NBC falsely claimed that a single Republican voted in favor of the impeachment process resolution when zero Republicans voted for the resolution and two Democrats voted against it.
During “Meet the Press” on Nov. 3, host Chuck Todd aired a graphic noting that 31 House Democrats voted in favor of impeachment proceedings against President Bill Clinton but also inaccurately said that a Republican voted in favor of the proceedings against President Donald Trump.
The vote to approve the resolution, which laid out guidelines for the next phase of the impeachment inquiry, was 232-196.
No GOP members voted for the resolution. And two Democrats—Reps. Jeff Van Drew (D-N.J.) and Collin Peterson (D-Minn.)—voted with Republicans against the legislation.
“Without bipartisan support, I believe this inquiry will further divide the country, tearing it apart at the seams and will ultimately fail in the Senate,” Van Drew said in a statement.
“This impeachment process continues to be hopelessly partisan,” Peterson said in a statement. “I have some serious concerns with the way the closed-door depositions were run, and am skeptical that we will have a process that is open, transparent, and fair.”
Todd on NBC claimed that Rep. Justin Amash (I-Mich.) was the Republican who voted with Democrats for the resolution. Amash left the Republican party about five months ago, on July 4.
The “1” on the graphic “Meet the Press” aired included an asterisk.
“I have one with an asterisk here. I don’t know what you do with Justin Amash. It’s not a zero. At the same time, he’s not a Republican anymore,” Todd, the host, said on air.
Appearing with Todd, CNBC reporter John Harwood said later in the segment, “The Republican number was zero.”
Several congressmen are independents, including Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.).
Amash is clearly listed on the website of Congress as being independent. He is listed as co-sponsor for five bills introduced since July 11 as independent.
During the vote for the resolution, there were three lines: Democrats, Republicans, and Independent. The final vote showed that Amash voted for the resolution. Amash is the only independent currently in the House.
In a story Todd coauthored published on Oct. 31, hours before the vote, Amash is labeled (I-Mich.). The story accurately stated that Amash “left the [Republican] party.” And in a segment from Oct. 20 where Todd interviewed Amash about Trump’s decision to remove troops from Syria, Amash was labeled as independent.
“A former Republican, now an independent member of Congress, Justin Amash of Michigan who left the Republican party shortly after reading Robert Mueller’s report,” Todd said on air, introducing the interview.
Todd has not clarified his reporting and NBC has not issued a correction or retraction for the claim that a Republican voted in favor of the resolution.
