WASHINGTON – Donald Trump became the first president in United Stateshistory to be impeached twice as House of Representatives voted to chargehim with inciting last week’s mob attack on Congress.
Democratic Speaker Nancy Pelosi said, today, US demonstrated that no one isabove the law, not even the president.
The vote in the Democratic-controlled House was 232-197 following theattack on Congress, although it appeared unlikely the swift impeachmentwould lead to Trump’s ouster before his four-year term ends and DemocraticPresident-elect Joe Biden is inaugurated on January 20.
Mitch McConnell, Senate’s Republican majority leader rejected the call fora quick impeachment trial, saying there was no way to conclude it beforeTrump leaves office. But even if he has left the White House, a Senateconviction of Trump could lead to a vote on banning him from running foroffice again.
President-elect Biden said it was important that a Senate impeachment trialin the early days of his term not delay work on his legislative priorities,including Cabinet confirmations, and urged Senate leaders to find a way todo both at the same time.
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The House passed a single article of impeachment accusing Donald Trump of“incitement of insurrection,” focused on an incendiary speech he delivereda week earlier to thousands of supporters shortly before the mob rampagedthrough the Capitol.
Earlier, Trump survived the first impeachment almost exactly a year agowhen the Senate acquitted him of abusing his office to try and get dirt onBiden’s family before the polls.
This time, the impeachment was triggered by a speech he delivered onJanuary 6, telling the voters that Biden had stolen the presidentialelection and that they needed to march on Congress.
