A day after the historic impeachment vote in the US House of Representatives, Democratic MP Jeff Van Drew announced his transfer to the Republicans while visiting the White House. US President Donald Trump received Van Drew in the Oval Office and said it was a great honor.
The New Jersey MP, referring to his change of party to Trump's Republicans, said: "I think that just suits me better." Van Drew represents a former republican district in the House of Representatives where Trump is popular. Democratic critics accuse Van Drew that a change of party is primarily for political self-preservation.
Van Drew's change of sides has no influence on the majority, the Democrats have a comfortable majority in the House of Representatives. Republican minority leader in the House of Representatives Kevin McCarthy said at the Oval Office meeting that it is not often that a MP changes from a majority to a minority. "It's a big deal."
Van Drew voted against Trump's impeachment
A few days ago, Van Drew's plans to change sides were announced. With the actual announcement, however, the MP waited until shortly after the vote on the official opening of impeachment proceedings against Trump.
With most of the Democrats, the House of Representatives had voted for Trump to answer for both abuse of power and obstruction of the Congressional investigation in an impeachment procedure in the Senate. Van Drew voted against in each case on the two charges - and thus moved along the lines of the Republicans. "We were very lucky," Trump said. "He voted in our favor yesterday."