South Carolina ousts Republican who voted to impeach Trump

FE Team | Published: June 15, 2022 21:52:08

Tom Rice

CAROLINA, June 15 (BBC): A Republican congressman has lost his bid to cling on to his seat, after a furious backlash to his vote to impeach former US President Donald Trump.
Tom Rice, a five-term South Carolina incumbent, was beaten in a primary election by Trump-backed challenger Russell Fry, a state legislator.
But another Republican in the state who had criticised Mr Trump, Nancy Mace, comfortably won her vote.
Ms Mace had later visited Trump Tower in a show of loyalty.
Congressional votes were held on Tuesday in Maine, Nevada, North Dakota, South Carolina and Texas.
Mr Rice had been a reliable supporter of Mr Trump until the US Capitol riot on 6 January 2021, when he became one of 10 Republicans who sided with Democrats days later to impeach the outgoing president for inciting insurrection.
Mr Trump was acquitted of the political charge in the Senate. A Democratic-led congressional inquiry is currently conducting public hearings into the Capitol riot, accusing the former president of plotting an attempted coup.
Mr Rice had acknowledged his impeachment vote could end his political career, but had maintained he was following his conscience. He lost on Tuesday night by more than 25 points.
The 10 Republicans who voted to impeach Mr Trump have faced varying outcomes. Liz Cheney and Adam Kinzinger have become vocal Trump critics and currently sit on the US House of Representatives committee that is investigating the Capitol riot.