SUPPORT THE WORK

GetWiki

First impeachment of Donald Trump

ARTICLE SUBJECTS
aesthetics  →
being  →
complexity  →
database  →
enterprise  →
ethics  →
fiction  →
history  →
internet  →
knowledge  →
language  →
licensing  →
linux  →
logic  →
method  →
news  →
perception  →
philosophy  →
policy  →
purpose  →
religion  →
science  →
sociology  →
software  →
truth  →
unix  →
wiki  →
ARTICLE TYPES
essay  →
feed  →
help  →
system  →
wiki  →
ARTICLE ORIGINS
critical  →
discussion  →
forked  →
imported  →
original  →
First impeachment of Donald Trump
[ temporary import ]
please note:
- the content below is remote from Wikipedia
- it has been imported raw for GetWiki
{{Short description|2019 US presidential impeachment}}{{use American English|date=December 2019}}{{Use mdy dates|date=October 2022}}







factoids
{edih}2019182|5}})United States Senate>U.S. Senate, remained in the office of President of the United StatesAbuse of power, Contempt of Congress>obstruction of CongressTrump–Ukraine scandal>Allegations that Trump unlawfully solicited Ukrainian authorities to influence the 2020 U.S. presidential election| header_votes = Congressional votesUnited States House of Representatives>U.S. House of Representatives| accusation1 = Abuse of power| votes_favor1 = 230| votes_against1 = 197| present1 = 1| not_voting1 = 3| result1 = Approved| vote2 =| accusation2 = Obstruction of Congress| votes_favor2 = 229| votes_against2 = 198| present2 = 1| not_voting2 = 3| result2 = ApprovedUnited States Senate>U.S. Senate| accusation3 = Article I – Abuse of power| votes_favor3 = 48 “guilty“| votes_against3 = 52 “not guilty“| present3 =| not_voting3 =| result3 = Acquitted (67 “guilty” votes necessary for a conviction)| vote4 =| accusation4 = Article II – Obstruction of Congress| votes_favor4 = 47 “guilty“| votes_against4 = 53 “not guilty“| present4 =| not_voting4 =| result4 = Acquitted (67 “guilty” votes necessary for a conviction)}}{{Trump–Ukraine scandal}}The first impeachment of President Donald Trump occurred on December 18, 2019. On that date, the House of Representatives adopted two articles of impeachment against Trump: abuse of power and obstruction of Congress. On February 5, 2020, the Senate voted to acquit Trump on both articles of impeachment.NEWS, Ewing, Philip, February 5, 2020, ‘Not Guilty’: Trump Acquitted On 2 Articles Of Impeachment As Historic Trial Closes, en, NPR,www.npr.org/2020/02/05/801429948/not-guilty-trump-acquitted-on-2-articles-of-impeachment-as-historic-trial-closes, February 8, 2021, Trump’s first impeachment took place after a formal House inquiry found that he had solicited foreign interference in the 2020 U.S. presidential election to help his re-election bid, and had then obstructed the inquiry itself by telling his administration officials to ignore subpoenas for documents and testimony. The inquiry reported that Trump withheld military aid{{efn|The aid was intended to help Ukraine in its war against Russian-backed separatist forces in Donbas.}} and an invitation to the White House from Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy in order to influence Ukraine to announce an investigation into Trump’s political opponent Joe Biden, and to promote a discredited conspiracy theory that Ukraine–⁠not Russia–⁠was behind interference in the 2016 presidential election.WEB, Vindman, Alexander, August 1, 2021, What I Heard in the White House Basement,www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2021/08/trump-ukraine-call-impeachment-vindman/619617/, July 18, 2022, The Atlantic, WEB, Rascoe, Ayesha, November 7, 2019, Who Was On The Trump-Ukraine Call?,www.npr.org/2019/11/07/775456663/who-was-on-the-trump-ukraine-call, NPR, January 13, 2023, The inquiry stage of Trump’s impeachment lasted from September to November 2019 in the wake of an August whistleblower complaint alleging Trump’s abuse of power. A set of impeachment hearings before the House Judiciary Committee began on December 4, 2019; on December 13, the committee voted 23–17 (along party lines) to recommend articles of impeachment for abuse of power and obstruction of Congress. Two days later, the full House approved both articles in a mostly party-line vote. Trump is the third U.S. president in history to be impeached and the first to be impeached without support for the impeachment from his own party.The articles of impeachment were submitted to the Senate on January 16, 2020, initiating an impeachment trial. The trial saw no witnesses or documents being subpoenaed, as Republican senators rejected attempts to introduce subpoenas. On February 5, Trump was acquitted on both counts by the Senate, as neither count received 67 votes to convict.NEWS, Bump, Philip, February 5, 2020, No senator ever voted to remove a president of his own party from office. Until Mitt Romney, en, The Washington Post,www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2020/02/05/no-senator-ever-voted-remove-president-his-party-office-until-mitt-romney/, live, subscription, February 6, 2020,web.archive.org/web/20200206032547/https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2020/02/05/no-senator-ever-voted-remove-president-his-party-office-until-mitt-romney/, February 6, 2020, Trump remained in office for the remainder of his term. However, he was impeached for a second time in 2021 following the January 6 United States Capitol attack, making him the first U.S. president in history to be impeached twice. Trump was again acquitted by the Senate in February 2021 after he had left office.

Background

{{Donald Trump series}}Donald Trump is the third U.S. president to be impeached by the House of Representatives, after Andrew Johnson in 1868 and Bill Clinton in 1998.NEWS,www.theguardian.com/us-news/2019/dec/18/trump-impeachment-history-andrew-johnson-bill-clinton-richard-nixon, Which other US presidents have been impeached?, McCarthy, Tom, December 19, 2019, The Guardian, December 19, 2019, en-GB, 0261-3077, December 18, 2019,web.archive.org/web/20191218235523/https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2019/dec/18/trump-impeachment-history-andrew-johnson-bill-clinton-richard-nixon, live, Before Trump, Johnson was the only president to be impeached in his first term.{{efn|Johnson sought election to a full term, but failed to gain the nomination of his (Democratic) party, and the election was won by (Republican candidate) Ulysses S. Grant.}} The House Judiciary Committee also voted to adopt three articles of impeachment against Richard Nixon, but he resigned prior to the full House vote.NEWS,www.washingtonpost.com/politics/as-goes-his-presidency-so-goes-his-impeachment-trump-disrupts-and-divides/2019/12/18/5755b986-2048-11ea-86f3-3b5019d451db_story.html, As goes his presidency, so goes his impeachment: Trump disrupts and divides, Fisher, Marc, December 18, 2019, The Washington Post, December 18, 2019, December 19, 2019,web.archive.org/web/20191219014306/https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/as-goes-his-presidency-so-goes-his-impeachment-trump-disrupts-and-divides/2019/12/18/5755b986-2048-11ea-86f3-3b5019d451db_story.html, live, {{efn|Nixon was pardoned for his crimes by his successor, Gerald Ford.}} The Senate voted to acquit both Johnson and Clinton in their trials.NEWS,www.nytimes.com/2019/11/30/us/politics/impeachment-presidents.html, Long Before Trump, Impeachment Loomed Over Multiple Presidents, Baker, Peter, November 30, 2019, The New York Times, December 18, 2019, en-US, 0362-4331, December 3, 2019,web.archive.org/web/20191203161014/https://www.nytimes.com/2019/11/30/us/politics/impeachment-presidents.html, live, {{efn|Clinton was found to be guilty of civil contempt of court stemming from the Jones v. Clinton case over his testimony. Clinton ended up agreeing to a five-year suspension from practicing law in Arkansas. The Supreme Court suspended Clinton from the Supreme Court bar for his Arkansas suspension. Clinton would resign from the bar during the appeal process of disbarment from the court.NEWS, Clinton asks to quit Supreme Court Bar, CNN.com,archives.cnn.com/2001/ALLPOLITICS/11/09/clinton.bar/, November 9, 2001, February 8, 2020, dead,archives.cnn.com/2001/ALLPOLITICS/11/09/clinton.bar/," title="web.archive.org/web/20071209032021archives.cnn.com/2001/ALLPOLITICS/11/09/clinton.bar/,">web.archive.org/web/20071209032021archives.cnn.com/2001/ALLPOLITICS/11/09/clinton.bar/, December 9, 2007, WEB, US Supreme Court Center,supreme.findlaw.com/, February 8, 2021, Findlaw, en-US, }}File:2017 July - Impeaching Donald John Trump, President of the United States, for high crimes and misdemeanors.pdf|thumb|upright|“Impeaching Donald John Trump, President of the United States, for high crimes and misdemeanors” by Congressman Brad ShermanBrad ShermanCongress’s first efforts to impeach Trump were initiated by Democratic representatives Al Green and Brad Sherman in 2017.NEWS,www.foxnews.com/politics/reps-green-and-sherman-announce-plan-to-file-articles-of-impeachment, Reps. Green and Sherman announce plan to file articles of impeachment, Singman, Brooke, June 7, 2017, June 7, 2017, live,web.archive.org/web/20190708162858/https://www.foxnews.com/politics/reps-green-and-sherman-announce-plan-to-file-articles-of-impeachment, July 8, 2019, Fox News, In December 2017, an impeachment resolution failed in the House with a 58–364 vote margin. Following the 2018 elections, the Democrats gained a majority in the House and launched multiple investigations into Trump’s actions and finances.NEWS, Mike, DeBonis, December 6, 2017,www.washingtonpost.com/news/powerpost/wp/2017/12/06/house-democratic-leaders-oppose-texas-lawmakers-trump-impeachment-effort/, House votes to kill Texas lawmaker’s Trump impeachment effort,web.archive.org/web/20171207002738/https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/powerpost/wp/2017/12/06/house-democratic-leaders-oppose-texas-lawmakers-trump-impeachment-effort/, December 7, 2017, The Washington Post, December 6, 2017, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi initially resisted calls for impeachment. In May 2019, however, she indicated that Trump’s continued actions, which she characterized as obstruction of justice and refusal to honor Congressional subpoenas, might make an impeachment inquiry necessary.NEWS,www.washingtonpost.com/politics/democrats-eye-house-takeover-to-challenge-trump-as-gop-tries-to-hang-on/2018/11/06/2c4ff3a0-e200-11e8-8f5f-a55347f48762_story.html, Democrats take House, breaking up GOP’s total control of government, Werner, Erica, November 7, 2018, The Washington Post, DeBonis, Mike, 0190-8286, September 24, 2019,web.archive.org/web/20190925023527/https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/democrats-eye-house-takeover-to-challenge-trump-as-gop-tries-to-hang-on/2018/11/06/2c4ff3a0-e200-11e8-8f5f-a55347f48762_story.html, September 25, 2019, live, NEWS,www.nytimes.com/2019/03/04/us/politics/trump-obstruction.html, With Sweeping Document Request, Democrats Launch Broad Trump Corruption Inquiry, Fandos, Nicholas, Nicholas Fandos, March 4, 2019, The New York Times, 0362-4331, September 24, 2019,web.archive.org/web/20190904112517/https://www.nytimes.com/2019/03/04/us/politics/trump-obstruction.html, September 4, 2019, live, Investigations into various scandals in the Trump administration, which could lead to articles of impeachment, were initiated by various House congressional committees led by Pelosi in February 2019. A formal impeachment investigation began in July 2019,NEWS, Desiderio, Andrew,www.politico.com/story/2019/08/08/nadler-this-is-formal-impeachment-proceedings-1454360, Nadler: ‘This is formal impeachment proceedings’, Politico, August 8, 2019, December 20, 2019, December 19, 2019,web.archive.org/web/20191219123432/https://www.politico.com/story/2019/08/08/nadler-this-is-formal-impeachment-proceedings-1454360, live, and several subpoenas were issued; while most were honored, several were not. The Trump administration asserted executive privilege, which led to several lawsuits, including (In re: Don McGahn).WEB,www.politico.com/news/2019/12/23/doj-impeachment-vote-undercut-house-mcgahn-testimony-089604, House counsel suggests Trump could be impeached again, Politico, Gerstein, Josh, Cheney, Kyle, December 23, 2019, December 24, 2019, December 24, 2019,web.archive.org/web/20191224011942/https://www.politico.com/news/2019/12/23/doj-impeachment-vote-undercut-house-mcgahn-testimony-089604, live,

