House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and her two top deputies urged caucus members not to clap or cheer during or after a vote to impeach President Donald Trump, according to reports.
Sources told CNN that Pelosi and her staff “have instructed her caucus to show unity and not to gloat at all during the proceedings.”
“She wants the public to see Democrats as taking this moment seriously and not be seen as cheering the President’s impeachment, members say,” CNN reported.
Democrat leaders have repeatedly described the impeachment inquiry as “solemn” and said it was “sad” they felt forced to undertake the investigation into Trump.
At least several Democrats will be voting against the articles of impeachment—Reps. Jeff Van Drew (D-N.J.) and Collin Peterson (D-Minn.) plan to vote against both articles, while Rep. Jared Golden (D-Maine) said he'll vote against the obstruction of Congress article—making it a bipartisan vote. Pelosi and other Democratic leaders have said they wouldn’t pressure members to vote for impeachment.
“We’re all feeling a huge sense of responsibility. When we took that oath—we took an oath to protect the constitution, we took an oath to protect our democracy—and I think that we’re feeling that,” she said. “And also understanding that there are many people that don’t approve of this vote. It’s a heavy day.”
White House press secretary Stephanie Grisham, meanwhile, told “Fox & Friends” that Pelosi moved forward with impeachment because she was “held hostage by a very, very radical group within the Democratic Party, and I think that she was pressured to do so.”
“She overplayed her hand, and now she has to see it through,” Grisham said.
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