Rep. Lucy McBath, Vulnerable Democrat, Votes ‘Yea’ on Impeachment

US Should Recognize American Samoans as Citizens, Judge Says

SALT LAKE CITY—People born in the territory of American Samoa should be recognized as U.S. citizens, a federal judge in Utah decided Thursday in a case filed amid more than a century of legal limbo but whose eventual impact remains to be seen. The cluster of Pacific islands southwest of Hawaii is the only place in the country without an automatic claim to citizenship. People born there are labeled U.S. nationals, meaning they pay taxes but cannot vote, run for office, or apply for certain government jobs. U.S. District Judge Clark Waddoups sided with three people from American Samoa who sued to be recognized as citizens. He ruled that the Utah residents are entitled to birthright citizenship under the 14th Amendment to the Constitution and ordered the government to issue…

Rep. Lucy McBath (D-Ga.), whose district voted in favor of President Donald Trump in 2016 and who narrowly won her mid-term election, voted in favor of articles of impeachment in the House Judiciary Committee.

On Friday, she voted “yea” on the articles of impeachment, joining 22 other Democrats as opposed to 17 Republicans.

Earlier in the week, McBath said she “I believe the president abused the power of the office, putting his own interests above the needs of our nation, above the needs of the people I love and I serve, and for that I must vote my conscience,” reported The Hill.

“This is not why I came to Washington; I came to Washington because I love my country. I came to Washington full of hope and empowered by my community to serve them in Congress…but after this vote I will continue to champion the ideals that this country instilled in me,” she said before making a reference to her son, Jordan, who was shot and killed seven years ago.

Former Rep. Karen Handel (R-Ga.) has said she is vying for McBath’s seat and has picked up endorsements from Gov. Brian Kemp and Senators Johnny Isakson and David Perdue, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

In 2018, McBath defeated Handel by less than 1 percent, or around 4,000 votes.

Rep. Lucy McBath, Vulnerable Democrat, Votes ‘Yea’ on Impeachment

On Friday, Rep. Max Rose (D-N.Y.), who represents another district Trump carried in the 2016 election, said Friday that he will vote in favor of the articles of impeachment, saying “a President coercing a foreign government into targeting American citizens is not just another example of scorched earth politics, it serves as an invitation to the enemies of the United States to come after any citizen, so long as they disagree with the president.”

Next week, the full House is expected to vote on articles of impeachment, and Democrats are alleging Trump abused his power and obstructed Congress.

In the face of solid Republican opposition, Democrats will need 216 votes to approve the articles, meaning they can lose about 17 or 18 Democrats if everyone is present and voting. One independent, Rep. Justin Amash (I-Mich.), has told CNN he will vote for impeachment.

This week, Rep. Conor Lamb (D-Pa.), who represents another swing district, lent his support for impeachment.

“After reviewing all of the evidence and witness testimony in this investigation, I believe that President Trump abused his power and obstructed Congress, and I will vote for both articles of impeachment,” Lamb said in a statement on Thursday.

Trump and Ukrainian officials have denied Democrats’ quid pro quo allegations, while the president has said the inquiry is a partisan witch hunt.

Reuters contributed to this report.

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Congressman Suggests National Guard Could Enforce Gun Laws in Virginia

A member of Congress suggested that Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam could activate the state’s National Guard and use it to enforce recent gun control measures after a number of counties declared themselves Second Amendment sanctuaries. As reported by WCYB, a local station, Virginia’s Wise County is the latest to make the Second Amendment sanctuary declaration on Thursday. More than 70 cities and counties have said they would oppose any state legislation they think would infringe on gun rights. Rep. Donald McEachin (D-Va.) suggested cutting off state funds to counties that don’t comply with any gun control measures that pass in the state capitol. “They certainly risk funding, because if the sheriff’s department is not going to enforce the law, they’re going to lose money. The counties’ attorneys offices are not…