Trump–Ukraine scandal

{{multiple image
| align = right
| total_width = 360
| image1 = Whistleblower complaint on Donald Trump’s communications with Volodymyr Zelensky.pdf
| caption1 = Whistleblower complaint dated August 12, 2019, regarding a July 25 phone conversation between Trump and Zelensky
| image2 = Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelensky telephone conversation memorandum.pdf
| caption2 = Memorandum of the call between Trump and Zelenskyy released by the White House on September 25, 2019
}}(File:President Trump Participates in a Bilateral Meeting with the President of Ukraine Sept 25 2019.webm|thumb|Volodymyr Zelenskyy with Donald Trump in New York City on September 25, 2019)The Trump–Ukraine scandal revolved around efforts by former U.S. President Donald Trump to coerce Ukraine and other foreign countries into providing damaging narratives about 2020 Democratic Party presidential primary candidate Joe Biden, as well as information relating to the origins of previous political attacks against him, such as the claims investigated by Robert Mueller. Trump enlisted surrogates within and outside his official administration, including his lawyer Rudy Giuliani and Attorney General William Barr, to pressure Ukraine and other foreign governments to cooperate in investigating conspiracy theories concerning American politics.NEWS,www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/trump-involved-pence-in-efforts-to-pressure-ukraines-leader-though-aides-say-vice-president-was-unaware-of-pursuit-of-dirt-on-bidens/2019/10/02/263aa9e2-e4a7-11e9-b403-f738899982d2_story.html, Trump involved Pence in efforts to pressure Ukraine’s leader, though aides say vice president was unaware of pursuit of dirt on Bidens, Miller, Greg, October 2, 2019, The Washington Post, October 2, 2019, live,archive.today/20191003002753/https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/trump-involved-pence-in-efforts-to-pressure-ukraines-leader-though-aides-say-vice-president-was-unaware-of-pursuit-of-dirt-on-bidens/2019/10/02/263aa9e2-e4a7-11e9-b403-f738899982d2_story.html, October 3, 2019, Jaffe, Greg, Parker, Ashley, limited, NEWS,www.nytimes.com/2019/09/30/us/politics/trump-australia-barr-mueller.html, Trump Pressed Australian Leader to Help Barr Investigate Mueller Inquiry’s Origins, Mazzetti, Mark, September 30, 2019, The New York Times, October 4, 2019, live,archive.today/20191003014641/https://www.nytimes.com/2019/09/30/us/politics/trump-australia-barr-mueller.html, October 3, 2019, Benner, Katie, limited, NEWS,www.nytimes.com/2019/10/03/us/politics/trump-china-bidens.html, Trump Publicly Urges China to Investigate the Bidens, Baker, Peter, October 3, 2019, The New York Times, October 4, 2019, live,archive.today/20191003161404/https://www.nytimes.com/2019/10/03/us/politics/trump-china-bidens.html, October 3, 2019, Sullivan, Eileen, en-US, 0362-4331, limited, NEWS, Veronica, Stracqualursi, Michael, Warren,www.cnn.com/2019/10/12/politics/giuliani-trump-ukraine-russia-impeachment-inquiry/index.html, Rudy Giuliani tells CNN he’s unaware he’s under investigation for Ukraine involvement, CNN, October 12, 2019, the unraveling Ukraine scandal, December 18, 2019, November 17, 2020,web.archive.org/web/20201117190808/https://www.cnn.com/2019/10/12/politics/giuliani-trump-ukraine-russia-impeachment-inquiry/index.html, live, NEWS, Mallin, Alexander, Jonathan, Karl, Barr asked Trump for introductions to Italy, Australia in Russia probe review,abcnews.go.com/Politics/barr-asked-trump-introductions-australia-italy-review-russia/story?id=65964849, September 30, 2019, ABC News, October 20, 2019,web.archive.org/web/20191006025016/https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/barr-asked-trump-introductions-australia-italy-review-russia/story?id=65964849, October 6, 2019, live, Trump blocked but later released payment of a congressionally mandated $400 million military aid package to allegedly obtain quid pro quo cooperation from Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the president of Ukraine. A number of contacts were established between the White House and the government of Ukraine, culminating in a phone call between Trump and Zelenskyy on July 25, 2019.NEWS,www.nytimes.com/interactive/2019/10/04/us/politics/ukraine-text-messages-volker.html, Read the Text Messages Between U.S. and Ukrainian Officials, Savage, Charlie, October 4, 2019, The New York Times, October 5, 2019, live,archive.today/20191011043711/https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2019/10/04/us/politics/ukraine-text-messages-volker.html, October 11, 2019, Williams, Josh, A newly released set of text exchanges revealed details about President Trump’s efforts to use American foreign policy to benefit himself., Charlie Savage (author), limited, Less than two hours later, on behalf of the President, senior executive budget official Michael Duffey discreetly instructed the Pentagon to continue withholding military aid to Ukraine.{{efn|This remained classified until December 2019.NEWS, Stolberg, Sheryl Gay, Democrats, Citing White House Emails, Renew Calls for Impeachment Witnesses,www.nytimes.com/2019/12/22/us/politics/democrats-impeachment-witnesses.html, January 5, 2020, The New York Times, December 22, 2019, December 26, 2019,web.archive.org/web/20191226014220/https://www.nytimes.com/2019/12/22/us/politics/democrats-impeachment-witnesses.html, live, }}The scandal reached public attention in mid-September 2019 after a whistleblower complaint made in August 2019.NEWS, CNN,www.cnn.com/2019/11/09/politics/impeachment-transcript-takeaways/index.html, We read all 2,677 pages of impeachment inquiry testimony released to date. Here’s what’s clear., Manu, Raju, Jeremy, Herb, Marshall, Cohen, November 9, 2019, November 11, 2019,web.archive.org/web/20191110235639/https://www.cnn.com/2019/11/09/politics/impeachment-transcript-takeaways/index.html, November 10, 2019, live, The complaint raised concerns about Trump using presidential powers to solicit foreign electoral intervention in the 2020 U.S. presidential election.NEWS,www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/house-intelligence-committee-releases-whistleblowers-complaint-citing-trumps-call-with-ukraines-president/2019/09/26/402052ee-e056-11e9-be96-6adb81821e90_story.html, Whistleblower claimed Trump abused his office and that White House officials tried to cover it up, Barrett, Devlin, September 26, 2019, The Washington Post, September 29, 2019, live,archive.today/20190926143727/https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/house-intelligence-committee-releases-whistleblowers-complaint-citing-trumps-call-with-ukraines-president/2019/09/26/402052ee-e056-11e9-be96-6adb81821e90_story.html, September 26, 2019, limited, The Trump White House has corroborated several allegations raised by the whistleblower. A non-verbatim transcript of the Trump–Zelenskyy call confirmed that Trump requested investigations into Joe Biden and his son Hunter, as well as a discredited conspiracy theory involving a Democratic National Committee server,WEB, Telephone Conversation with President Zelenskyy of Ukraine,trumpwhitehouse.archives.gov/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/Unclassified09.2019.pdf, December 26, 2019, September 24, 2019, January 20, 2021,web.archive.org/web/20210120173711/https://trumpwhitehouse.archives.gov/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/Unclassified09.2019.pdf, NARA, National Archives, whitehouse.gov, live, NEWS,www.nytimes.com/2019/10/29/us/politics/alexander-vindman-trump-ukraine.html, White House Ukraine Expert Sought to Correct Transcript of Trump Call, Julian E., Barnes, Nicholas, Fandos, Danny, Hakim, October 29, 2019, The New York Times, February 6, 2020, January 16, 2020,web.archive.org/web/20200116064035/https://www.nytimes.com/2019/10/29/us/politics/alexander-vindman-trump-ukraine.html, live, while repeatedly urging Zelenskyy to work with Giuliani and Barr on these matters.NEWS,www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2019/09/27/trump-says-whistleblower-complaint-isnt-accurate-white-house-keeps-showing-how-it-is/, Trump says the whistleblower complaint isn’t accurate. The White House keeps showing how it is., Bump, Philip, September 27, 2019, The Washington Post, October 4, 2019, live,archive.today/20191012223748/https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2019/09/27/trump-says-whistleblower-complaint-isnt-accurate-white-house-keeps-showing-how-it-is/, October 12, 2019, limited, NEWS,www.washingtonpost.com/politics/mounting-evidence-buttresses-the-facts-laid-out-in-whistleblower-complaint/2019/10/05/c752843e-e6b5-11e9-b403-f738899982d2_story.html, Mounting evidence buttresses the facts laid out in whistleblower complaint, Helderman, Rosalind S., October 5, 2019, The Washington Post, October 5, 2019, live,archive.today/20191005220957/https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/mounting-evidence-buttresses-the-facts-laid-out-in-whistleblower-complaint/2019/10/05/c752843e-e6b5-11e9-b403-f738899982d2_story.html, October 5, 2019, Rosalind S. Helderman, limited, The White House also confirmed that the record of the call had been transferred to a highly classified system.NEWS,edition.cnn.com/2019/09/27/politics/donald-trump-ukraine-transcript-white-house/index.html, First on CNN: White House says lawyers directed moving Ukraine transcript to highly secure system, Brown, Pamela, September 27, 2019, October 4, 2019, live,archive.today/20191012224947/https://edition.cnn.com/2019/09/27/politics/donald-trump-ukraine-transcript-white-house/index.html, October 12, 2019, CNN, NEWS,www.apnews.com/article/ec576ac2faa942d18450f7bdfac0ef24, Subpoenas mark first concrete steps for Trump impeachment, Miller, Zeke, September 28, 2019, October 4, 2019, live,archive.today/20191012224337/https://www.apnews.com/ec576ac2faa942d18450f7bdfac0ef24, October 12, 2019, Associated Press, Tucker, Eric, Balsamo, Michael, White House acting chief of staff Mick Mulvaney said one reason why Trump withheld military aid to Ukraine was Ukrainian “corruption related to the DNC server”, referring to a debunked theory that Ukrainians framed Russia for hacking into the DNC computer system.NEWS, Becket, Stefan, Segers, Grace, Watson, Kathryn, Mulvaney links delay in Ukraine aid to DOJ investigation into 2016,www.cbsnews.com/live-news/trump-impeachment-inquiry-latest-kurt-volker-gordon-sondland-testimony-2019-10-17/, CBS News, October 18, 2019, October 31, 2019,web.archive.org/web/20191029192841/https://www.cbsnews.com/live-news/trump-impeachment-inquiry-latest-kurt-volker-gordon-sondland-testimony-2019-10-17/, October 29, 2019, live, After the impeachment inquiry began, Trump publicly urged Ukraine and China to investigate the Bidens.NEWS,www.washingtonpost.com/politics/trump-publicly-calls-on-china-to-investigate-bidens/2019/10/03/2ae94f6a-e5f2-11e9-b403-f738899982d2_story.html, Trump publicly calls on China to investigate Bidens, Rucker, Philip, October 4, 2019, The Washington Post, October 4, 2019, live,archive.today/20191012225550/https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/trump-publicly-calls-on-china-to-investigate-bidens/2019/10/03/2ae94f6a-e5f2-11e9-b403-f738899982d2_story.html, October 12, 2019, Bade, Rachael, Itkowitz, Colby, limited, Bill Taylor, the Trump administration’s top diplomat to Ukraine, testified that he was told that U.S. military aid to Ukraine and a Trump–Zelenskyy White House meeting were conditioned on Zelenskyy publicly announcing investigations into the Bidens and alleged Ukrainian interference in the 2016 U.S. elections.NEWS, Bade, Rachael, Gearan, Anne, Demirjan, Karoun, DeBonis, Mike, Trump made Ukraine aid contingent on public pledge to investigate Bidens and 2016 election, U.S. envoy says he was told,www.washingtonpost.com/powerpost/diplomat-who-raised-alarm-about-withholding-aid-to-ukraine-testifies-in-impeachment-probe/2019/10/22/086fb850-f436-11e9-8cf0-4cc99f74d127_story.html, October 22, 2019, The Washington Post, October 28, 2019, January 8, 2021,web.archive.org/web/20210108015859/https://www.washingtonpost.com/powerpost/diplomat-who-raised-alarm-about-withholding-aid-to-ukraine-testifies-in-impeachment-probe/2019/10/22/086fb850-f436-11e9-8cf0-4cc99f74d127_story.html, live, United States Ambassador to the European Union Gordon Sondland testified that he worked with Giuliani at Trump’s “express direction” to arrange a quid pro quo with the Ukraine government.NEWS, Impeachment inquiry: Donald Trump directed Ukraine to dig up dirt on Joe Biden, ambassador claims, November 20, 2019, iNews,inews.co.uk/news/world/donald-trump-impeachment-hearing-ukraine-ambassador-quid-pro-quo-1315067, November 24, 2019, January 8, 2021,web.archive.org/web/20210108015851/https://inews.co.uk/news/world/donald-trump-impeachment-hearing-ukraine-ambassador-quid-pro-quo-365511, live,

