Democrat Rep. Elissa Slotkin Booed On Town Hall Stage For Supporting Impeachment

Slotkin announced that she will be voting against Trump publicly on Monday, with the claim that Trump put our country's national security at "stake."

But, her constituents weren't pleased.

Protestors at the town hall help signs that read "Impeach Slotkin" and "Keep Trump."

MSNBC also spoke to a Michigan voter who says that Slotkin voting to impeach trump is the "final straw" and he will not be voting for her again.

Watch here:

For reference, here's an excerpt from Slotkin's op-ed in The Detroit Free Press explaining why she is voting for impeachment of President Trump:

The vote that we will take this week will be on two articles of impeachment. The first is for abuse of power, accusing the President of soliciting the interference of a foreign government in the 2020 election for his personal political benefit. The second article is for obstruction of Congress, accusing the President of directing the defiance of the House inquiry.

I will be voting yes on both. And I want all of my constituents to know why.

On abuse of power: I believe that the President illegally solicited the help of foreigners to influence the American political process. On September 19, the President’s lawyer announced proudly on live TV that he had encouraged Ukraine to investigate the Bidens. On September 22, in response to a reporter’s question, the President affirmed it. The President later went on to encourage China to “investigate” his political rival, doubling down on it when asked by reporters. 

These first-person statements, on top of the raft of first- and second-hand accounts provided in sworn testimony, paint a clear picture of a president abusing the power of his office for personal political gain.

As a former CIA officer, I believe this lies at the very heart of impeachable conduct. To my colleagues and constituents considering this vote, I think it is important to ask: Should we invite foreign help into our competitive political system? Is that something we should accept from this President, or any other?

And if a President admits that he’s done it, and solicits additional help from even more capable foreign governments, then isn’t it our constitutional duty to provide a clear response to that abuse of power? Our democracy is in danger if this behavior becomes the new normal.

On obstruction of Congress: As I went back and did my research on the previous impeachment processes, it became clear that, in contrast to the proceedings against Andrew Johnson, Nixon and Clinton, President Trump sent out unprecedented guidance to refuse and ignore the requests and subpoenas of the inquiry. He did this even though the Constitution gives the House of Representatives the “sole power of impeachment.” While the President may not have liked the inquiry, he broke with 100 years of tradition by ignoring the subpoenas, and in doing so, obstructed Congress’ authorities. 

Over the past few months, I’ve been told more times that I can count that the vote I’ll be casting this week will mark the end of my short political career. That may be.

But in the national security world that I come from, we are trained to make hard calls on things, even if they are unpopular, if we believe the security of the country is at stake. There are some decisions in life that have to be made based on what you know in your bones is right. And this is one of those times.

Breitbart has more to say about the response Slotkin received over her support of Trump impeachment:

Michigan voters booed and shouted at Rep. Elissa Slotkin (D-MI) during a town hall Monday in Rochester, Michigan, for supporting articles of impeachment against President Donald Trump.

Slotkin announcedher support for articles of impeachment against Trump in an op-ed for the Detroit Free Press Monday, claiming that Trump had put the national security of the country “at stake.”

The Michigan Democrat, a former CIA officer, said, “President Trump used the power of the presidency for his own benefit, to give himself some advantage in the very election that would determine whether he remained in office.”

As Slotkin started her remarks during the town hall, one man called the Michigan Democrat a “partisan hack.”

The swing district Democrats’ decision to back impeachment did not resonate with many of her Michigan constituents. Michiganders shouted down the freshman Democrat as she attempted to explain why she backed impeachment.

Slotkin represents one of the 13 congressional districts that Trump won during the 2016 presidential election, and that House Democrats flipped during the 2018 midterm elections.

The Michigan Democrat narrowly beatincumbent Rep. Mike Bishop (R-MI) by 3.8 percentage points.

Slotkin attempted to explain why she went from supporting the impeachment inquiry to voting for articles of impeachment over loud booing from the audience.

The Michigan congresswoman said she did not initially support impeachment in the wake of special counsel Robert Mueller’s report because she wanted the American people to decide during the 2020 presidential election. However, she believed that Trump’s call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has warranted articles of impeachment against the president.

Townhall added some more insight:

Slotkin is one of 31 Democrats who won in a red or red-leaning district last year, meaning a vote for impeachment could derail her re-election campaign. She admitted as much in a Fox News interview on Friday, but she argued that her political career didn't matter as much as listening to her conscience.

"If this is the end of my political career, at least I'm doing what I think is right," Slotkin said.

Some of Slotkin's constituents are letting her know that her impeachment decision has helped them make up their minds not to vote for her.

"I think this is going to seal the deal," Michigan resident Ken Quint told MSNBC following Rep. Slotkin's town hall in Rochester, Michigan. "I think I will not vote for her."

Others showed up to her town hall with "Impeach Slotkin" signs.

Slotkin's decision is in stark contrast to that of Rep. Van Drew (D-NJ). He is so fed up with his fellow Democrats' obsession with impeachment that he announced over the weekend he is switching parties. Democratic Minnesota Congressman Collin Peterson also recently came out against impeachment.