House members from Missouri react to Trump impeachment
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
UPDATE: U.S. Rep. Blaine Luetkemeyer (R-St. Elizabeth), U.S. Rep. Emanuel Cleaver (D-Kansas City) and Republican U.S. Sen. Josh Hawley released statements via Twitter after the vote on the articles of impeachment.
ORIGINAL: U.S. House members representing Missouri districts joined their colleagues Wednesday in giving their thoughts on a pending vote on articles of impeachment.
The full House on Wednesday debated two articles of impeachment alleging abuse of power and obstruction of Congress. The debate continued into the evening.
Below are reactions from members of Missouri's congressional delegation compiled from tweets and news releases.
Rep. Lacy Clay, First Congressional District
Clay's office issued a news release Wednesday which included his remarks on the House floor. The release summed up the Democrat's remarks with a quote from the congressman: "You can defend Donald Trump, or you can defend the Constitution. History will not permit you to do both."
Rep. Ann Wagner, Second Congressional District
The Republican suburban St. Louis representative did not post any statements Wednesday about the debate.
Rep. Blaine Luetkemeyer, Third Congressional District
The Republican lawmaker whose district includes part of Mid-Missouri said on Twitter that the move toward impeachment was an attempt to overturn the result of the 2016 election.
Rep. Vicky Hartzler, Fourth Congressional District
Hartzler tweeted several times about the debate and pending vote, starting off by saying she would vote against impeachment. She also called the move toward impeachment an abuse of power.
The Republican's district covers a large part of Mid-Missouri.
Rep. Emanual Cleaver, Fifth Congressional District
Cleaver's social media accounts and website did not include any updated statements about the impeachment proceedings. The Democrat represents Kansas City and the western part of Mid-Missouri.
Rep. Sam Graves, Sixth Congressional District
Graves, a Republican who represents northern Missouri, was also silent on his website and social media accounts Wednesday in regard to impeachment.
Rep. Billy Long, Seventh Congressional District
Long, a Republican who represents southwest Missouri, was active on Twitter, retweeting colleagues and posting his own statements questioning the legitimacy of the vote.
Long was also the subject of others' tweets after a photo circulated appearing to show money sticking out of his jacket pocket. Observers of Congress pointed out that the money is a joke -- they're fake bills with Trump's likeness.
Rep. Jason Smith, Eighth Congressional District
The Republican who represents southeast Missouri was active on Twitter on Wednesday. His tweets included a video of his full remarks on the House floor.
U.S. senators
If the House passes the articles of impeachment a trial will be held in the Senate.
Missouri's senior senator, Roy Blunt, was silent Wednesday on impeachment.
Sen. Josh Hawley has not been shy about giving his views on impeachment but did not post any new statements directly related to impeachment Wednesday, focusing instead on an inspector general's report on eavesdropping on the Trump campaign.
He posted on Facebook a video of a Tuesday interview on Fox News in which he discussed the possible upcoming trial.