Inquiry

On the evening of September 24, 2019, Pelosi announced that six committees of the House of Representatives would begin a formal impeachment inquiry into President Trump. Pelosi accused the President of betraying his oath of office, national security, and the integrity of the country’s elections.NEWS,www.washingtonpost.com/powerpost/pelosi-top-democrats-privately-discuss-creation-of-select-committee-for-impeachment/2019/09/24/af6f735a-dedf-11e9-b199-f638bf2c340f_story.html, Pelosi announces impeachment inquiry, says Trump’s courting of foreign political help is a ‘betrayal of national security’, Bade, Rachael, September 24, 2019, The Washington Post, DeBonis, Mike, September 24, 2019,web.archive.org/web/20190924201421/https://www.washingtonpost.com/powerpost/pelosi-top-democrats-privately-discuss-creation-of-select-committee-for-impeachment/2019/09/24/af6f735a-dedf-11e9-b199-f638bf2c340f_story.html, September 24, 2019, live, NEWS,www.nytimes.com/2019/09/24/us/politics/democrats-impeachment-trump.html, Nancy Pelosi Announces Formal Impeachment Inquiry of Trump, Fandos, Nicholas, Nicholas Fandos, September 24, 2019, The New York Times, 0362-4331, September 24, 2019,web.archive.org/web/20190924150010/https://www.nytimes.com/2019/09/24/us/politics/democrats-impeachment-trump.html, September 24, 2019, live, NEWS,www.nbcnews.com/politics/trump-impeachment-inquiry/pelosi-announce-formal-impeachment-inquiry-trump-n1058251, Nancy Pelosi announces formal impeachment inquiry of Trump, Przybyla, Heidi, Edelman, Adam, September 24, 2019, NBC News, live, September 24, 2019,web.archive.org/web/20190924193028/https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/trump-impeachment-inquiry/pelosi-announce-formal-impeachment-inquiry-trump-n1058251, September 24, 2019, The six committees charged with the task were those on Financial Services, the Judiciary, Intelligence, Foreign Affairs, Oversight and Reform, and Ways and Means.NEWS,www.rollcall.com/news/congress/pelosi-announces-formal-impeachment-inquiry, Pelosi announces formal impeachment inquiry, but leaves some questions, McPherson, Lindsey, September 24, 2019, Roll Call, September 25, 2019,web.archive.org/web/20190924234239/https://www.rollcall.com/news/congress/pelosi-announces-formal-impeachment-inquiry, September 24, 2019, live, In October 2019, three congressional committees (Intelligence, Oversight, and Foreign Affairs) deposed witnesses, including Ambassador Taylor,NEWS, Stefan, Becket, Arden, Farhi, Kathryn, Watson,www.cbsnews.com/news/bill-taylor-opening-statement-read-the-full-text-of-the-top-us-diplomats-statement-to-congress/, Top diplomat tells lawmakers Ukraine aid was directly tied to investigations, October 23, 2019, CBS News, live, October 24, 2019,web.archive.org/web/20191108195849/https://www.cbsnews.com/news/bill-taylor-opening-statement-read-the-full-text-of-the-top-us-diplomats-statement-to-congress/, November 8, 2019, Laura Cooper (the deputy assistant secretary of defense for Russian, Ukrainian, and Eurasian affairs),NEWS,www.nbcnews.com/politics/trump-impeachment-inquiry/laura-cooper-pentagon-official-overseeing-ukraine-testifies-impeachment-inquiry-n1070586, Key Pentagon official finally testifies after Republicans storm impeachment hearing, October 23, 2019, NBC News, live, Alex, Moe, Rebecca, Shabad, October 24, 2019,web.archive.org/web/20191024024641/https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/trump-impeachment-inquiry/laura-cooper-pentagon-official-overseeing-ukraine-testifies-impeachment-inquiry-n1070586, October 24, 2019, and former White House official Fiona Hill.NEWS,www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/trumps-former-top-russia-adviser-to-testify-in-house-impeachment-probe/2019/10/14/e6015c1c-ee34-11e9-8693-f487e46784aa_story.html, Trump’s ex-Russia adviser told impeachment investigators of Giuliani’s efforts in Ukraine, Demirjian, Karoun, Harris, Shane, Rachael, Bade, October 14, 2019, The Washington Post, October 15, 2019, January 8, 2021,web.archive.org/web/20210108015853/https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/trumps-former-top-russia-adviser-to-testify-in-house-impeachment-probe/2019/10/14/e6015c1c-ee34-11e9-8693-f487e46784aa_story.html, live, Witnesses testified that they believed that President Trump wanted Zelenskyy to publicly announce investigations into the Bidens and Burisma (a Ukrainian natural gas company on whose board Hunter Biden had served)NEWS,www.nytimes.com/2019/11/07/world/europe/ukraine-trump-zelensky.html, Ukraine’s Zelensky Bowed to Trump’s Demands, Until Luck Spared Him, Kramer, Andrew E., November 7, 2019, The New York Times, November 26, 2019,web.archive.org/web/20191107121834/https://www.nytimes.com/2019/11/07/world/europe/ukraine-trump-zelensky.html, November 7, 2019, live, NEWS,www.nytimes.com/2019/10/24/world/europe/ukraine-war-impeachment.html, The Cost of Trump’s Aid Freeze in the Trenches of Ukraine’s War, Kramer, Andrew E., October 24, 2019, The New York Times, 1645522, November 13, 2019,web.archive.org/web/20191101094603/https://www.nytimes.com/2019/10/24/world/europe/ukraine-war-impeachment.html, November 1, 2019, live, and 2016 election interference. On October 8, in a letter from White House counsel Pat Cipollone to House speaker Pelosi, the White House officially responded that it would not cooperate with the investigation due to concerns including that there had not yet been a vote of the full House and that interviews of witnesses were being conducted behind closed doors.NEWS,www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-49981806, White House ‘will not co-operate with impeachment inquiry’, October 9, 2019, BBC News, October 9, 2019, January 8, 2021,web.archive.org/web/20210108015845/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-49981806, live, NEWS,www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2019/10/09/white-houses-scathing-legally-questionable-impeachment-letter-annotated/, The White House’s scathing and legally dubious impeachment letter, annotated, Blake, Aaron, October 9, 2019, The Washington Post, 0190-8286, 2269358, October 11, 2019, limited, January 8, 2021,web.archive.org/web/20210108015905/https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2019/10/09/white-houses-scathing-legally-questionable-impeachment-letter-annotated/, live, On October 17, Mulvaney said in response to a reporter’s allegation of quid pro quo, “We do that all the time with foreign policy. Get over it.” He walked back his comments later that day, asserting there had been “absolutely no quid pro quo” and that Trump had withheld military aid to Ukraine over concerns of the country’s corruption.NEWS,www.nbcnews.com/politics/donald-trump/mulvaney-acknowledges-trump-held-ukraine-aid-political-reasons-get-over-n1068256, Mulvaney acknowledges Trump held up Ukraine aid for political reasons: ‘Get over it’, Smith, Allan, October 17, 2019, live,archive.today/20191024095917/https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/donald-trump/mulvaney-acknowledges-trump-held-ukraine-aid-political-reasons-get-over-n1068256, October 24, 2019, NBC News, November 5, 2019, On October 29, 2019, Massachusetts representative Jim McGovern introduced a resolution referred to the House Rules Committee, which set forth the “format of open hearings in the House Intelligence Committee, including staff-led questioning of witnesses, and [authorization for] the public release of deposition transcripts”.WEB,foreignaffairs.house.gov/2019/10/four-chairs-statement-on-resolution-for-open-hearings-on-trump-s-abuse-of-power, Four Chairs Statement on Resolution for Open Hearings on Trump’s Abuse of Power, October 29, 2019, House Foreign Affairs Committee, en, October 30, 2019,web.archive.org/web/20191030061809/https://foreignaffairs.house.gov/2019/10/four-chairs-statement-on-resolution-for-open-hearings-on-trump-s-abuse-of-power, October 30, 2019, live, NEWS,www.cbsnews.com/live-news/trump-impeachment-inquiry-latest-alexander-vindman-to-testify-2019-10-29/, House Democrats unveil impeachment resolution—live updates, Segers, Grace, Watson, Kathryn, Tillett, Emily, Becket, Stefan, October 29, 2019, CBS News, en-US, live, October 30, 2019,web.archive.org/web/20191030035422/https://www.cbsnews.com/live-news/trump-impeachment-inquiry-latest-alexander-vindman-to-testify-2019-10-29/, October 30, 2019, This resolution, formally authorizing the impeachment inquiry, was approved by the House by a vote of 232 to 196 on October 31, 2019.NEWS, October 31, 2019,www.nytimes.com/2019/10/31/us/politics/house-impeachment-vote.html, A Divided House Endorses Impeachment Inquiry Into Trump, The New York Times, Nicholas, Fandos, Sheryl Gay, Stolberg, January 25, 2020, January 8, 2020,web.archive.org/web/20200108164927/https://www.nytimes.com/2019/10/31/us/politics/house-impeachment-vote.html, live, In November 2019, the House Intelligence Committee held a number of public hearings in which witnesses testified publicly. On November 13, Taylor and Kent testified publicly.NEWS,www.washingtonpost.com/politics/impeachment-hearings-begin-with-revelation-of-phone-call-implicating-trump-in-ukraine-scandal/2019/11/13/de8d21b8-063b-11ea-b17d-8b867891d39d_story.html, November 13, 2019, Impeachment hearings begin with new evidence of phone call implicating Trump in Ukraine controversy, Karoun, Demirjian, The Washington Post, December 19, 2019,web.archive.org/web/20191218143949/https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/impeachment-hearings-begin-with-revelation-of-phone-call-implicating-trump-in-ukraine-scandal/2019/11/13/de8d21b8-063b-11ea-b17d-8b867891d39d_story.html, December 18, 2019, live, Ambassador Marie Yovanovitch testified before the committee on November 15, 2019.NEWS,www.cnn.com/2019/11/15/politics/public-impeachment-hearings-day-2/index.html, Former U.S. ambassador to Ukraine tells impeachment inquiry she was ‘shocked and devastated’ after being removed from her post, Herb, Jeremy, Raju, Manu, November 15, 2019, CNN, November 15, 2019, January 8, 2021,web.archive.org/web/20210108015854/https://www.cnn.com/2019/11/15/politics/public-impeachment-hearings-day-2/index.html, live, Lieutenant Colonel Alexander Vindman, the National Security Council’s head of European affairs, and Jennifer Williams, Vice President Mike Pence’s chief European security adviser, testified together on the morning of November 19, 2019.NEWS,www.politico.com/news/2019/11/19/impeachment-hearings-live-highlights-and-updates-071459, Election meddling, an ‘improper’ call, and twins: What we learned in Vindman and Williams’ testimony, Politico, Natasha, Bertrand, Quint, Forgey, Abbey, Marshall, November 19, 2019, November 20, 2019,web.archive.org/web/20191119173843/https://www.politico.com/news/2019/11/19/impeachment-hearings-live-highlights-and-updates-071459, November 19, 2019, live, Later that day, Kurt Volker, the former U.S. special representative for Ukraine, and Tim Morrison, the former national security presidential adviser on Europe and Russia, gave public testimony before the House Intelligence Committee.NEWS, Kevin, Liptak,www.cnn.com/politics/live-news/impeachment-hearing-11-19-19/h_fcef5e3a2b318f1fee6c3405a9b80d06, Morrison and Volker are the witnesses Republicans requested, November 19, 2019, CNN, December 19, 2019,web.archive.org/web/20191215085546/https://www.cnn.com/politics/live-news/impeachment-hearing-11-19-19/h_fcef5e3a2b318f1fee6c3405a9b80d06, December 15, 2019, live, Also subpoenaed were Foreign Service Officers Catherine Croft, Jennifer Williams, Christopher Anderson, and Suriya Jayanti.NEWS, Who’s involved in the Trump impeachment inquiry,www.washingtonpost.com/graphics/politics/trump-impeachment-key-figures/, January 31, 2021, The Washington Post, en, File:Open Hearing with Dr. Fiona Hill and David Holmes.jpg|thumb|Open hearing testimony of Fiona Hill and David Holmes on November 21, 2019]]On November 20, 2019, Ambassador Sondland testified that he conducted his work with Giuliani at the “express direction of the president”,NEWS,www.nbcnews.com/politics/trump-impeachment-inquiry/6-things-we-learned-gordon-sondland-s-impeachment-testimony-so-n1086841, 6 things we learned from Gordon Sondland’s impeachment testimony, Edelman, Adam, November 20, 2019, NBC News, November 20, 2019,web.archive.org/web/20191120212911/https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/trump-impeachment-inquiry/6-things-we-learned-gordon-sondland-s-impeachment-testimony-so-n1086841, November 20, 2019, live, and that he understood a potential White House invitation for Zelenskyy to be contingent on Ukraine announcing investigations into the 2016 elections and Burisma.NEWS,www.ft.com/content/30e68c3b-31fd-3736-a55a-b23189da2db1, Trump seeks to distance himself from Sondland, November 20, 2019, Financial Times, November 20, 2019, January 8, 2021,web.archive.org/web/20210108015847/https://www.ft.com/content/30e68c3b-31fd-3736-a55a-b23189da2db1, live, NEWS,www.nytimes.com/2019/11/20/us/politics/impeachment-hearings.html, Impeachment Hearing Live Updates: Gordon Sondland Ties Trump to Ukraine Pressure Campaign, Baker, Peter, November 20, 2019, The New York Times, November 20, 2019, Schmidt, Michael S., en-US, 0362-4331, January 8, 2021,web.archive.org/web/20210108015855/https://www.nytimes.com/2019/11/20/us/politics/impeachment-hearings.html, live, Later that day, Cooper and David Hale, the under secretary of state for political affairs, testified jointly before the committee.NEWS,www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2019/11/20/takeaways-laura-coopers-david-hales-testimony-about-military-aid-ukraine/, Amber, Phillips, November 20, 2019, 3 takeaways from Laura Cooper’s and David Hale’s testimony, The Washington Post, December 19, 2019, January 8, 2021,web.archive.org/web/20210108015912/https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2019/11/20/takeaways-laura-coopers-david-hales-testimony-about-military-aid-ukraine/, live, On November 21, 2019, Fiona Hill – who, until August 2019, was the top Russia expert on the National Security Council – criticized Republicans for promulgating the “fictional narrative” that Ukraine rather than Russia interfered in the 2016 election, asserting that the theory was planted by Russia and played into its hands.NEWS,www.nytimes.com/2019/11/21/us/politics/impeachment-hearing.html, Impeachment Inquiry Live Updates: Fiona Hill Denounces ‘Fictional’ Claim of Ukraine Meddling in 2016, Michael D., Shear, Michael D. Shear, November 21, 2019, The New York Times, December 19, 2019, January 8, 2021,web.archive.org/web/20210108015841/https://www.nytimes.com/2019/11/21/us/politics/impeachment-hearing.html, live, NEWS,www.pressherald.com/2019/11/21/todays-witnesses-will-cap-intense-week-in-impeachment-inquiry/, Ex-official undercuts Trump defense: Hill testifies to diplomat’s ‘domestic political errand’ and warns against Russia, Mascaro, Lisa, Mary Clare, Jalonick, Tucker, Eric, Associated Press, November 22, 2019, December 19, 2019,web.archive.org/web/20191122200053/https://www.pressherald.com/2019/11/21/todays-witnesses-will-cap-intense-week-in-impeachment-inquiry/, November 22, 2019, live, Testifying alongside Hill was David Holmes, the current head of political affairs in the U.S. Embassy in Ukraine.NEWS,www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/witness-david-holmes-expresses-concerns-about-giulianis-role-in-ukraine, WATCH: Witness David Holmes expresses concerns about Giuliani’s role in Ukraine, Associated Press, PBS NewsHour, November 21, 2019, November 21, 2019, January 8, 2021,web.archive.org/web/20210108015905/https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/witness-david-holmes-expresses-concerns-about-giulianis-role-in-ukraine, live, NEWS, November 21, 2019,www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2019/11/21/david-holmes-made-clear-how-pressure-was-applied-ukraine-how-that-pressure-continues/, David Holmes made clear how pressure was applied to Ukraine—and how that pressure continues, Philip, Bump, The Washington Post, December 19, 2019,web.archive.org/web/20191124072039/https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2019/11/21/david-holmes-made-clear-how-pressure-was-applied-ukraine-how-that-pressure-continues/, November 24, 2019, live, NEWS, Amber, Phillips, November 21, 2019,www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2019/11/20/who-is-david-holmes-why-does-his-public-testimony-matter/, Who is David Holmes and why does his public testimony matter?, The Washington Post, December 19, 2019,web.archive.org/web/20191218133428/https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2019/11/20/who-is-david-holmes-why-does-his-public-testimony-matter/, December 18, 2019, live, On December 3, the House Intelligence Committee voted 13–9 along party lines to adopt a final report and also send it to the House Judiciary Committee.NEWS,www.cnn.com/2019/12/03/politics/house-intelligence-committee-report/index.html, House Democrats vote to send impeachment report to Judiciary Committee, Manu, Raju, Jeremy, Herb, CNN, December 3, 2019, December 4, 2019,web.archive.org/web/20191203232830/https://www.cnn.com/2019/12/03/politics/house-intelligence-committee-report/index.html, December 3, 2019, live, NEWS,www.foxnews.com/politics/house-intel-committee-trump-impeachment-report-vote, House Democrats vote to adopt Trump impeachment report, blast scheme to ‘solicit foreign interference’ in 2020 race, Ronn, Blitzer, Gregg, Re, Fox News, December 3, 2019, December 4, 2019,web.archive.org/web/20191204103340/https://www.foxnews.com/politics/house-intel-committee-trump-impeachment-report-vote, December 4, 2019, live, The report’s preface states:[T]he impeachment inquiry has found that President Trump, personally and acting through agents within and outside of the U.S. government, solicited the interference of a foreign government, Ukraine, to benefit his reelection. In furtherance of this scheme, President Trump conditioned official acts on a public announcement by the new Ukrainian President, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, of politically-motivated investigations, including one into President Trump’s domestic political opponent. In pressuring President Zelenskyy to carry out his demand, President Trump withheld a White House meeting desperately sought by the Ukrainian President, and critical U.S. military assistance to fight Russian aggression in eastern Ukraine.WEB,intelligence.house.gov/uploadedfiles/20191203_-_full_report___hpsci_impeachment_inquiry_-_20191203.pdf, Report of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, Pursuant to H. Res. 660 in Consultation with the House Committee on Oversight and Reform and the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, December 3, 2019, U.S. House of Representatives Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, live,web.archive.org/web/20191204093152/https://intelligence.house.gov/uploadedfiles/20191203_-_full_report___hpsci_impeachment_inquiry_-_20191203.pdf, December 4, 2019, December 5, 2019, {{Rp|8–9}} The Republicans of the House committees had released a countering report the previous day, saying in part that the evidence did not support the accusations: “The evidence presented does not prove any of these Democrat allegations, and none of the Democrats’ witnesses testified to having evidence of bribery, extortion, or any high crime or misdemeanor”, said the draft report.NEWS, Bart, Jansen, Christal, Hayes,www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2019/12/02/house-gop-draft-report-defends-president-trump-impeachment-inquiry/2590245001/, House GOP report on impeachment inquiry defends Trump’s dealings with Ukraine, December 2, 2019, USA Today, December 12, 2019,web.archive.org/web/20191207062116/https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2019/12/02/house-gop-draft-report-defends-president-trump-impeachment-inquiry/2590245001/, December 7, 2019, live, NEWS,www.npr.org/2019/12/02/784183484/read-republican-report-on-the-impeachment-inquiry, READ: Republican Report On The Impeachment Inquiry, December 2, 2019, NPR, December 12, 2019,web.archive.org/web/20191212023723/https://www.npr.org/2019/12/02/784183484/read-republican-report-on-the-impeachment-inquiry, December 12, 2019, live, This report also painted the push to impeachment as solely politically motivated – the report’s executive summary stated, “The Democrats are trying to impeach a duly elected President based on the accusations and assumptions of unelected bureaucrats who disagreed with President Trump’s policy initiatives and processes”.NEWS, Jessica, Taylor,www.npr.org/2019/12/02/784260364/house-gop-rebuts-democrats-impeachment-efforts-no-bribery-extortion-proven, House GOP Rebuts Democrats’ Impeachment Efforts: No ‘Bribery, Extortion’ Proven, December 2, 2019, NPR, December 12, 2019,web.archive.org/web/20191212004609/https://www.npr.org/2019/12/02/784260364/house-gop-rebuts-democrats-impeachment-efforts-no-bribery-extortion-proven, December 12, 2019, live, During the inquiry, the Trump administration’s public arguments were limited to assertions that the President had done nothing wrong and that the process was unfair.NEWS,apnews.com/article/b5a44803c177adf2e1837c9e265972cc, Inside impeachment: How an ‘urgent’ tip became ‘high crimes’, December 22, 2019, Associated Press, Mary Clare, Jalonick, Zeke, Miller, December 22, 2019, December 22, 2019,web.archive.org/web/20191222231008/https://apnews.com/b5a44803c177adf2e1837c9e265972cc, live,

