President of the United State of America, Donald Trump has been impeached by the House of Representatives. The House voted on Wednesday to impeach President Trump on both articles of impeachment, abuse of power and obstruction of Congress. The vote followed weeks of testimony related to his dealings with Ukraine and hours of fiery debate over the process.
Trump is only the third president in U.S. history to be impeached..
Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, D-Hawaii, voted “present” — rather than for or against — both articles of impeachment, a surprise move from the Democratic presidential candidate.
Gabbard is the only White House hopeful eligible to vote on impeachment Wednesday and one of few House Democrats publicly undecided on the issue until now. She is the only member in the House to have voted present.
Three other members — two Republicans and one Democrat — di d not vote at all.
House passes second article of impeachment on obstruction of Congress
The House of Representatives on Wednesday passed the second article of impeachment against President Donald Trump, accusing him of obstructing Congress, following an hourslong debate and the adoption of the first article on abuse of power.
The article accuses Trump of directing “the unprecedented, categorical and indiscriminate defiance of subpoenas” issued by the House. It also accuses Trump of directing the White House and other agencies to defy subpoenas and withholding documents and not allowing key administration officials to testify.
“In the history of the Republic, no president has ever ordered the complete defiance of an impeachment inquiry or sought to obstruct and impede so comprehensively the ability of the House of Representatives to investigate ‘high crimes and misdemeanors’,” the article reads.
Trump impeached by the House for abuse of power
President Donald J. Trump was impeached on Wednesday, marking the third time in the nation’s history that the House of Representatives voted to impeach a sitting president.
The historic vote followed a daylong debate on whether Trump violated his oath in pressuring Ukraine to damage a political opponent.
The 230-197 vote to impeach Trump for abuse of power was almost entirely along party lines and is to be followed quickly by a second vote on whether Trump obstructed Congress.
Two Democrats, Jeff Van Drew of New Jersey and Collin Peterson of Minnesota, voted against the article along with all Republicans. The lone Independent, former Republican Justin Amash of Michigan, joined with all Democrats in adopting the article.
One Democrat, Rep. Tulsi Gabbard of Hawaii, a 2020 presidential candidate, voted present. Speaker Nanvy Pelosi of California, who doesn’t typically vote except on important legislation, voted yes and appeared to be the 214th vote, pushing Democrats over the margin.
As members wrapped up the vote, GOP members chanted, “Four more years! Four more years!”
The Senate trial on whether to remove the president is expected to begin in early January