Westmoreland County impeachment rally draws more than 100

With light-up signs reading “IMPEACH” and chants of “save our Constitution,” more than 100 protesters gathered outside the Westmoreland County Courthouse Tuesday evening to call for the removal of President Donald Trump.

“The goal is to show the support among the general population for impeachment and removal,” said protest organizer Clare Dooley.

About 15 Trump supporters were there to counter-protest, two of them wearing Trump masks.

“I stand with the president,” said counter-protest organizer Paul Berginc, who held a Trump flag. “The Mueller report was a sham, this impeachment is a sham.”

Hundreds of pro-impeachment “Nobody Is Above the Law” rallies were held nationwide Tuesday.

In Greensburg, the protesters bundled up against the cold and cheered on cars to honk as they passed.

“Donald Trump is a criminal,” said Tina O’Leary of Latrobe. “We need to do what the Constitution tells us to do, which is to remove people who put themselves above the country.”

The U.S. House of Representatives is expected to vote Wednesday on whether to impeach Trump on charges of abusing his power by allegedly asking Ukraine to investigate political rival Joe Biden in return for military aid, and obstruction of Congress for refusing to respond to subpoenas for records and testimony.

Once approved by the House, the charges will go to the Senate for trial.

Several protesters said they expect the Republican-led Senate to acquit Trump.

“They’ve said out loud they’re not going to do the job,” said Gene Torisky of Latrobe.

Despite what Torisky sees as a foregone conclusion, he said it was still important for him and his fellow protesters to make their case.

“All it takes for evil to succeed is for good people to do nothing,” he said.

The pro- and anti-Trump groups mostly stood separate, but there were a few heated exchanges.

“If you’re an American, you can’t be a Democrat,” said Trump supporter and former candidate for county commissioner John Ventre, prompting an angry response from pro-impeachment protester Bill Walter of North Huntingdon.

“I’m a veteran, and I’m a Democrat, and how dare you tell me I’m not an American,” he said.

Other rallies in Western Pennsylvania were held at the City-County Building in Pittsburgh, U.S. Rep. Conor Lamb’s office in Mt. Lebanon and the courthouses in Beaver and Washington counties.