Impeachment

Judiciary Committee hearings

{{wikisource|Report of the Committee on the Judiciary, House of Representatives: Impeachment of Donald J. Trump, President of the United States}}(File:Impeachment of Donald J. Trump, President of the United States — Report of the Committee on the Judiciary, House of Representatives.pdf|thumb|upright|Impeachment of Donald J. Trump, President of the United States—Report of the Committee on the Judiciary, House of Representatives)On December 5, Speaker Pelosi authorized the Judiciary Committee to begin drafting articles of impeachment.NEWS,thehill.com/homenews/morning-report/473326-the-hills-morning-report, The Hill’s Morning Report — Pelosi makes it official: Trump will be impeached, Rowland, Geoffrey, December 6, 2019, The Hill (newspaper), The Hill, December 6, 2019,web.archive.org/web/20191206163110/https://thehill.com/homenews/morning-report/473326-the-hills-morning-report, December 6, 2019, live, A set of impeachment hearings was brought before the Judiciary Committee, with Trump and his lawyers being invited to attend.NEWS,www.nbcnews.com/politics/trump-impeachment-inquiry/house-judiciary-committee-announces-first-impeachment-hearing-invites-trump-attend-n1091861, House Judiciary Committee announces first impeachment hearing, invites Trump to attend, Gregorian, Dareh, November 26, 2019, NBC News, November 27, 2019,web.archive.org/web/20191127051745/https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/trump-impeachment-inquiry/house-judiciary-committee-announces-first-impeachment-hearing-invites-trump-attend-n1091861, November 27, 2019, live, NEWS,www.theguardian.com/us-news/2019/nov/26/trump-house-judiciary-committee-impeachment-hearing, Trump invited to House judiciary committee’s first impeachment hearing, Gambino, Lauren, November 26, 2019, The Guardian, December 10, 2019,web.archive.org/web/20191210205800/https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2019/nov/26/trump-house-judiciary-committee-impeachment-hearing, December 10, 2019, live, The administration declined as the President was scheduled to attend a NATO summit in London.NEWS,www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-50625550, Trump will not participate in impeachment hearing, White House says, December 2, 2019, BBC News, December 4, 2019,web.archive.org/web/20191204211414/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-50625550, December 4, 2019, live, In a second letter on December 6, Cipollone again said that the White House would not offer a defense or otherwise participate in the impeachment inquiry, writing to chairman Jerry Nadler, “As you know, your impeachment inquiry is completely baseless and has violated basic principles of due process and fundamental fairness.“NEWS,www.foxnews.com/politics/trump-responds-to-impeachment-deadline-i, White House won’t participate in impeachment hearings, tells Nadler to ‘end this inquiry now’, Schultz, Marisa, December 6, 2019, Fox News, en-US, live, December 6, 2019,web.archive.org/web/20191206215143/https://www.foxnews.com/politics/trump-responds-to-impeachment-deadline-i, December 6, 2019, Nadler responded in a statement, “We gave President Trump a fair opportunity to question witnesses and present his own to address the overwhelming evidence before us. After listening to him complain about the impeachment process, we had hoped that he might accept our invitation.“NEWS,www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2019/12/06/bfe7e3a0-1852-11ea-bf81-ebe89f477d1e_story.html, White House rejects House Democrats’ invitation to participate in impeachment process as Trump focuses on friendly Senate, Kim, Seung Min, December 6, 2019, The Washington Post, en, live,web.archive.org/web/20191207184520/https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2019/12/06/bfe7e3a0-1852-11ea-bf81-ebe89f477d1e_story.html, December 7, 2019, December 8, 2019, The first hearing, held on December 4, 2019, was an academic discussion on the definition of an impeachable offense. The witnesses invited by Democrats were law professors Noah Feldman from Harvard, Pamela S. Karlan from Stanford, and Michael Gerhardt from the University of North Carolina. Republicans invited Jonathan Turley, a constitutional scholar at George Washington University;NEWS,www.politico.com/news/2019/12/02/judiciary-witnesses-impeachment-trump-074799, House Judiciary reveals witnesses for first impeachment hearing, December 2, 2019, Politico, December 4, 2019,web.archive.org/web/20191203154406/https://www.politico.com/news/2019/12/02/judiciary-witnesses-impeachment-trump-074799, December 3, 2019, live, NEWS,www.rollingstone.com/culture/culture-news/the-worst-congress-ever-161304/, The Worst Congress Ever, October 17, 2006, Rolling Stone, live,www.rollingstone.com/politics/story/12055360/cover_story_time_to_go_inside_the_worst_congress_ever/6," title="web.archive.org/web/20061130111243www.rollingstone.com/politics/story/12055360/cover_story_time_to_go_inside_the_worst_congress_ever/6,">web.archive.org/web/20061130111243www.rollingstone.com/politics/story/12055360/cover_story_time_to_go_inside_the_worst_congress_ever/6, November 30, 2006, Turley, who had testified in favor of the impeachment of President Bill Clinton in 1999,WEB,jonathanturley.org/2007/08/20/clinton-impeachment-testimony-house-judiciary-committee/, Clinton Impeachment Testimony, August 20, 2007, House Judiciary Committee, December 10, 2019,web.archive.org/web/20191206222713/https://jonathanturley.org/2007/08/20/clinton-impeachment-testimony-house-judiciary-committee/, December 6, 2019, live, NEWS,www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/politics/special/clinton/stories/articleiv121298.htm, The Impeachment Hearings, Debate on Article IV, December 12, 1998, Federal News Service, December 10, 2019,web.archive.org/web/20000817185716/https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/politics/special/clinton/stories/articleiv121298.htm, August 17, 2000, live, testified against impeaching Trump, citing a lack of evidence.NEWS,thehill.com/homenews/house/472957-gops-invited-witness-argues-against-trump-impeachment, GOP witness to say Trump impeachment would set a ‘dangerous precedent’, December 4, 2019, The Hill (newspaper), The Hill, December 4, 2019,web.archive.org/web/20191204173142/https://thehill.com/homenews/house/472957-gops-invited-witness-argues-against-trump-impeachment, December 4, 2019, live, It was observed that he contradicted his own opinion on impeachment from when Clinton was on trial.NEWS,www.businessinsider.com/republican-witness-jonathan-turley-contradicted-impeachment-testimony-2019-12, The GOP’s only impeachment witness on Wednesday contradicted his own previous testimony, Sheth, Sonam, December 4, 2019, Business Insider, December 5, 2019,web.archive.org/web/20191205020545/https://www.businessinsider.com/republican-witness-jonathan-turley-contradicted-impeachment-testimony-2019-12, December 5, 2019, live, NEWS,www.esquire.com/news-politics/politics/a30122007/jonathan-turley-impeachment-hearing-trump-ukraine/, Jonathan Turley Is Exhibit A That the Clinton Debacle Never Really Ended, Pierce, Charles, December 4, 2019, Esquire (magazine), Esquire, December 5, 2019,web.archive.org/web/20191211121744/https://www.esquire.com/news-politics/politics/a30122007/jonathan-turley-impeachment-hearing-trump-ukraine/, December 11, 2019, live, NEWS,www.newsweek.com/clinton-trump-impeachment-constitutional-scholars-1475578, Trump impeachment hearings: Legal scholars’ testimony in both Trump, Clinton cases stress ‘Abuse of power’, Crowley, James, December 4, 2019, Newsweek, December 5, 2019,web.archive.org/web/20191205011551/https://www.newsweek.com/clinton-trump-impeachment-constitutional-scholars-1475578, December 5, 2019, live, Potential articles of impeachment outlined during the hearing include abuse of power for arranging a quid pro quo with the president of Ukraine, obstruction of Congress for hindering the House’s investigation, and obstruction of justice for attempting to dismiss Robert Mueller during his investigation of Russian interference in the 2016 election.NEWS,www.latimes.com/politics/story/2019-12-04/impeachment-hearing-sparks-partisan-brawl, Democrats outline potential articles of impeachment against Trump, Megerian, Chris, Haberkorn, Jennifer, Wire, Sarah D., December 4, 2019, Los Angeles Times, December 4, 2019,web.archive.org/web/20191204214820/https://www.latimes.com/politics/story/2019-12-04/impeachment-hearing-sparks-partisan-brawl, December 4, 2019, live, On December 5, Pelosi requested that the House Judiciary Committee draft articles of impeachment.NEWS,www.nbcnews.com/politics/congress/pelosi-make-statement-impeachment-n1096341, Pelosi announces full speed ahead with articles of impeachment against Trump, December 5, 2019, NBC News, December 5, 2019,web.archive.org/web/20191206001640/https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/congress/pelosi-make-statement-impeachment-n1096341, December 6, 2019, live, NEWS,www.startribune.com/pelosi-to-deliver-public-statement-on-trump-impeachment/565827182/, Democrats take big new step toward impeaching Trump, December 5, 2019, Star Tribune, December 5, 2019,www.startribune.com/pelosi-to-deliver-public-statement-on-trump-impeachment/565827182/," title="web.archive.org/web/20191205185449www.startribune.com/pelosi-to-deliver-public-statement-on-trump-impeachment/565827182/,">web.archive.org/web/20191205185449www.startribune.com/pelosi-to-deliver-public-statement-on-trump-impeachment/565827182/, December 5, 2019, dead, After the vote, Pelosi said that, while this was “a great day for the Constitution”, it was “a sad day for America”. She also said, “I could not be prouder or more inspired by the moral courage of the House Democrats. We never asked one of them how they were going to vote. We never whipped this vote.“WEB,www.connectedtoindia.com/us-president-donald-trump-impeached-6720.html, US President Donald Trump Impeached, December 19, 2019, ConnectedtoIndia, December 19, 2019, January 8, 2021,web.archive.org/web/20210108015907/https://www.connectedtoindia.com/us-president-donald-trump-impeached-6720.html, live,

