President Donald Trump's impeachment article have been sent to the Senate
The House of Representatives has voted to formally impeach President Donald Trump.
Democrats voted to send two impeachment charges against the President to the Senate. The move finally clears the way for only the third impeachment trial of a U.S. president to begin next week.
President Trump faces a charge of abuse of power for asking Ukraine to investigate political rival Joe Biden and a second one of obstruction of Congress for blocking testimony and documents sought by Democrats.
The vote also approved a team of seven Democrats to serve as prosecutors in the trial.
Trump expected to survive
US Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) arrives for a press conference to announce the impeachment managers on Capitol Hill (Image: Getty)
US Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) arrives for a press conference to announce the impeachment managers on Capitol Hill.
The 100-seat Senate is expected to acquit Trump, keeping him in office, as none of its 53 Republicans has voiced support for removing him, a step that under the U.S. Constitution would require a two-thirds majority.But the impeachment is a stain on his record and the televised trial in the Senate could be uncomfortable for him as he seeks re-election on 3 November, with Biden a leading contender for the Democratic nomination to challenge him.
“We are here to cross a very important threshold in American history,” Pelosi said before the vote.
The White House has yet to unveil its defense team. The trial will overseen by U.S. Chief Justice John Robert
White House defends record
The President, during a White House signing ceremony for a China trade deal, the impeachment a “hoax.” He singled out for praise every Republican senator in the audience, whose support he will need at the trial.
U.S. Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi's statement was broadcast live across America (Image: Getty)
U.S. Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi's statement was broadcast live across America.
Republicans argue the President’s actions did not rise to the level of impeachable offences and accuse the Democrats of using the Ukraine affair as a way to nullify Trump’s 2016 election victory.
White House spokeswoman Stephanie Grisham said the President “expects to be fully exonerated,” saying in a statement, “President Trump has done nothing wrong.”
Opening statements in the trial are expected next Tuesday, according to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, whose fellow Republicans will set the rules for the trial.
Democrat Adam Schiff urged Republicans to allow more evidence and witnesses at the trial. Senator McConnell has resisted the idea of calling witnesses, saying senators should consider only the evidence amassed by the House.
“If McConnell makes this the first trial in history without witnesses, it will be exposed for what it is, and that is an effort to cover up for the president,” Schiff said.
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