Sen. Bill Cassidy-LA (R)
Senator Bill Cassidy’s vote calling the impeachment of former President Trump constitutional came as a surprise to many given the Senator’s past record of support for Donald Trump.
Cassidy had previously voted against the trial being constitutional but Tuesday said he was swayed by strong arguments from US House managers and a “disorganized, random” and “terrible” performance by the Trump legal team who refused to engage with the question at hand.
That vote triggered a strong condemnation from the Louisiana Republican Party who called it “profoundly disappointing.” ULM Political Science Professor Joshua Stockley said Trump is still very popular in the state and this kind of blowback isn’t surprising.
“I am certain that he is not too disappointed because he should have, or would have expected this,” said Stockley.
Stockley said this may be Cassidy, recently reelected to a six-year term, expressing a more independent streak that he was known for before his first term in the US Senate.
“He faced, for all intents and purposes, token opposition in his reelection, won outright and overwhelmingly. He is a very safe Senator, he has nothing to worry about with this vote,” said Stockley.
Stockley said while this may cost him a few approval points amongst fans of the former President he expects Cassidy will make up that lost ground in support elsewhere.
“Maybe his overall rating stays the same, but the moderates or independents, or even some Democrats, might find him more tenable,” said Stockley.
Cassidy told reporters after his vote that his support for the constitutionality of impeaching a President who is out of office is not an indicator of how he will ultimately vote over the question of whether the former President incited an insurrection on January 6th.
Comments