Articles of impeachment

{{wikisource|Articles of Impeachment against Donald Trump}}File:Articles of Impeachment Read into Congressional Record.webm|thumb|left|Articles of impeachment read into the Congressional Record by Reading Clerk Joe Novotny]](File:House Resolution 755 — Articles of Impeachment Against President Donald J. Trump.pdf|thumb|upright|House Resolution 755—Articles of Impeachment Against President Donald J. Trump)On December 10, 2019, Democrats on the House Judiciary Committee announced they would levy two articles of impeachment, designated H. Res. 755: (1) abuse of power, and (2) obstruction of Congress,NEWS,www.politico.com/news/2019/12/10/democrats-ready-reveal-of-articles-of-impeachment-079950, Democrats unveil 2 articles of impeachment against Trump, Desiderio, Andrew, Cheney, Kyle, December 10, 2019, Politico, en, live, December 10, 2019, Caygle, Heather,web.archive.org/web/20191210133015/https://www.politico.com/news/2019/12/10/democrats-ready-reveal-of-articles-of-impeachment-079950, December 10, 2019, NEWS,www.nytimes.com/2019/12/10/us/politics/trump-impeachment-articles.html, House Democrats Unveil Articles of Impeachment Against Trump, Fandos, Nicholas, Nicholas Fandos, December 10, 2019, The New York Times, December 10, 2019, en-US, 0362-4331,web.archive.org/web/20191210140011/https://www.nytimes.com/2019/12/10/us/politics/trump-impeachment-articles.html, December 10, 2019, live, in its investigation of the President’s conduct regarding Ukraine.NEWS,www.washingtonpost.com/politics/trump-impeachment-live-updates/2019/12/10/7b3c093c-1b38-11ea-b4c1-fd0d91b60d9e_story.html, The Washington Post, December 10, 2019, Wagner, John, Epstein, Kayla, Brice-Saddler, Michael, House Democrats unveil two articles of impeachment against Trump; White House predicts ‘full exoneration’ in GOP-led Senate, December 11, 2019,web.archive.org/web/20191211003657/https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/trump-impeachment-live-updates/2019/12/10/7b3c093c-1b38-11ea-b4c1-fd0d91b60d9e_story.html, December 11, 2019, live, Draft text of the articles was released later that day,WEB,www.axios.com/articles-of-impeachment-trump-read-7cedb632-d990-40b0-963f-047900cd30d5.html, Read the articles of impeachment against Trump, December 10, 2019, Axios (website), Axios, en, live,web.archive.org/web/20191210161704/https://www.axios.com/articles-of-impeachment-trump-read-7cedb632-d990-40b0-963f-047900cd30d5.html, December 10, 2019, December 10, 2019, as well as a report by the judiciary committee outlining the constitutional case for impeachment and asserting that “impeachment is part of democratic governance”.NEWS,www.cnn.com/2019/12/10/politics/articles-impeachment-trump/index.html, READ: Articles of impeachment against President Trump, December 10, 2019, CNN, live,web.archive.org/web/20191210164014/https://www.cnn.com/2019/12/10/politics/articles-impeachment-trump/index.html, December 10, 2019, December 10, 2019, {{Rp|51}} The committee planned to vote on the articles on December 12,NEWS,www.theguardian.com/us-news/2019/dec/09/trump-impeachment-inquiry-what-are-next-steps, Trump impeachment inquiry: what are the next steps?, McCarthy, Tom, December 10, 2019, The Guardian, December 10, 2019,web.archive.org/web/20191210010349/https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2019/dec/09/trump-impeachment-inquiry-what-are-next-steps, December 10, 2019, live, WEB,judiciary.house.gov/legislation/markups/h-res-755-articles-impeachment-against-president-donald-j-trump, H. Res. 755, Articles of Impeachment Against President Donald J. Trump, December 11, 2019, Committee on the Judiciary – Democrats, December 18, 2019, January 8, 2021,web.archive.org/web/20210108015850/https://judiciary.house.gov/calendar/eventsingle.aspx?EventID=2270, live, but postponed it to the next day after the 14-hour partisan debate on the final versions of the articles lasted until after 11:00 p.m. EST.NEWS,www.nbcnews.com/politics/trump-impeachment-inquiry/judiciary-committee-nears-vote-impeachment-articles-against-trump-n1100811, In surprise move infuriating Republicans, Judiciary Committee delays impeachment vote until Friday, Rebecca, Shabad, December 12, 2019, NBC News, December 12, 2019,web.archive.org/web/20191213011003/https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/trump-impeachment-inquiry/judiciary-committee-nears-vote-impeachment-articles-against-trump-n1100811, December 13, 2019, live, On December 13, the Judiciary Committee voted along party lines to pass both articles of impeachment; both articles passed 23–17, with all Democrats present voting in support and all Republicans voting in opposition. Democrat Ted Lieu was ill and not present to vote.AV MEDIA, Wolf Blitzer, December 13, 2019, Watch the full House Judiciary Committee vote on impeachment, CNN, 7:50, YouTube,www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZSIe-CTt9U0&t=472s, One Democrat, Ted Lieu of California, he’s ill. He could not vote., On December 16, the House Judiciary Committee released a 658-page report on the articles of impeachment, specifying criminal bribery and wire fraud charges as part of the abuse of power article.NEWS,www.washingtonpost.com/politics/trump-impeachment-live-updates/2019/12/16/3529da74-1ff1-11ea-bed5-880264cc91a9_story.html, Democrats accuse Trump of criminal bribery, wire fraud in report that explains articles of impeachment, December 16, 2019, The Washington Post, December 16, 2019,web.archive.org/web/20191216130037/https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/trump-impeachment-live-updates/2019/12/16/3529da74-1ff1-11ea-bed5-880264cc91a9_story.html, December 16, 2019, live, The articles were forwarded to the full House for debate and a vote on whether to impeach the president on December 18.NEWS,abcnews.go.com/Politics/house-judiciary-committee-set-vote-trump-impeachment-articles/story?id=67706093, Siegel, Benjamin, Faulders, Katherine, House Judiciary Committee passes articles of impeachment against President Trump, December 13, 2019, ABC News, December 13, 2019, January 8, 2021,web.archive.org/web/20210108015901/https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/house-judiciary-committee-set-vote-trump-impeachment-articles/story?id=67706093, live, {| class=“wikitable” style="width:100%”United States House Committee on the Judiciary#Members, 117th Congress>House Judiciary Committee vote on whether to report House Resolution 755 favorably to the House of Representatives! style="width:20%;” colspan=“2” rowspan=“2” | Party! colspan=“4” | Article I (Abuse of power)! colspan=“4” | Article II (Obstruction of Congress)! style="width:10%;“| Aye/Yes! style="width:10%;“| Nay! style="width:10%;“| Present! style="width:10%;“| Not voting! style="width:10%;“| Aye/Yes! style="width:10%;“| Nay! style="width:10%;“| Present! style="width:10%;“| Not votingDemocratic Party (United States)}} (24)Ted Lieu}}Ted Lieu}}Republican Party (United States)}} (17)| – 17| –| –! colspan=“2” | Total (41)! 23! 17! 0! 1! 23! 17! 0! 1! colspan=“2” | Result! colspan=“4” | Agreed to{{efn|name=calculation_HJC|Agreement based on a simple majority. Of the 41 members, Ted Lieu, who represented California’s 33rd, was ill and not present to vote, leaving 40 votes. Being an even number, half plus one is needed for a majority, yielding 21 as the number of Aye votes for agreement.}}! colspan=“4” | Agreed to{{efn|name=calculation_HJC}}

