Feb. 6, 2020 by David Silverberg
It took about a day for Southwest Florida representatives and congressional candidates to react to the acquittal of President Donald Trump by the US Senate on Wednesday, Feb. 5. The resulting statements, tweets and Web postings were predictable based on party loyalty.
Perhaps more revealing were which incumbents and candidates reacted and how quickly.
As of 5:00 pm today, of Southwest Florida’s representatives, Rep. Greg Steube (R-17-Fla.) was most immediate and most vocal. Steube, who sits on the House Judiciary Committee, had long denounced the impeachment proceedings as a “witch hunt.” He called Trump’s acquittal “justice” and applauded the Senate debate.
No statements were issued in any online medium by Reps. Francis Rooney (R-19-Fla.) or Mario Diaz-Balart (R-25-Fla.).
Of the two Democrats running for Congress in the 19th Congressional District, Cindy Banyai issued a statement immediately after the acquittal calling it “unsurprising,” “shameful” and “a sad chapter in American history.”
"Impeachment is an important tool and check on unbridled, self-serving power in our government,” she stated. “Shame on the Senators who chose party over country. This acquittal moves us to the dangerous precipice of dictatorship.
“I'm worried an unchecked Donald Trump will move forward to run ram-shod over our institutions, further eroding our democracy and enriching himself and his cronies at the expense of the American people," her statement continued. “Those who care about democracy should take this opportunity to double-down on their commitment to the people and work to ensure we have proper leadership in the future. Invest in good grassroots candidates and vote!”
Of the eight Republicans running in the 19th Congressional District, four issued comments, most on Twitter: Byron Donalds, Dane Eagle, William Figlesthaler, and Ford O’Connell. All expressed some degree of satisfaction with the verdict.
Antonio Dumornay, the lone Independent, did not issue any statements or post on social media.