Donald Trump has become the first US President to be impeached twice, following a House of Representatives vote today (January 13).
The decision follows his alleged “incitement of insurrection” during unrest in Washington DC earlier this month.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, a Democrat, said: “The president of the United States incited this insurrection, this armed rebellion against our common country.
“He must go. He is a clear and present danger to the nation that we all love.”
The vote went largely along party lines – but a few Republican Congressmen broke ranks, voting to condemn the leader of their own party.
It makes Trump the first President ever to be impeached twice.
He will now face trial in the Senate, and if convicted could be barred from ever running for office again.
The articles of impeachment presented to the House today included just one charge: “incitement of insurrection.”
Democratic congressman Julian Castro, a former presidential candidate, called Trump “the most dangerous man to ever occupy the Oval Office.”
Congresswoman Maxine Waters accused Trump of wanting civil war and fellow Democrat Jim McGovern said the president “instigated an attempted coup.”
Republicans argued the push for impeachment was a rush to judgement, and complained it had bypassed the usual process of hearings.
They also called for Democrats to abandon the push for the sake of “national unity” and “healing”.
“Impeaching the president in such a short time frame would be a mistake,” said Kevin McCarthy, the House’s top Republican.
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“That doesn’t mean the president is free from fault. The president bears responsibility for Wednesday’s attack on Congress by mob rioters.”
Trump’s closest allies, such as Ohio Republican Jim Jordan, went further, accusing Democrats of recklessly acting out of pure political interest.
“This is about getting the president of the United States,” said Jordan, who received the Presidential Medal of Freedom from Trump in a private White House ceremony this week. “It’s always been about getting the president, no matter what. It’s an obsession.”
After today’s vote, House Democrats intend to send the impeachment resolution to the Senate next week.
The Senate is scheduled to return next Tuesday – and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has ruled out recalling the upper chamber early in order to hold a Senate impeachment trial before Joe Biden’s inauguration next Wednesday.
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