Donald Trump Impeachment LIVE Updates: The US House of Representatives on Wednesday began debating legislation to impeach President Donald Trump for the second time of his presidency.
The House is set to first hold a vote setting rules for Wednesday’s debate. If it is approved, as expected, it will set the stage for a vote later in the day on the passage of one article of impeachment charging Trump with inciting insurrection in a speech he made last week that led to rioting in the US Capitol.
A week after Trump’s supporters stormed the Capitol, the US House of Representatives will vote to impeach him for his role in an assault on American democracy that stunned the nation and left five dead.
The House is currently in session and will begin impeachment proceedings. At least five Republicans have said they would join Democrats to impeach Trump for the second time, just seven days before he is due to leave office and President-elect Joe Biden is sworn in on January 20. A vote of the House majority to impeach would trigger a trial in the still Republican-controlled Senate, although it was unclear whether such a trial would take place in time to expel Trump from the White House.
US House Begins Session To Impeach President Trump
US House Has Began Session To Impeach President Trump over Capitol riot.
The House of Representatives has opened its session, and Democrats are getting ready to impeach President Trump over last week’s deadly attack on Congress.
This online news platform gathered that the Democrats have a majority in the House, so the vote later on Wednesday on whether to impeach Mr Trump for the second time is expected to pass.
Here’s what we can expect as the day progresses…
There’ll be an hour of debate on the rule of the session, split between the two parties. Then, lawmakers will vote on the rule.
We’ll then move into two hours of debate on the impeachment article itself.
The final vote on impeachment should last around an hour. We’re expecting that to begin around 1600EST/2100GMT.
They have just gone into a short recess. But there’s lots to come, so stay tuned.
We are debating at an actual crime scene’
The House is back from its brief recess. We’re now hearing the clerk read out the rules of the upcoming proceedings.
After this, we’ll enter our first period of debate – not on the impeachment itself, but on the rule.
“We are debating this historic measure at an actual crime scene and we wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for the president of the United States,” says Democratic Congressman Jim McGovern.
He accuses Trump of “stoking the anger of a violent mob”, and says “it’s a miracle more people didn’t die”.
“I never ever will forget what I saw when I looked into the eyes of those attackers right in the speaker’s lobby. I saw evil.”
Army reminds soldiers and civilians of ‘apolitical standards’
In the wake of the Capitol attack, the US Army has sent out a message to its community – including soldiers, civilian employees and their family members.
Penned by US Army Chief of Staff Gen James McConville, Army secretary Ryan McCarthy, and Sgt Major of the Army Michael Grinston, the letter asks members to uphold US Army values during this time.
“We defend the rights of every American and we protect the roles of our institutions of democracy. We remind all soldiers and civilians to uphold the Army’s apolitical standards,” the letter begins.
“The nation expects all members of the US Army to follow the law and do the right things the right way, whether we are in or out of uniform.
“To maintain the sacred trust of the American People it is important that all those who represent the Army, in any capacity, remain models of professionalism, character and integrity.”
Impeachment will ‘further division’ says Republican
Republican Congressman Tom Cole says “we desperately need” to move forward on a “path to support healing”.
“Instead, the House is moving forward erratically with a truncated process…that will give members no time to contemplate the serious course of action before us.”
Cole says the riot was the “darkest day” of his service as a representative, but that now that the president has conceded and Joe Biden’s victory has been certified, a hasty impeachment will not help the nation move forward.
He adds that Democrats are doing so knowing that the Senate will not consider these charges until after Trump’s term ends.
“I can think of nothing that will cause further division more than the path the majority is now taking. Rather than looking ahead to a new administration, the majority is seeking to settle scores with the old one.”
