Rep. Anthony Gonzalez Votes For Trump's Impeachment

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Rep. Anthony Gonzalez was one of 10 Republicans who broke ranks with their party and voted for President Donald Trump's impeachment on Wednesday.

Ultimately, the U.S. House voted 232-197 to impeach Trump for a historic second time. Gonzalez was the only Ohio Republican to vote for the impeachment.

"The President of the United States helped organize and incite a mob that attacked the United States Congress in an attempt to prevent us from completing our solemn duties as prescribed by the Constitution," Gonzalez said in a statement after the House vote.

The historic House vote took place a week after a mob of Trump supporters stormed the Capitol in a siege that resulted in five deaths — including the beating death of a Capitol Police officer, multiple arrests and a sprawling FBI investigation. The impeachment comes a week before President-elect Joe Biden is to be inaugurated in a city on high alert amid ongoing threats of violence.

"When I consider the full scope of events leading up to January 6th, including the President's lack of response as the United States Capitol was under attack, I am compelled to support impeachment," Gonzalez said.

Gonzalez has been one of the few Republicans to acknowledge President-elect Joe Biden's electoral victory, the Washington Post reported.

The former Ohio State football star represents a district that stretches from Wooster to Canton to Rocky River.

Gonzalez is not the only prominent Ohio Republican to condemn Trump's actions leading up to the riot at the Capitol.

Gov. Mike DeWine also blamed the president for the violence on Jan. 6, saying his speech to supporters was "incendiary."

"President Trump's continued refusal to accept the election results without presenting credible evidence of a rigged election has started a fire that has threatened to burn down our democracy," the governor said.