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Pappas Says He Will Vote For Impeachment

Allegra Boverman for NHPR

Last week the House Judiciary Committee voted along party lines to approve two articles of impeachment against President Trump: one for abuse of power, the other for obstruction of Congress.

New Hampshire Congressman Chris Pappas, a Democrat representing the 1st Congressional District, announced Sunday that he will vote for both articles of impeachment. 

Speaking on NHPR's The Exchange earlier today, Pappas said he takes his oath of office seriously, and wanted to take plenty of time to get acclimated with the details of this case before making his decision. 

"I didn't come at this lightly," he says. "But I was driven by the facts and by my own conscience. I know no other way to respond to this point in our history than to vote in favor and make sure we're holding the President accountable. No one should be above the law including and especially the President of the United States."

(You can listen to or watch the full Exchange conversation here.)

[Sign up for NHPR's politics newsletter, Primarily Politics]

Pappas says he's received thousands of calls, emails, and letters from his constituents on the topic of impeachment. 

"It's the range of opinions that you can imagine," he says. "From folks who believe that these were grave acts committed by the president that warrant impeachment, to individuals who believe that the president did nothing wrong." 

Pappas says he is not concerned about his decision causing political blowback from his Republican constituents, because politics in no way factored in to his decision-making process. 

"For me this is not about politics,” he says. “I was very clear with my constituents throughout the last campaign that I would work with anyone, including the president of the United States, when they're right for New Hampshire. But I'll also be willing to stand up to him or anyone else, including members of my own party, when they're wrong for New Hampshire.”

The House will convene this Wednesday to vote on the articles of impeachment.

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