‘Rankly Unfit’: The View From a Republican Who Voted to Impeach

<p><i>This episode contains strong language. </i></p><p>Three days after being sworn into Congress, Representative Peter Meijer, Republican of Michigan, was sitting in the gallery of the House of Representatives as pro-Trump rioters stormed the Capitol.</p><p>After the siege, Mr. Meijer made his feelings clear: President Trump’s actions proved that he was “rankly unfit.” A week later, he became one of just a handful of Republicans to vote for impeachment.</p><p>We talk with Mr. Meijer about his decision, his party and his ambitions.</p><p>Guest: Representative Peter Meijer, a first-term Republican congressman from Michigan.</p><p>For an exclusive look at how the biggest stories on our show come together, <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/newsletters/the-daily?module=inline">subscribe to our newsletter</a>. You can read the latest edition <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/column/the-daily-newsletter">here</a>.</p><p>Background reading: </p><ul><li>Meet the first-term Republican representatives who are emerging as some of their party’s<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2021/01/12/us/politics/house-freshman-republicans-impeachment.html?searchResultPosition=1"> sharpest critics</a>.</li><li>Many Republican leaders and strategists want to prepare the party<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2021/01/11/us/politics/republican-party-trump.html?searchResultPosition=2"> for a post-Trump future</a>. But the pro-Trump voter base has other ideas.</li></ul><p>For more information on today’s episode, visit <a href="http://nytimes.com/thedaily?smid=pc-thedaily">nytimes.com/thedaily </a></p>