The US House of Representatives has voted to impeach President Donald Trump for “incitement of insurrection” after a mob of his supporters stormed the United States Capitol last week, marking the first time in US history that a president has been impeached twice.
A total of 10 Republicans voted against their party and Mr Trump, with the final result standing at 232 votes to impeach and 197 against.
“Today, in a bipartisan way, the House demonstrated that no one is above the law – not even the President of the United States,” House Speaker Nancy Pelosi as she signed the article of impeachment after the vote.
The measure also makes clear “that Donald Trump is a clear and present danger to our country,” Mrs Pelosi added.
President Trump was previously impeached over his calls with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky where the President and his personal attorney, Rudy Giuliani pressed the Ukrainian government repeatedly to investigate Hunter Biden, the son President-elect Joe Biden.
In a recorded statement from the White House after the impeachment vote, Mr Trump condemned the attack on the Capitol and said there was no excuse for violence.
“There is never a justification for violence. If you do any of these things, you are not supporting our movement,” he said.
He vowed to bring those involved in the riots “to justice”, but did not mention his impeachment during the five-minute clip, saying the country’s focus “must be on advancing the interests of the whole nation”.
The article of impeachment will now head to the US Senate, still controlled by the Republican Party, which is set to conduct a trial on the charges. A two-thirds majority is needed to convict President Trump on the charge.
They can also vote to ban him from standing for election ever again – which only requires a simple majority (50% + 1).
However, the Senate trial that follows the House vote will not be imminent, with majority leader Mitch McConnell claiming there is not enough time for a “fair or serious trial” to take place before President-elect Biden is sworn in.
“The president-elect himself stated last week that his inauguration on 20 January is the ‘quickest’ path for any change in the occupant of the presidency,” Mr McConnell said.
“In light of this reality, I believe it will best serve our nation if Congress and the executive branch spend the next seven days completely focused on facilitating a safe inauguration and an orderly transfer of power to the incoming Biden administration.”
The President-elect also cautioned that, “I hope that the Senate leadership will find a way to deal with their constitutional responsibilities on impeachment while also working on the other urgent business of this nation.”
Some Republicans have defended the President, calling the impeachment process unnecessary at a time when the US needs to heal.
“In seven days, there will be a peaceful transfer of power just like there has been every other time in our country, but Democrats are gonna impeach President Trump again. This doesn’t unite the country,” Republican Congressman Jim Jordan said.
