impeach a president who was no longer in office. I still believe that to be the case. However, the Senate is an institution based on precedent, and given that the majority in the Senate voted to proceed with this trial, the question of constitutionality is now established precedent. As an impartial juror, my role is now to determine whether House managers have sufficiently made the case for the article of impeachment against President Trump.
I have listened to the arguments presented by both sides and considered the facts. The facts are clear.
The President promoted unfounded conspiracy theories to cast doubt on the integrity of a free and fair election because he did not like the results. As Congress met to certify the election results, the President directed his supporters to go to the Capitol to disrupt the lawful proceedings required by the Constitution. When the crowd became violent, the President used his office to first inflame the situation instead of immediately calling for an end to the assault.
As I said on January 6th, the President bears responsibility for these tragic events. The evidence is compelling that President Trump is guilty of inciting an insurrection against a coequal branch of government and that the charge rises to the level of high Crimes and Misdemeanors. Therefore, I have voted to convict.
I do not make this decision lightly, but I believe it is necessary.
By what he did and by what he did not do, President Trump violated his oath of office to preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States.”
The North Carolina GOP will now meet in an emergency session this evening at 8pm to vote on a resolution to censure Senator Burr.
NC GOP Chairman Michael Whatley said that Burr’s vote to convict “in a trial that he declared unconstitutional is shocking and disappointing.”
Chairman @WhatleyNCGOP statement on Senator Burr’s impeachment vote. #ncpol #ncsen https://t.co/NUxhDkmm5N
— NCGOP (@NCGOP) February 13, 2021
What do you think about Senator Burr’s vote?
Do you think he should be censured for it?