House vote

(Article One of the United States Constitution#Clause 5: Speaker and other officers; Impeachment|Article I, Section 2, Clause 5) of the U.S. Constitution states that “The House of Representatives{{Nbsp}}... shall have the sole Power of Impeachment.“WEB,www.senate.gov/civics/constitution_item/constitution.htm#a1_sec2, Constitution of the United States, Senate.gov, United States Senate, live,www.senate.gov/civics/constitution_item/constitution.htm#a1_sec2," title="web.archive.org/web/20140210235825www.senate.gov/civics/constitution_item/constitution.htm#a1_sec2,">web.archive.org/web/20140210235825www.senate.gov/civics/constitution_item/constitution.htm#a1_sec2, February 10, 2014, December 19, 2019, File:WATCH Rep. Hoyer’s full statement ahead of House impeachment vote Trump impeachment.webm|thumb|Steny HoyerSteny HoyerOn December 17, the House Rules Committee held a hearing to write the rules governing the debate over impeachment.WEB,rules.house.gov/press-releases/rules-committee-announces-meeting-consider-resolution-impeaching-donald-john-trump, Rules Committee Announces Meeting to Consider Resolution Impeaching Donald John Trump, President of the United States, for High Crimes and Misdemeanors, December 13, 2019, House of Representatives Committee on Rules, December 18, 2019,web.archive.org/web/20191213230319/https://rules.house.gov/press-releases/rules-committee-announces-meeting-consider-resolution-impeaching-donald-john-trump, December 13, 2019, live, The first of three votes was on the rules governing debate: 228 to 197, with all Republicans and two Democrats voting no.NEWS,www.cnn.com/2019/12/18/politics/house-impeachment-vote/index.html, House debates impeachment of President Donald Trump ahead of historic vote Wednesday, Jeremy, Herb, Manu, Raju, CNN, December 18, 2019,web.archive.org/web/20191218131025/https://www.cnn.com/2019/12/18/politics/house-impeachment-vote/index.html, December 18, 2019, live, This was followed by six hours of debate. One of the highlights of this contentious event was Georgia representative Barry Loudermilk comparing the impeachment inquiry of President Trump to the trial of Jesus Christ, saying that the Christian savior was treated far better by the authorities.NEWS,www.cnn.com/videos/politics/2019/12/18/house-debate-impeachment-rules-barry-loudermilk-trump-jesus-vpx.cnn, Rep. Barry Loudermilk compares Trump impeachment to trial of Jesus Christ – CNN Video, CNN, December 18, 2019,web.archive.org/web/20191218215400/https://www.cnn.com/videos/politics/2019/12/18/house-debate-impeachment-rules-barry-loudermilk-trump-jesus-vpx.cnn, December 18, 2019, live, Maryland representative Steny Hoyer contributed closing arguments: “All of us feel a sense of loyalty to party{{Nbsp}}... It’s what makes our two-party system function. It’s what helps hold presidents and majorities accountable. But party loyalty must have its limits.“WEB,www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2019/12/18/21029136/house-impeachment-debate-steny-hoyer-closing-statement, Rep. Steny Hoyer made a quiet, powerful case for bipartisanship during the impeachment debate, Collins, Sean, December 18, 2019, Vox (website), Vox, en, January 1, 2020, January 12, 2020,web.archive.org/web/20200112042503/https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2019/12/18/21029136/house-impeachment-debate-steny-hoyer-closing-statement, live, (File:WATCH House votes to impeach Trump Trump impeachment.webm|thumb|thumbtime=26:19|upright=1.45|House votes on Article I and II of House Resolution 755)The formal impeachment vote in the House of Representatives took place on December 18, 2019.NEWS,www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2019/12/18/house-approves-articles-impeachment-trump-historic-vote/2679963001/, House impeaches Donald Trump in historic vote, reshuffling U.S. politics on eve of 2020, Fritze, John, December 18, 2019, USA Today, December 18, 2019, en-US, January 8, 2021,web.archive.org/web/20210108015905/https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2019/12/18/house-approves-articles-impeachment-trump-historic-vote/2679963001/, live, Shortly after 8:30 p.m. EST, both articles of impeachment passed.NEWS,www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-50840934, Trump becomes third president to be impeached, December 18, 2019, BBC News, December 18, 2019, en-GB, January 8, 2021,web.archive.org/web/20210108015853/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-50840934, live, The votes for the charge of abuse of power were 230 in favor, 197 against, and 1 present: House Democrats all voted in support, except Collin Peterson and Jeff Van Drew, who voted against,NEWS, Edmondson, Catie, December 18, 2019, On Historic Impeachment Votes, Three Democrats Cross Party Lines to Vote ‘No’, The New York Times,www.nytimes.com/2019/12/18/us/politics/how-democrats-voted-on-impeaching-trump.html, Representatives Collin C. Peterson of Minnesota and Jeff Van Drew of New Jersey broke with their party on the abuse of power charge, while Representative Jared Golden of Maine joined them in opposition to the article accusing the president of obstruction of Congress., January 11, 2020, January 12, 2020,web.archive.org/web/20200112024645/https://www.nytimes.com/2019/12/18/us/politics/how-democrats-voted-on-impeaching-trump.html, live, and Tulsi Gabbard, who voted “present”; all House Republicans voted against, although Justin Amash, an independent who was previously Republican, voted in support of both articles.NEWS,www.latimes.com/politics/story/2019-12-18/house-on-track-to-impeach-trump, U.S. House impeaches President Trump, Haberkorn, Jennifer, December 18, 2019, Los Angeles Times, December 18, 2019, live, Wire, Sarah D., en-US, Megerian, Chris, O’Toole, Molly,web.archive.org/web/20191218140236/https://www.latimes.com/politics/story/2019-12-18/house-on-track-to-impeach-trump, December 18, 2019, The votes for the charge of obstruction of Congress were 229 in favor, 198 against, and 1 present: all Democrats voted in support, except Peterson, Van Drew, and Jared Golden, who voted against; and Gabbard, who again voted “present”;NEWS,www.nytimes.com/2019/12/18/us/politics/trump-impeached.html, Trump Impeached for Abuse of Power and Obstruction of Congress, Fandos, Nicholas, Nicholas Fandos, Shear, Michael D., Michael D. Shear, December 18, 2019, The New York Times, December 18, 2019, live, en-US, 0362-4331,web.archive.org/web/20191218190005/https://www.nytimes.com/2019/12/18/us/politics/trump-impeached.html, December 18, 2019, all Republicans voted against.Days before the impeachment vote, it was leaked that Jeff Van Drew was planning to switch parties from Democratic to Republican.NEWS,www.nytimes.com/2019/12/14/us/politics/jeff-van-drew-democrat-republican.html, Representative Jeff Van Drew, Anti-Impeachment Democrat, Plans to Switch Parties, Jonathan, Martin, Nick, Corasaniti, December 14, 2019, December 19, 2019, The New York Times, December 18, 2019,web.archive.org/web/20191218211308/https://www.nytimes.com/2019/12/14/us/politics/jeff-van-drew-democrat-republican.html, live, A day after the vote, he officially announced that he was switching parties.WEB,www.huffpost.com/entry/jeff-van-drew-switches-parties-trump_n_5dfbd87ae4b0eb2264d6a68a, Rep. Jeff Van Drew Officially Switches Parties, Pledges ‘Undying Support’ For Trump, Hayley, Miller, December 19, 2019, HuffPost, July 15, 2020, November 25, 2020,web.archive.org/web/20201125230258/https://www.huffpost.com/entry/jeff-van-drew-switches-parties-trump_n_5dfbd87ae4b0eb2264d6a68a, live, Three representatives pending retirement did not vote: Republican Duncan D. Hunter, who was banned from voting under the House’s rules after pleading guilty to illegally using campaign funds; Democrat José E. Serrano, who had a health setback after being diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease earlier in the year; and Republican John Shimkus, who was visiting his son in Tanzania.NEWS,www.usnews.com/news/politics/articles/2019-12-18/3-lawmakers-miss-historic-impeachment-votes, 3 Lawmakers Miss Historic Impeachment Votes, Matthew, Daly, December 18, 2019, Associated Press, U.S. News & World Report, December 19, 2019, en-US, January 8, 2021,web.archive.org/web/20210108015900/https://www.usnews.com/news/politics/articles/2019-12-18/3-lawmakers-miss-historic-impeachment-votes, live, {| class=“wikitable” style="width:100%“|+ Voting results on House Resolution 755(Impeaching Donald John Trump, President of the United States, for high crimes and misdemeanors)! style="width:20%;” colspan=“2” rowspan=“2” | Party! colspan=“4” | Article I (Abuse of power)WEB,clerk.house.gov/evs/2019/roll695.xml, Final Vote Results for Roll Call 695, December 18, 2019, United States House of Representatives, December 19, 2019,clerk.house.gov/evs/2019/roll695.xml," title="web.archive.org/web/20191219032349clerk.house.gov/evs/2019/roll695.xml,">web.archive.org/web/20191219032349clerk.house.gov/evs/2019/roll695.xml, December 19, 2019, live, ! colspan=“4” | Article II (Obstruction of Congress)WEB,clerk.house.gov/evs/2019/roll696.xml, Final Vote Results for Roll Call 696, December 18, 2019, United States House of Representatives, December 19, 2019,clerk.house.gov/evs/2019/roll696.xml," title="web.archive.org/web/20191219032351clerk.house.gov/evs/2019/roll696.xml,">web.archive.org/web/20191219032351clerk.house.gov/evs/2019/roll696.xml, December 19, 2019, live, ! style="width:10%;“| Yea! style="width:10%;“| Nay! style="width:10%;“| Present! style="width:10%;“| Not voting! style="width:10%;“| Yea! style="width:10%;“| Nay! style="width:10%;“| Present! style="width:10%;“| Not votingDemocratic Party (United States)}} (233)Collin Peterson| 2 = Jeff Van Drew}}title= 1| 1 = Tulsi Gabbard}}title= 1| 1 = José E. Serrano}}Collin Peterson| 2 = Jeff Van Drew| 3 = Jared Golden}}title= 1| 1 = Tulsi Gabbard}}title= 1| 1 = José E. Serrano}}Republican Party (United States)}} (197)| –John Shimkus| 2 = Duncan D. Hunter}}| –John Shimkus| 2 = Duncan D. Hunter}}Independent politician}} (1)Justin Amash}}| –| –| –Justin Amash}}| –| –| –! colspan=“2” | Total (435){{efn|name=calculation|Of the 435 House seats for the 116th Congress’s first session, four were vacant: Maryland’s 7th, New York’s 27th, Wisconsin’s 7th, and California’s 25th. Three members were not present for the vote: Duncan D. Hunter from California’s 50th was banned from voting, José E. Serrano from New York’s 15th was prevented from voting due to medical issues; and John Shimkus from Illinois’s 15th was on personal trip to Tanzania. This left 428 votes but, being an even number, half plus one is needed for a majority, yielding 215 as the number of yea votes for adoption.NEWS, AP, Cai, Weiyi, Lai, K.K. Rebecca, Parlapiano, Alicia, White, Jeremy, Buchanan, Larry, 2019, Impeachment Results: How Democrats and Republicans Voted, The New York Times,www.nytimes.com/interactive/2019/12/18/us/politics/trump-impeachment-vote.html, Four House seats are vacant, and three additional members are not expected to vote, which would make 215 the threshold to pass each article., January 5, 2020, December 19, 2019,web.archive.org/web/20191219015350/https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2019/12/18/us/politics/trump-impeachment-vote.html, live, }}! 230! 197! 1! 3! 229! 198! 1! 3! colspan=“2” | Result! colspan=“4” | Adopted{{efn|name=adoption}}! colspan=“4” | Adopted{{efn|name=adoption}}{| class=“wikitable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed” style="text-align:center;“|+ Full list of member votes on House Resolution 755! District! Member! colspan=2 | Party! Article I! Article IIALX}} Bradley ByrneMartha RobyMike RogersRobert AderholtMo BrooksGary PalmerTerri SewellDon YoungTom O’HalleranAnn KirkpatrickRaúl GrijalvaPaul GosarAndy BiggsDavid SchweikertRuben GallegoDebbie LeskoGreg StantonRick CrawfordFrench HillSteve WomackBruce WestermanDoug LaMalfaJared HuffmanJohn GaramendiTom McClintockMike ThompsonDoris MatsuiAmi BeraPaul CookJerry McNerneyJosh HarderMark DeSaulnierNancy PelosiBarbara LeeJackie SpeierEric SwalwellJim CostaRo KhannaAnna EshooZoe LofgrenJimmy PanettaTJ CoxDevin NunesKevin McCarthySalud CarbajalJulia BrownleyJudy ChuAdam SchiffTony CárdenasBrad ShermanPete AguilarGrace NapolitanoTed LieuJimmy GomezNorma TorresRaul RuizKaren BassLinda SánchezGil CisnerosLucille Roybal-AllardMark TakanoKen CalvertMaxine WatersNanette BarragánKatie PorterLou CorreaAlan LowenthalHarley RoudaMike LevinDuncan D. HunterJuan VargasScott PetersSusan DavisDiana DeGetteJoe NeguseScott TiptonKen BuckDoug LambornJason CrowEd PerlmutterJohn B. LarsonJoe CourtneyRosa DeLauroJim HimesJahana HayesLisa Blunt RochesterMatt GaetzNeal DunnTed YohoJohn RutherfordAl LawsonMichael WaltzStephanie MurphyBill PoseyDarren SotoVal DemingsDaniel WebsterGus BilirakisCharlie CristKathy CastorRoss SpanoVern BuchananGreg SteubeBrian MastFrancis RooneyAlcee HastingsLois FrankelTed DeutchDebbie Wasserman SchultzFrederica WilsonMario Díaz-BalartDebbie Mucarsel-PowellDonna ShalalaBuddy CarterSanford BishopDrew FergusonHank JohnsonJohn LewisLucy McBathRob WoodallAustin ScottDoug CollinsJody HiceBarry LoudermilkRick W. AllenDavid ScottTom GravesEd CaseTulsi GabbardRuss FulcherMike SimpsonBobby RushRobin KellyDan LipinskiJesús “Chuy” GarcíaMike QuigleySean CastenDanny K. DavisRaja KrishnamoorthiJan SchakowskyBrad SchneiderBill FosterMike BostRodney DavisLauren UnderwoodJohn ShimkusAdam KinzingerCheri BustosDarin LaHoodPete ViscloskyJackie WalorskiJim BanksJim BairdSusan BrooksGreg PenceAndré CarsonLarry BucshonTrey HollingsworthAbby FinkenauerDave LoebsackCindy AxneSteve KingRoger MarshallSteve WatkinsSharice DavidsRon EstesJames ComerBrett GuthrieJohn YarmuthThomas MassieHal RogersAndy BarrSteve ScaliseCedric RichmondClay HigginsMike JohnsonRalph AbrahamGarret GravesChellie PingreeJared GoldenAndy HarrisDutch RuppersbergerJohn SarbanesAnthony BrownSteny HoyerDavid TroneJamie RaskinRichard NealJim McGovernLori TrahanJoe Kennedy IIIKatherine ClarkSeth MoultonAyanna PressleyStephen F. LynchBill KeatingJack BergmanBill HuizengaJustin AmashJohn MoolenaarDan KildeeFred UptonTim WalbergElissa SlotkinAndy LevinPaul MitchellHaley StevensDebbie DingellRashida TlaibBrenda LawrenceJim HagedornAngie CraigDean PhillipsBetty McCollumIlhan OmarTom EmmerCollin PetersonPete StauberTrent KellyBennie ThompsonMichael GuestSteven PalazzoLacy ClayAnn WagnerBlaine LuetkemeyerVicky HartzlerEmanuel CleaverSam GravesBilly LongJason SmithGreg GianforteJeff FortenberryDon BaconAdrian SmithDina TitusMark AmodeiSusie LeeSteven HorsfordChris PappasAnn McLane KusterDonald NorcrossJeff Van DrewAndy KimChris SmithJosh GottheimerFrank PalloneTom MalinowskiAlbio SiresBill PascrellDonald Payne Jr.Mikie SherrillBonnie Watson ColemanDeb HaalandXochitl Torres SmallBen Ray LujánLee ZeldinPeter T. KingThomas SuozziKathleen RiceGregory MeeksGrace MengNydia VelázquezHakeem JeffriesYvette ClarkeJerry NadlerMax RoseCarolyn MaloneyAdriano EspaillatAlexandria Ocasio-CortezJosé E. SerranoEliot EngelNita LoweySean Patrick MaloneyAntonio DelgadoPaul TonkoElise StefanikAnthony BrindisiTom ReedJohn KatkoJoseph MorelleBrian HigginsG. K. ButterfieldGeorge HoldingGreg MurphyDavid PriceVirginia FoxxMark WalkerDavid RouzerRichard HudsonDan BishopPatrick McHenryMark MeadowsAlma AdamsTed BuddKelly ArmstrongSteve ChabotBrad WenstrupJoyce BeattyJim JordanBob LattaBill JohnsonBob GibbsWarren DavidsonMarcy KapturMike TurnerMarcia FudgeTroy BaldersonTim RyanDavid JoyceSteve StiversAnthony GonzalezKevin HernMarkwayne MullinFrank LucasTom ColeKendra HornSuzanne BonamiciGreg WaldenEarl BlumenauerPeter DeFazioKurt SchraderBrian FitzpatrickBrendan BoyleDwight EvansMadeleine DeanMary Gay ScanlonChrissy HoulahanSusan WildMatt CartwrightDan MeuserScott PerryLloyd SmuckerFred KellerJohn JoyceGuy ReschenthalerGlenn ThompsonMike KellyConor LambMike DoyleDavid CicillineJames LangevinJoe CunninghamJoe WilsonJeff DuncanWilliam TimmonsRalph NormanJim ClyburnTom RiceDusty JohnsonPhil RoeTim BurchettChuck FleischmannScott DesJarlaisJim CooperJohn RoseMark E. GreenDavid KustoffSteve CohenLouie GohmertDan CrenshawVan TaylorJohn RatcliffeLance GoodenRon WrightLizzie Pannill FletcherKevin BradyAl GreenMichael McCaulMike ConawayKay GrangerMac ThornberryRandy WeberVicente GonzalezVeronica EscobarBill FloresSheila Jackson LeeJodey ArringtonJoaquin CastroChip RoyPete OlsonWill HurdKenny MarchantRoger WilliamsMichael C. BurgessMichael CloudHenry CuellarSylvia GarciaEddie Bernice JohnsonJohn CarterColin AllredMarc VeaseyFilemon Vela Jr.Lloyd DoggettBrian BabinRob BishopChris StewartJohn CurtisBen McAdamsPeter WelchRob WittmanElaine LuriaBobby ScottDonald McEachinDenver RigglemanBen ClineAbigail SpanbergerDon BeyerMorgan GriffithJennifer WextonGerry ConnollySuzan DelBeneRick LarsenJaime Herrera BeutlerDan NewhouseCathy McMorris RodgersDerek KilmerPramila JayapalKim SchrierAdam SmithDenny HeckDavid McKinleyAlex MooneyCarol MillerBryan SteilMark PocanRon KindGwen MooreJim SensenbrennerGlenn GrothmanMike GallagherLiz CheneyChristianity Today published an editorial calling for his removal from office, stating that the president “attempted to use his political power to coerce a foreign leader to harass and discredit one of the president’s political opponents. That is not only a violation of the Constitution; more importantly, it is profoundly immoral.“WEB,www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2019/december-web-only/trump-should-be-removed-from-office.html, Trump Should Be Removed from Office, Galli, Mark, December 19, 2019, Christianity Today, December 23, 2019, December 23, 2019,web.archive.org/web/20191223004204/https://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2019/december-web-only/trump-should-be-removed-from-office.html, live, NEWS,www.theguardian.com/us-news/2019/dec/19/trump-evangelical-christian-magazine-impeachment, Evangelical magazine Christianity Today calls for Trump’s removal after impeachment, Ho, Vivian, December 19, 2019, The Guardian, December 19, 2019, December 20, 2019,web.archive.org/web/20191220005629/https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2019/dec/19/trump-evangelical-christian-magazine-impeachment, live, On December 21, conservative Bill Kristol and a group calling itself “Republicans for the Rule of Law” released an ad encouraging viewers to call their senators to demand top Trump officials be forced to testify in his impeachment trial.{{citation|work=HuffPost|date=December 21, 2019|access-date=December 23, 2019|title=Witnesses ‘Must Testify’ At Impeachment Trial, Declares GOP Group. ‘Call Your Senators.’|last=Papenfuss|first=Mary|url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/republicans-for-the-rule-of-law-impeachment-witnesses_n_5dfec4afe4b0843d35fd0c00?|archive-date=December 23, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191223064216www.huffpost.com/entry/republicans-for-the-rule-of-law-impeachment-witnesses_n_5dfec4afe4b0843d35fd0c00|url-status=live}}Trump questioned the validity of the impeachment, citing Harvard law professor Noah Feldman, who argued that the impeachment technically had not taken place until the articles were handed to the Senate.NEWS, Wolf, Zachary B., A technical argument is Trump’s new line of attack,www.cnn.com/2019/12/24/politics/impeachment-watch-december-23/index.html, December 24, 2019, CNN, December 24, 2019, December 24, 2019,web.archive.org/web/20191224054010/https://www.cnn.com/2019/12/24/politics/impeachment-watch-december-23/index.html, live, Jonathan Turley later refuted this argument in an op-ed.NEWS, Wulfsohn, Joseph A., Jonathan Turley refutes Dem lawyer, says Trump was impeached despite withheld articles,www.foxnews.com/media/jonathan-turley-noah-feldman-trump-impeached, Fox News, December 28, 2019, December 27, 2019, December 28, 2019,web.archive.org/web/20191228012224/https://www.foxnews.com/media/jonathan-turley-noah-feldman-trump-impeached, live, Trump tweeted or retweeted over 20 messages criticizing Pelosi’s handling of the impeachment during the first week of his holiday vacation to Mar-a-Lago.NEWS, Swanson, Ian, Pelosi gets under Trump’s skin on impeachment,thehill.com/homenews/administration/476068-pelosi-gets-under-trumps-skin-on-impeachment, January 3, 2020, The Hill (newspaper), The Hill, December 28, 2019, December 30, 2019,web.archive.org/web/20191230195812/https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/476068-pelosi-gets-under-trumps-skin-on-impeachment, live, On Christmas Day, he tweeted:{{blockquote|Why should Crazy Nancy Pelosi, just because she has a slight majority in the House, be allowed to Impeach the President of the United States? Got ZERO Republican votes, there was no crime, the call with Ukraine was perfect, with “no pressure.” She said it must be “bipartisan & overwhelming,” but this Scam Impeachment was neither. Also, very unfair with no Due Process, proper representation, or witnesses. Now Pelosi is demanding everything the Republicans weren’t allowed to have in the House. Dems want to run majority Republican Senate. Hypocrites!NEWS, Frazin, Rachel, Trump lashes out at Pelosi on Christmas, decries ‘scam impeachment’,thehill.com/homenews/administration/475928-trump-lashes-out-at-pelosi-in-christmas-tweets-decries-scam-impeachment, December 26, 2019, The Hill (newspaper), The Hill, December 25, 2019, December 26, 2019,web.archive.org/web/20191226041005/https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/475928-trump-lashes-out-at-pelosi-in-christmas-tweets-decries-scam-impeachment, live, }}Attorney George T. Conway III and others noted that if the relevant witnesses were not allowed to testify, Trump’s defenders would be negatively affected by “the very evidence they sought to suppress”.NEWS, Sargent, Greg, Opinion {{!, Explosive new revelations just weakened Trump’s impeachment defenses |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2019/12/30/explosive-new-revelations-just-weakened-trumps-impeachment-defenses/ |access-date=December 30, 2019 |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=December 30, 2019 |archive-date=December 30, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191230152005www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2019/12/30/explosive-new-revelations-just-weakened-trumps-impeachment-defenses/ |url-status=live }}

