President Donald Trump was impeached by the US House of Representatives on Wednesday night, becoming only the third American leader to be formally charged under their Constitution’s ultimate remedy for high crimes.
The historic vote split along party lines over a charge that the 45th president abused the power of his office by enlisting the Ukrainian government to investigate a political rival ahead of the 2020 election.
The House then approved a second charge, that he obstructed Congress in its investigation.
The articles of impeachment, the political equivalent of a criminal charge, now go to the Senate for trial.
“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.
The charges stem from a phone call in July when Trump asked Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky for a “favour” - to announce he was investigating Democrats including potential 2020 rival Joe Biden.
But it is expected that Trump will be acquitted by the majority Republican-led chamber.
However, he still would then have to run for re-election carrying the stain of impeachment on his presidency.
“The president is impeached,” House Speaker Nancy Pelosi of California declared after the vote.
Reckless
She called it “great day for the Constitution of the United States,
a sad one for America that the president’s reckless activities necessitated us having to introduce articles of impeachment.”
Trump, who angrily tweeted at the proceedings, pumped his fist before an evening campaign rally in Michigan, boasting of “tremendous support” in his Republican Party.
“By the way,” he told the crowd, “it doesn’t feel like I’m being impeached.”
No Republicans voted for the impeachment.
The votes for impeachment were 230-197-1 on the first charge, and 229-198-1 on the second.
At the time Trump asked for the “favour”, Zelensky was seeking backing from the US.
Republicans say Democrats impeached Trump because they can’t beat him in 2020.
dailyvoice@inl.co.za