Rep. Jared Golden (D-ME) became the sole Democrat to protect President Donald Trump’s war in Iran on Thursday as he took down the Democratic-led resolution to end the war.
The Democrats’ previous push to halt the Trump administration’s war in Iran ended last month after four members of the party sank the effort, but this time three of the four defectors came around.
Golden, a centrist Democrat who is retiring at the end of his term, stuck to his original “no” vote. Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY), who is facing a tough primary battle, joined Democrats in both efforts, but ultimately did not get enough support from his own colleagues to pass the measure.
Rep. Warren Davidson (R-OH) also aided in tanking the resolution by voting “present” after his previous vote to end the war.
The four Democrats who helped Trump skirt the initial war powers rebuke in the House last month were Reps. Juan Vargas (D-CA), Greg Landsman (D-OH), Henry Cuellar (D-TX), and Golden. They joined 215 Republicans in sinking a war powers resolution that could have terminated the war in Iran immediately.
Even if the resolution cleared the lower chamber, it likely wouldn’t have gotten the 60 votes necessary in the Senate, where similar efforts have repeatedly failed. Regardless, Trump could still veto it even if it passed Congress.
These resolutions seek to put Congress on record condemning the conflict and tie the president from launching further strikes.
The vote comes the week after nearly 80 Democrats in the House and Senate called on the Cabinet to invoke the 25th Amendment and remove Trump from office over his initial threats to escalate the war by targeting Iran’s civilian infrastructure. Democrats said if the threat was carried out, it would have amounted to a “war crime” that would punish the people of Iran for the actions of its government.
HOUSE DEMOCRATS SEE MOMENTUM FOR REINING IN TRUMP’S IRAN WAR POWERS
Trump struck a two-week ceasefire with Iran last week, but the United States escalated its presence and has broadened its naval blockade of Iran, authorizing the search and seizure of vessels tied to Tehran’s dark fleet anywhere in the world, according to a new update from U.S. Naval Forces Central Command.
The Washington Examiner reached out to Golden’s office for comment.