NewsCovering Colorado

Actions

Rep. Diana DeGette to preside over House impeachment debate Wednesday

Posted at 6:24 AM, Dec 18, 2019
and last updated 2019-12-18 09:05:56-05

U.S. Rep. Diana DeGette will serve as speaker pro tempore and preside over the U.S. House of Representatives for Wednesday's debate on impeaching President Donald Trump.

Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi asked DeGette to take on this role, according to a press release.

“I am honored that the speaker has asked me to serve as speaker pro tempore of the House and to preside over most of the impeachment debate," DeGette said. "None of us came to Congress to impeach a president, but every one of us – when we assumed office – took an oath to uphold the constitution. This is a sad and somber moment in our nation’s history and the responsibility to preside over this important debate is something I will not take lightly.”

READ MORE: House to debate Trump impeachment before historic vote on Wednesday

On Tuesday, the House Rules Committee adopted guidelines that detail how the vote will likely go down: Democrats and Republicans will have six hours to debate the two impeachment articles — abuse of power and obstruction of Congress — and the time will be split evenly between the two parties. They will vote following the debate.

It will be the third impeachment vote in U.S. history.