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Impeachment?
Chairman of the House Committee on the Judiciary Jerry Nadler, Chairman of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence Adam Schiff, Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee Eliot Engel, Chairwoman of the House Financial Services Committee Maxine Waters and Chairwoman of the House Committee on Oversight and Reform Carolyn Maloney will announce the next steps in the House impeachment inquiry.
What did Democrats argue was the significance of Trump’s stonewalling of the impeachment inquiry?
On December 10, 2019, the Democrats in the House of Representatives announced two articles of impeachment against President Donald Trump, marking a major milestone in the ongoing political saga. The articles, abuse of power and obstruction of Congress, mark the culmination of months of investigation and debate among lawmakers and the public.
Abuse of Power:
The first article charges that President Trump abused his power by pressuring the Ukrainian government to investigate former Vice President Joe Biden and his son, in exchange for military aid and a White House meeting. The impeachment inquiry was sparked by a whistleblower complaint alleging that Trump had solicited foreign interference in the 2020 election. The evidence presented by multiple witnesses during public hearings corroborated the whistleblower’s complaint, and lawmakers believe that Trump’s actions violated his oath of office to uphold the Constitution.
Obstruction of Congress:
The second article charges that President Trump obstructed Congress by directing executive branch officials to defy subpoenas and withhold documents and testimony from congressional investigators. Democrats argue that Trump’s stonewalling of the impeachment inquiry represents an unprecedented attack on the separation of powers and congressional oversight authority. In a letter to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, White House Counsel Pat Cipollone called the impeachment process “partisan and unconstitutional.”
The House Judiciary Committee will vote on the articles of impeachment, possibly as soon as this week, before sending them to the full House for a vote. If the House approves the articles, they will be forwarded to the Senate, where a trial will be held to determine if Trump should be removed from office. It is unlikely that the Republican-controlled Senate will vote to convict Trump, given their loyalty to the President and his popularity among their base.
The announcement of the articles of impeachment marks a historic moment in American politics, only the fourth time in U.S. history that a President has faced impeachment. The outcome of the impeachment proceedings will have far-reaching consequences for the presidential election in 2020, as well as for the balance of power between the legislative and executive branches of government. Whether or not Trump is removed from office, the proceedings have underscored the importance of accountability and transparency in government, and the duty of elected officials to uphold their oaths to the Constitution.
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