Impasse and final vote

Prior to the House impeachment vote, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and Senate Judiciary Committee chairman Lindsey Graham expressed their intentions not to be impartial jurors, contrary to the oath they must take.NEWS,www.cnn.com/2019/12/16/politics/senate-rules-impeachment-trial/index.html, 15 things you need to know about how Senate impeachment trials work, Wolf, Zachary B., December 18, 2019, CNN, December 18, 2019, December 18, 2019,web.archive.org/web/20191218003025/https://www.cnn.com/2019/12/16/politics/senate-rules-impeachment-trial/index.html, live, NEWS, Swanson, Ian, Law professor writes Kentucky newspaper op-ed accusing McConnell of breaking two oaths,thehill.com/homenews/senate/476042-law-professor-writes-kentucky-newspaper-op-ed-accusing-mcconnell-of-breaking, December 28, 2019, The Hill (newspaper), The Hill, December 27, 2019, December 27, 2019,web.archive.org/web/20191227190940/https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/476042-law-professor-writes-kentucky-newspaper-op-ed-accusing-mcconnell-of-breaking, live, McConnell said, “I’m not an impartial juror. This is a political process. There is not anything judicial about it. Impeachment is a political decision.“NEWS,www.cnn.com/2019/12/17/politics/mcconnell-impartial-juror-impeachment/index.html, Mitch McConnell: ‘I’m not an impartial juror’ ahead of Senate impeachment trial, Ted, Barrett, Ali, Zaslav, CNN, December 17, 2019, December 22, 2019, January 8, 2021,web.archive.org/web/20210108015843/https://www.cnn.com/2019/12/17/politics/mcconnell-impartial-juror-impeachment/index.html, live, Graham said, “I am trying to give a pretty clear signal I have made up my mind. I’m not trying to pretend to be a fair juror here{{Nbsp}}... I will do everything I can to make [the impeachment trial] die quickly.“NEWS,www.cnn.com/2019/12/14/politics/lindsey-graham-trump-impeachment-trial/index.html, ‘I’m not trying to pretend to be a fair juror here’: Graham predicts Trump impeachment will ‘die quickly’ in Senate, Veronica, Stracqualursi, CNN, December 14, 2019, December 22, 2019, November 17, 2020,web.archive.org/web/20201117025432/https://www.cnn.com/2019/12/14/politics/lindsey-graham-trump-impeachment-trial/index.html, live, On December 15, with the support of all 47 Senate Democrats, Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer wrote a letter to McConnell calling for Mick Mulvaney, Robert Blair,{{efn|One of Mulvaney’s top aides until being promoted by Trump on December 23 to a special representative for global telecommunications policy.NEWS, Cheney, Kyle, Trump elevates Mulvaney aide weeks after he defied impeachment subpoena,www.politico.com/news/2019/12/23/trum-robert-blair-mulvaney-089648, January 5, 2020, Politico, December 23, 2019, December 27, 2019,web.archive.org/web/20191227142602/https://www.politico.com/news/2019/12/23/trum-robert-blair-mulvaney-089648, live, }} John Bolton,{{efn|The former national security advisor did not attend his scheduled House deposition on November 7, 2019, and threatened to take legal action if he was subpoenaed. According to a House Intelligence Committee official, this is evidence of the president’s obstruction of Congress.NEWS, Desiderio, Andrew, Impeachment investigators pressing forward without John Bolton,www.politico.com/news/2019/11/07/john-bolton-impeachment-067318, January 7, 2020, Politico, November 7, 2019, December 22, 2019,web.archive.org/web/20191222212016/https://www.politico.com/news/2019/11/07/john-bolton-impeachment-067318, live, On January 6, 2020, Bolton said that he would be willing to testify in the Senate trial if subpoenaed.NEWS, Fandos, Nicholas, Schmidt, Michael S., Bolton Is Willing to Testify in Trump Impeachment Trial, Raising Pressure for Witnesses,www.nytimes.com/2020/01/06/us/politics/bolton-testify-impeachment-trial.html, January 6, 2020, The New York Times, January 6, 2020, January 6, 2020,web.archive.org/web/20200106170006/https://www.nytimes.com/2020/01/06/us/politics/bolton-testify-impeachment-trial.html, live, However, Trump has said that he would invoke executive privilege to keep him from testifying.}} and Michael Duffey to testify, suggesting that pre-trial proceedings take place on January 6, 2020.NEWS,www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-50806222, Democrats call for witnesses in impeachment trial, December 16, 2019, BBC, December 16, 2019, live,web.archive.org/web/20191216181006/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-50806222, December 16, 2019, en-GB, NEWS, Homan, Timothy R., GOP predicts bipartisan acquittal at Trump impeachment trial,thehill.com/homenews/senate/475754-gop-predicts-bipartisan-acquittal-at-trump-impeachment-trial, December 26, 2019, The Hill (newspaper), The Hill, December 26, 2019, December 26, 2019,web.archive.org/web/20191226112005/https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/475754-gop-predicts-bipartisan-acquittal-at-trump-impeachment-trial, live, Two days later, McConnell rejected the call for witnesses to testify, saying that the Senate’s role is simply to act as “judge and jury” and not to aid the impeachment process.NEWS, Morgan, David, Cornwell, Susan, On eve of expected impeachment, Trump lashes out at Pelosi, Democrats,www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-trump-impeachment/top-senate-republican-opposes-demand-for-witnesses-in-trump-impeachment-trial-idUSKBN1YL15V?il=0, Reuters, December 17, 2019, December 20, 2019, November 20, 2020,web.archive.org/web/20201120195825/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-trump-impeachment/top-senate-republican-opposes-demand-for-witnesses-in-trump-impeachment-trial-idUSKBN1YL15V?il=0, live, NEWS,amp.usatoday.com/amp/2678381001, Trump impeachment debate, Coogan, Steve, December 17, 2019, USA Today, December 20, 2019, December 20, 2019,web.archive.org/web/20191220140322/https://amp.usatoday.com/amp/2678381001, live, He also suggested that witnesses be called during the trial, as had happened after Clinton’s impeachment.{{efn|name=proposal|Graham also proposed that the trial “use the Clinton model, where you ... let the House managers ... make the argument, let the president make his argument why the two articles are flawed, and then we’ll decide whether we want witnesses.“}}{{efn|name=Collins}} Schumer said that he “did not hear a single sentence, a single argument as to why the witnesses I suggested should not give testimony”,NEWS, Edelman, Adam,www.nbcnews.com/politics/trump-impeachment-inquiry/mcconnell-shreds-house-s-slapdash-impeachment-investigation-hits-schumer-wanting-n1103206, McConnell shreds House’s ‘slapdash’ impeachment investigation, hits Schumer for wanting new witnesses, NBC News, December 19, 2019, December 17, 2019, December 18, 2019,web.archive.org/web/20191218150154/https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/trump-impeachment-inquiry/mcconnell-shreds-house-s-slapdash-impeachment-investigation-hits-schumer-wanting-n1103206, live, citing bipartisan public support for testimony which could fill in gaps caused by Trump having prevented his staff from testifying in the House investigation.NEWS,www.cnn.com/2019/12/17/politics/mitch-mcconnell-response-schumer-impeachment/index.html, McConnell rejects Schumer’s call for witnesses at impeachment trial, Barrett, Ted, December 17, 2019, CNN, December 18, 2019, live,web.archive.org/web/20191217223700/https://www.cnn.com/2019/12/17/politics/mitch-mcconnell-response-schumer-impeachment/index.html, December 17, 2019, WEB,lawandcrime.com/high-profile/mitch-mcconnell-wont-allow-witnesses-at-trumps-senate-impeachment-trial/, ‘Cover Up’: McConnell Won’t Allow Crucial Witnesses to Testify at Trump Impeachment Trial, Lambe, Jerry, December 17, 2019, Law & Crime, live,web.archive.org/web/20191217221646/https://lawandcrime.com/high-profile/mitch-mcconnell-wont-allow-witnesses-at-trumps-senate-impeachment-trial/, December 17, 2019, December 17, 2019, On January 2, 2020, Schumer called newly unredacted emails from Trump administration officials “a devastating blow to Senator McConnell’s push to have a trial without the documents and witnesses we’ve requested”.WEB, Brannen, Kate, Exclusive: Unredacted Ukraine Documents Reveal Extent of Pentagon’s Legal Concerns,www.justsecurity.org/67863/exclusive-unredacted-ukraine-documents-reveal-extent-of-pentagons-legal-concerns/, Just Security, January 3, 2020, January 2, 2020, January 2, 2020,web.archive.org/web/20200102225655/https://www.justsecurity.org/67863/exclusive-unredacted-ukraine-documents-reveal-extent-of-pentagons-legal-concerns/, live, {{efn|A further 20 emails remain fully undisclosed.NEWS, Polantz, Katelyn, Kelly, Caroline, New York Times: Trump administration withholds emails on Ukraine aid,www.cnn.com/2020/01/03/politics/trump-administration-emails-foia-ukraine-aid/index.html, January 7, 2020, CNN, January 3, 2020, January 7, 2020,web.archive.org/web/20200107002300/https://www.cnn.com/2020/01/03/politics/trump-administration-emails-foia-ukraine-aid/index.html, live, }} At least four Republican senators needed to vote with Democrats for witnesses to be called.{{efn|name=Collins|Senators Susan Collins and Mitt Romney expressed their openness to calling witnesses. McConnell, Graham, Murkowski, and Collins suggested that this happen later in the trial,NEWS, Carney, Jordain, Schumer: Newly revealed emails a ‘devastating blow’ to McConnell’s impeachment trial plans,thehill.com/homenews/senate/476534-schumer-emails-a-devastating-blow-to-mcconnell-impeachment-trial-plans, January 3, 2020, The Hill (newspaper), The Hill, January 2, 2020, January 2, 2020,web.archive.org/web/20200102204323/https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/476534-schumer-emails-a-devastating-blow-to-mcconnell-impeachment-trial-plans, live, with McConnell citing the {{nowrap|100–0}} agreement on a similar process following Clinton’s impeachment.NEWS, Bolton, Alexander, McConnell has the votes to block Democrats’ witness demands in Trump impeachment trial,thehill.com/homenews/senate/477045-mcconnell-has-the-votes-to-block-democrats-witness-demands-in-trump, January 7, 2020, The Hill (newspaper), The Hill, January 6, 2020, January 7, 2020,web.archive.org/web/20200107010027/https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/477045-mcconnell-has-the-votes-to-block-democrats-witness-demands-in-trump, live, }}Republicans suggested calling Joe and Hunter Biden to testify;NEWS, LeBlanc, Paul, Biden reiterates that he won’t testify in a Senate impeachment trial,www.cnn.com/2019/12/27/politics/joe-biden-senate-impeachment-trial-testify/index.html, CNN, December 28, 2019, December 27, 2019, December 28, 2019,web.archive.org/web/20191228050006/https://www.cnn.com/2019/12/27/politics/joe-biden-senate-impeachment-trial-testify/index.html, live, the former stated his objection to this, but said he would obey a subpoena.NEWS, Pfannenstiel, Brianne, ‘I would obey any subpoena’: Joe Biden now says,www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/elections/2019/12/28/election-2020-joe-biden-now-says-he-would-obey-any-subpoena-in-impeachment/2768077001/, December 29, 2019, USA Today, December 28, 2019, December 29, 2019,web.archive.org/web/20191229050003/https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/elections/2019/12/28/election-2020-joe-biden-now-says-he-would-obey-any-subpoena-in-impeachment/2768077001/, live, Rudy Giuliani stated his willingness to testify or even try the impeachment “as a racketeering case”, despite being Trump’s personal attorney and allegedly attempting to help him politically while searching for evidence against the Bidens in Ukraine.NEWS, Cummings, William, Giuliani says he would be willing to testify in impeachment trial and would ‘love to try the case’,www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2020/01/01/rudy-giuliani-willing-testify-senate-trial/2789777001/, January 1, 2020, USA Today, January 1, 2020, January 1, 2020,web.archive.org/web/20200101183005/https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2020/01/01/rudy-giuliani-willing-testify-senate-trial/2789777001/, live, On January 10, 2020, Trump told Laura Ingraham of Fox News that he would likely invoke executive privilege to keep Bolton from testifying “for the sake of the office”.NEWS, Fabian, Jordan, Trump Will Invoke Executive Privilege to Block Bolton Testimony,www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-01-10/trump-will-invoke-executive-privilege-to-block-bolton-testimony, January 10, 2020, Bloomberg News, Bloomberg, January 10, 2020, January 10, 2020,web.archive.org/web/20200110210451/https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-01-10/trump-will-invoke-executive-privilege-to-block-bolton-testimony, live, On December 18, 2019, the day of the impeachment, Pelosi declined to comment on when the impeachment resolution would be transmitted to the Senate, stating, “So far we haven’t seen anything that looks fair to us.