Donald Trump becomes 3rd president in U.S. history to be impeached
WASHINGTON, DC -- President Donald Trump was impeached by the U.S. House of Representatives Wednesday night, becoming only the third American chief executive to be formally charged under the Constitution’s ultimate remedy for high crimes and misdemeanors.
The historic 230-197 vote split along party lines, much the way it has divided the nation, over the charges that the 45th president abused the power of his office by enlisting a foreign government to investigate a political rival ahead of the 2020 election. Then a majority of the House approved a second charge by a vote of 229-198, that he obstructed Congress in its investigation.
The House action came as Trump was speaking at campaign rally in Michigan.
"After three years of sinister witch hunts, hoaxes, scams, tonight the House Democrats are trying to nullify the ballots of tens of millions of patriotic Americans," Trump said in Battle Creek.
"Crazy Nancy Pelosi and House Democrats have branded themselves with an eternal mark of shame. It is a disgrace. Democrat lawmakers do not believe you have the right to select your own president," Trump said.
The articles of impeachment, the political equivalent of an indictment, now go to the Senate for trial. If Trump is acquitted by the Republican-led chamber, as expected, he still would have to run for reelection carrying the enduring stain of impeachment on his purposely disruptive presidency.
In a late twist adding even more drama to the impeachment, Pelosi, at a news conference after the vote, declined to commit to naming the House impeachment managers — those members who would present the House case at the Senate trial.
Pelosi said she needs to know the structure of the Senate trial before naming the managers, but said what she's heard so far sounds unfair, echoing the complaints of Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer.
She said McConnell is “in cahoots with the lawyers of the accused.” The articles cannot be transmitted without impeachment managers being named.
Pelosi said she and her committee chairmen will make a decision as a group as to when to transmit the articles to the Senate.
The House impeachment resolution laid out in stark terms the two articles of impeachment against Trump stemming from his July phone call when he asked the Ukraine president for a “favor” - to announce it was investigating Democrats ahead of the 2020 election. He also pushed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy to probe unsubstantiated corruption allegations against Joe Biden, the former vice president and 2020 White House contender.
At the time, Zelenskiy, a young comedian newly elected to politics, was seeking a coveted White House visit to show backing from the U.S. ally as it confronts a hostile Russia at its border. He was also counting on $391 million in military aid already approved by Congress. The White House delayed the funds, but Trump eventually released the money once Congress intervened.
Narrow in scope but broad in its charge, the resolution said the president “betrayed the nation by abusing his high office to enlist a foreign power in corrupting democratic elections,” and then obstructed Congress’ oversight like “no president" in U.S. history.
“President Trump, by such conduct, has demonstrated that he will remain a threat to national security and the Constitution if allowed to remain in office,” it said.
