Donald Trump has become the first US President to be impeached twice in a bipartisan vote by the House of Representatives. The impeachment comes after the Capitol was breached a week ago during which five people lost their lives. Trump now faces the charge of inciting insurrection over claims his tweets encouraged the violent riot.
The House of Representatives voted 232-197 in favour of impeachment with a minority of Republicans siding with the Democrats. Nancy Pelosi, speaker of the House, called for members to support the impeachment of the President, stating “he is a clear and present danger to the nation we all love.”
The 45th President first faced impeachment for abuse of power and obstruction of Congress in December 2019 but was ultimately not convicted. As with his first impeachment, members of the House voted again on party lines with only ten Republican dissenters.
Although a minority of Republicans supported the article of impeachment, most Republican members remained in support of the President. Minority Republican leader, Kevin McCarthy suggested that Trump “bears responsibility for Wednesday’s attack on Congress by mob rioters” but added impeachment was not justice in this case.
With Trump set to leave office in just under a week, it is evident he will not face a removal from office in that time. Kentucky Senator, Mitch McConnell, welcomed the impeachment efforts but made it clear that the trial will not take place before the Senate reconvenes under a Biden administration. He said, “given the rules, procedures, and Senate precedents that govern presidential impeachment trials, there is simply no chance that a fair or serious trial could conclude before President-elect Biden is sworn in next week.”
Once the Senate reconvenes and Trump is no longer President, the impeachment article will be voted upon in the Senate to determine the President’s guilt. For the President to be convicted, the Senate would need to find him guilty with a two-thirds majority. With the even, partisan divide in the chamber, at least 17 Republican Senators would have vote in favour of the conviction to reach the required majority.
Speculations by the New York Times suggest around 20 potential Republican Senators are considering voting for the President’s conviction but the eventual outcome of his trial will demonstrate how true such rumours are.
Although a potential conviction will not result in removal from office, a conviction could result in Trump being barred from holding political office in the future and end any potential of a 2024 bid for the Presidency.
Bethany Collins
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This is a breaking news story. All information was correct at the time of publication but is subject to change or developments.