House Democrats have been told to treat the impeachment proceedings seriously and not to cheer or celebrate after the vote totals have been announced.
Democratic members of the House have described the day as a solemn, sad day in the country's history, reports Axios, whose reporter, Alayna Treene noted that one Democrat from a district won by Trump said the instruction was: "Don't cheer. Keep it solemn."
CNN's Dana Bash, meanwhile, reported the atmosphere at the House rotunda, while lawmakers were arriving, "feels different."
"It's palpable that this is momentous, that this is grave," Bash said. "And again, it is, despite the Democrats' talking points, not something that this Speaker wanted to do for and about this President.”
CNN’s Manu Raju backed also reported on the efforts to keep the celebrating down among Democrats.
He tweeted:
"Pelosi and her staff have instructed her caucus to show unity and not to gloat at all during the proceedings, per multiple sources. She wants the public to see Democrats as taking this moment seriously and not be seen as cheering the President’s impeachment, members say."
Meanwhile, Pelosi, D-Calif., and several other female Democratic lawmakers Wednesday wore black or other dark colors to signify the seriousness of the day.
"Normally we wear red [on Wednesdays] and we said, 'We can't do that today,'" Rep. Debbie Dingell, D-Mich., who was wearing a dark grey coat with black lapels, told The Hill, explaining red is chosen to show solidarity with issues such as human trafficking and women's heart health awareness.
"Many of the women are in darker colors because it is a somber day," Dingell added.
Pelosi told NBC News she is "sad" about the day's events.
Sandy Fitzgerald ✉
Sandy Fitzgerald has more than three decades in journalism and serves as a general assignment writer for Newsmax covering news, media, and politics.
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