Speaker of the HouseNancy Pelosion Thursday said PresidentDonald Trump“leaves us no choice” except to move forward with impeaching him after he lobbied Ukraine to investigate former Vice PresidentJoe Bidenand Biden’s family.
“The president has engaged in abuse of power undermining our national security and jeopardizing the integrity of our elections,” Pelosisaid Thursday morningfrom the Capitol in Washington, D.C., according toThe New York Times. “His actions are in defiance of the vision of our founders and the oath of office that he takes to preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States.”
“Sadly, but with confidence and humility, with allegiance to our founders and a heart full of love for America, today I am asking our chairmen to proceed with articles of impeachment,” Pelosi continued.
Not long after Thursday’s speech, Trump tweeted that he was being haranguedover “NOTHING”but he nonetheless said he looked forward to aspeedy trial in the Senatewhich would end in his exoneration.
It remains unclear when the Democratic House will vote on articles of impeachment against Trump, though Pelosi’s statement Thursday signaled leadership there was prepared to move quickly.
A vote is possible before Christmas.
J Scott Applewhite/AP/Shutterstock; NICHOLAS KAMM/AFP/Getty Images
Once articles — analogous to charges — are drafted, the House will vote on them and if they pass, President Trump will be impeached, or accused of those same crimes. He will then be tried in the Senate, where a two-thirds majority vote is necessaryto remove him.
Impeachment has become a near certainty to many observers, after public opinionbegan shifting toward it since Octoberand after a procession of government officials testified in the House broadly corroborating the case against Trump over Ukraine.
However, conviction in the Senate is far less likely given the Republican majority there.
Not so, Pelosi said Thursday.
“If we allow a president to be above the law, we do so surely at the peril of our republic,” Pelosi said. “In America, no one is above the law.”
source: people.com
