One by one, the last of the undecided members of Congress in this region are getting off the fence -- and almost all are landing on the side of impeachment.
Over the past few days, all eyes have been on a handful of holdouts who won Congressional seats in districts that favored President Donald Trump in 2016. They have agonized publicly to varying degrees and now, they say, it is time to speak their conscience and act on what they believe the Constitution demands.
For Jeff Van Drew, of southern New Jersey, that means opposing impeachment -- and switching party affiliation to the GOP.
For all the other Democrats in the region that means declaring their intention to vote for impeaching Trump.
Anthony Brindisi, from central New York, early Tuesday morning released a statement that began by highlighting his collaboration with the president on legislative issues including veterans affairs and trade but then quickly pivoted.
“The fact that the President made a political request to a foreign leader of a troubled country with the intention for it to impact an American rival is beyond disappointing,” he wrote. “It is unconstitutional.”
Former one-term Congresswoman Claudia Tenney, who is running to get back the seat she lost to Brindisi, quickly Tweeted that he had succumbed to “raw political calculation.”
Brindisi joins other first-termers Max Rose (D-Staten Island), Antonio Delgado (D-Hudson Valley), Mikie Sherrill (Montclair), Josh Gottheimer (D-Bergen County), Tom Malinowski (D-Somerset County) and Andy Kim (D-Burlington County), who have said publicly that they will vote in favor of impeaching Trump.
Congressman Jose Serrano (D-Bronx) did not respond to requests seeking comment but is widely expected to support impeachment.
The full House vote on impeachment is expected on Wednesday.
Local Congressman Jerry Nadler (D-Manhattan/Brooklyn), the chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, missed the final procedural vote on Tuesday to rush home due to an undisclosed family medical emergency, but he is expected to be back in the Capitol in time for the historic vote.
