How Many Democrats Voted to Impeach Clinton? The Full Story
When Bill Clinton was impeached by the House of Representatives in December 1998, a question that often arises is the extent of bipartisan support for the impeachment itself. Specifically, many people wonder: How many Democrats voted to impeach Clinton? The answer is straightforward: zero.
Every single vote to impeach President Clinton came from members of the Republican party. This was a stark partisan divide that defined the impeachment proceedings and highlighted the deep political chasm at the time.
The Impeachment Process and the Vote
President Clinton was impeached on two articles:
- Article I: Perjury before a grand jury.
- Article II: Obstruction of justice.
The House of Representatives, controlled by Republicans, voted on these articles on December 19, 1998. The votes were as follows:
Article I: Perjury before a grand jury
- Yeas (to impeach): 228
- Nays (against impeachment): 206
Article II: Obstruction of justice
- Yeas (to impeach): 221
- Nays (against impeachment): 212
As you can see from these numbers, the votes to impeach were overwhelmingly Republican. The Democratic party, as a whole, stood behind President Clinton and opposed the impeachment articles. This unified opposition from Democrats was a significant aspect of the impeachment saga.
Why Did No Democrats Vote to Impeach?
The reasons for the lack of Democratic support for impeachment were multifaceted:
- Party Loyalty: The Democratic party largely viewed the impeachment proceedings as politically motivated by Republicans seeking to remove a popular president.
- Severity of Charges: While acknowledging the gravity of the president's actions and his testimony, many Democrats felt that the conduct, while inappropriate, did not rise to the level of "high crimes and misdemeanors" as outlined in the Constitution for impeachment.
- Public Opinion: At the time, public opinion polls generally showed strong opposition to impeaching President Clinton, and Democratic lawmakers were sensitive to this sentiment among their constituents.
- Focus on Policy: Many Democrats believed that the country would be better served by focusing on legislative priorities and the president's policy agenda rather than engaging in a lengthy and divisive impeachment trial.
The impeachment of President Clinton was a deeply partisan event. The House Judiciary Committee, which drafted the articles of impeachment, was also dominated by Republicans who pushed for the process to move forward. Democrats on the committee largely opposed these efforts.
The Senate Trial
Following the impeachment by the House, the proceedings moved to the Senate for a trial. In the Senate, a two-thirds majority is required to convict and remove a president from office. The Senate trial concluded on February 12, 1999, with President Clinton being acquitted on both articles of impeachment. The vote in the Senate was also largely along party lines, with Republicans generally voting to convict and Democrats voting to acquit.
Conclusion
To reiterate, zero Democrats voted to impeach President Bill Clinton in the House of Representatives. The votes for impeachment were entirely cast by Republican members of Congress. This partisan division underscores the political context and intensity of the impeachment proceedings against President Clinton.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
How did the House vote on the impeachment articles?
The House of Representatives voted on two articles of impeachment. Article I (Perjury) passed 228-206, and Article II (Obstruction of Justice) passed 221-212. All of these "yea" votes came from Republicans.
Why did Democrats not vote to impeach Clinton?
Democrats largely believed the impeachment was politically motivated, that the charges did not meet the constitutional threshold for impeachment, and they were mindful of public opinion which generally opposed impeachment.
What was the outcome of the impeachment in the Senate?
The Senate acquitted President Clinton on both articles of impeachment. A two-thirds majority vote was required for conviction, and neither article reached that threshold.
Were there any Republicans who voted against impeaching Clinton?
Yes, there were a few Republicans who voted against the articles of impeachment, though their numbers were small and did not change the overall outcome. For example, on Article I, a handful of Republicans voted "nay."