“NEWS,thehill.com/homenews/house/475239-pelosi-noncommittal-on-delivering-impeachment-articles-to-senate, Pelosi noncommittal on delivering impeachment articles to Senate, Ian, Swanson, December 18, 2019, The Hill (newspaper), The Hill, December 19, 2019,web.archive.org/web/20191219024057/https://thehill.com/homenews/house/475239-pelosi-noncommittal-on-delivering-impeachment-articles-to-senate, December 19, 2019, live, NEWS,www.nytimes.com/2019/12/18/us/politics/impeachment-trial.html, Timing of Trump Impeachment Trial in Limbo as Pelosi Holds Out for Assurances, Fandos, Nicholas, Nicholas Fandos, December 18, 2019, The New York Times, December 20, 2019, December 19, 2019,web.archive.org/web/20191219050243/https://www.nytimes.com/2019/12/18/us/politics/impeachment-trial.html, live, The following day, McConnell met with Schumer briefly to discuss the trial.WEB,www.dw.com/en/trump-impeachment-democrats-try-to-delay-start-to-senate-trial/a-51745835, Trump impeachment: Democrats try to delay start to Senate trial, DW.com, December 20, 2019, December 26, 2019, December 24, 2019,web.archive.org/web/20191224073554/https://www.dw.com/en/trump-impeachment-democrats-try-to-delay-start-to-senate-trial/a-51745835, live, After the Senate reconvened from its holiday break, Graham proposed that he and McConnell “change the rules of the Senate so we could start the trial without [Pelosi], if necessary”.NEWS, Blitzer, Ronn, Graham gives Pelosi ultimatum, proposes Senate rule change to remove her from impeachment process,www.foxnews.com/politics/graham-gives-pelosi-ultimatum-proposes-senate-rule-change-to-remove-her-from-impeachment-process, January 5, 2020, Fox News, January 5, 2020, January 5, 2020,web.archive.org/web/20200105180022/https://www.foxnews.com/politics/graham-gives-pelosi-ultimatum-proposes-senate-rule-change-to-remove-her-from-impeachment-process, live, {{efn|name=proposal}} On January 7, 2020, McConnell announced he had the caucus backing to pass a blueprint for the trial, which discussed witnesses and evidence after the opening arguments.NEWS, Everett, Burgess, Levine, Marianne, McConnell ready to start impeachment trial with partisan power play,www.politico.com/news/2020/01/07/mcconnell-prepares-to-move-forward-on-impeachment-trial-rules-without-democrats-095537, January 7, 2020, Politico, January 7, 2020, January 7, 2020,web.archive.org/web/20200107171001/https://www.politico.com/news/2020/01/07/mcconnell-prepares-to-move-forward-on-impeachment-trial-rules-without-democrats-095537, live, Pelosi called for the resolution to be published before she could proceed with the next steps,NEWS, Sonmez, Felicia, Itkowitz, Colby, Wagner, John, Seung Min, Kim, Pelosi says impeachment articles won’t go to Senate until she learns more about how trial would be conducted,www.washingtonpost.com/politics/trump-impeachment-live-updates/2020/01/07/e0f49d52-313b-11ea-91fd-82d4e04a3fac_story.html, January 7, 2020, The Washington Post, January 7, 2020, January 7, 2020,web.archive.org/web/20200107131016/https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/trump-impeachment-live-updates/2020/01/07/e0f49d52-313b-11ea-91fd-82d4e04a3fac_story.html, live, WEB, Pelosi, Nancy, Dear Colleague on Senator McConnell’s Untrue Claims Regarding Impeachment,www.speaker.gov/newsroom/1720-0, Nancy Pelosi: Speaker of the House, January 7, 2020, January 7, 2020, January 8, 2020,web.archive.org/web/20200108054010/https://www.speaker.gov/newsroom/1720-0, live, but McConnell asserted that the House had no leverage and that there would be no negotiating over the trial.NEWS, Everett, Burgess, McConnell rejects Pelosi’s request for impeachment trial demands,www.politico.com/news/2020/01/08/mitch-mcconnell-pelosi-impeachment-trial-096158, January 8, 2020, Politico, January 8, 2020, January 8, 2020,web.archive.org/web/20200108160025/https://www.politico.com/news/2020/01/08/mitch-mcconnell-pelosi-impeachment-trial-096158, live, This prompted several Democratic senators to voice their readiness to have the trial begin.NEWS, Everett, Burgess, Caygle, Heather, Senate Democrats break with Pelosi over impeachment trial,www.politico.com/news/2020/01/08/senate-democrats-break-pelosi-over-impeachment-096224, January 8, 2020, Politico, January 8, 2020, January 8, 2020,web.archive.org/web/20200108190028/https://www.politico.com/news/2020/01/08/senate-democrats-break-pelosi-over-impeachment-096224, live, On January 9, Pelosi said she would deliver the articles soon, but continued to cite a need for Republican transparency in the Senate;NEWS, Walsh, Deirdre, Snell, Kelsey, Pelosi Signals An End To Her Hold On Articles Of Impeachment,www.npr.org/2020/01/09/794862940/pelosi-signals-an-end-to-her-hold-on-articles-of-impeachment, January 9, 2020, NPR, January 9, 2020, January 9, 2020,web.archive.org/web/20200109174011/https://www.npr.org/2020/01/09/794862940/pelosi-signals-an-end-to-her-hold-on-articles-of-impeachment, live, that same day, McConnell informed members of his caucus that he expected the trial to begin the next week,NEWS, Everett, Burgess, McConnell tells Republicans he expects impeachment trial next week,www.politico.com/news/2020/01/09/mitch-mcconnell-trump-impeachment-096786, January 10, 2020, Politico, January 9, 2020, January 9, 2020,web.archive.org/web/20200109195010/https://www.politico.com/news/2020/01/09/mitch-mcconnell-trump-impeachment-096786, live, and Senator Josh Hawley announced that McConnell had signed on as a co-sponsor to his resolution to dismiss articles of impeachment not sent to the Senate within 25 days.NEWS, Carney, Jordain, McConnell backs measure to change Senate rules, dismiss impeachment without articles,thehill.com/homenews/senate/477587-mcconnell-backs-measure-to-change-senate-rules-dismiss-impeachment-without, January 9, 2020, The Hill (newspaper), The Hill, January 9, 2020, January 9, 2020,web.archive.org/web/20200109203003/https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/477587-mcconnell-backs-measure-to-change-senate-rules-dismiss-impeachment-without, live, On January 10, Pelosi announced she had “asked Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerry Nadler to be prepared to bring to the Floor next week a resolution to appoint managers and transmit articles of impeachment to the Senate”.NEWS, Singman, Brooke, Pelosi: House will move to transmit impeachment articles next week,www.foxnews.com/politics/pelosi-articles-of-impeachment-will-be-sent-to-senate-to-allow-trump-trial-to-begin-next-week, January 10, 2020, Fox News, January 10, 2020, January 10, 2020,web.archive.org/web/20200110171039/https://www.foxnews.com/politics/pelosi-articles-of-impeachment-will-be-sent-to-senate-to-allow-trump-trial-to-begin-next-week, live, (File:Nancy Pelosi signs the articles of the first impeachment of Donald Trump 63.png|thumb|Nancy Pelosi engrossing the articles of impeachment on January 15, 2020)On January 14, 2020, Pelosi announced the House managers who would prosecute the case in the Senate.WEB, Pelosi Names Impeachment Managers,www.speaker.gov/newsroom/11520, January 15, 2020, Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, January 15, 2020, January 15, 2020,web.archive.org/web/20200115153148/https://www.speaker.gov/newsroom/11520, live, NEWS, McCarthy, Tom, Gambino, Lauren, Glenza, Jessica, Pelosi names trial managers to carry articles of impeachment to the Senate,www.theguardian.com/us-news/2020/jan/15/trump-impeachment-democrats-articles-senate, January 15, 2020, The Guardian, January 15, 2020, January 15, 2020,web.archive.org/web/20200115140011/https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2020/jan/15/trump-impeachment-democrats-articles-senate, live, On January 15, the House voted on Resolution 798, which appointed the impeachment managers and approved the articles of impeachment to be sent to the Senate. Later that afternoon, Pelosi held a rare public engrossment ceremony, followed by a stately procession of the managers and other House officers across the Capitol building, where the third impeachment of a U.S. president was announced to the Senate.NEWS,www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/style/the-rare-and-bizarre-ritual-of-marching-the-impeachment-articles-from-the-house-to-the-senate/2020/01/15/7e34dc16-37c8-11ea-bf30-ad313e4ec754_story.html, The rare and bizarre ritual of marching the impeachment articles from the House to the Senate, The Washington Post, January 16, 2020, January 16, 2020,web.archive.org/web/20200116042012/https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/style/the-rare-and-bizarre-ritual-of-marching-the-impeachment-articles-from-the-house-to-the-senate/2020/01/15/7e34dc16-37c8-11ea-bf30-ad313e4ec754_story.html, live, Except for the managers, who would conduct the trial, the House’s involvement in the impeachment process came to an end.{| class=“wikitable” style="width:100%“|+ Voting results on House Resolution 798(Appointing and authorizing managers for the impeachment trial of Donald John Trump, President of the United States)! style="width:20%;” colspan=“2“| Party! style="width:20%;“| Yea! style="width:20%;“| Nay! style="width:20%;“| Present! style="width:20%;“| Not votingDemocratic Party (United States)}} (232)Collin Peterson}}| –title= 4| 1 = Lacy Clay| 2 = Ann Kirkpatrick| 3 = Tulsi Gabbard| 4 = John Lewis}}Republican Party (United States)}} (197)| –Kenny MarchantRick Crawford (politician)>Rick Crawford| 3 = Debbie Lesko| 4 = Tom McClintock| 5 = Mike Simpson}}Independent politician}} (1)Justin Amash}}| –| –| –! colspan=“2” | Total (435){{efn|name=calculation3|Of the 435 House seats for the 116th Congress’s first session, five were vacant: Maryland’s 7th, New York’s 27th, Wisconsin’s 7th, California’s 25th, and California’s 50th. Nine members were not present for the vote, four Democrats and five Republicans: Lacy Clay from Missouri’s 1st, Ann Kirkpatrick from Arizona’s 2nd, Tulsi Gabbard from Hawaii’s 2nd, John Lewis from Georgia’s 5th, Kenny Marchant from Texas’s 24th, Rick Crawford from Arkansas’s 2nd, Debbie Lesko from Arizona’s 8th, Tom McClintock from California’s 4th, and Mike Simpson Idaho’s 2nd. This left 421 votes, half of which rounded up yields 211 as the number of yea votes for adoption.}}WEB,clerk.house.gov/evs/2020/roll018.xml, FINAL VOTE RESULTS FOR ROLL CALL 18, January 16, 2020, January 16, 2020,clerk.house.gov/evs/2020/roll018.xml," title="web.archive.org/web/20200116043745clerk.house.gov/evs/2020/roll018.xml,">web.archive.org/web/20200116043745clerk.house.gov/evs/2020/roll018.xml, live, ! 228! 193! 0! 9! colspan=“2” | Result! colspan=“4” | Adopted{{efn|name=adoption|Adoption based on a simple majority.}}

Trial

Preparation

While the impeachment inquiry was underway, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell started planning a possible trial. On October 8, 2019, he led a meeting on the subject, advising his caucus to say that they opposed the House process and as little else as possible.NEWS,www.chicagotribune.com/nation-world/ct-nw-impeachment-senate-republicans-20191109-bsrbhhe37vdy3bcdirub7lo4bm-story.html, How Mitch McConnell is managing impeachment and a fragmenting Republican response, Mascaro, Lisa, November 9, 2019, Chicago Tribune, December 19, 2019, December 17, 2019,web.archive.org/web/20191217011132/https://www.chicagotribune.com/nation-world/ct-nw-impeachment-senate-republicans-20191109-bsrbhhe37vdy3bcdirub7lo4bm-story.html, live, In November, he shot down the idea that the articles of impeachment should be dismissed, stating that “the rules of impeachment are very clear, we’ll have to have a trial.“NEWS, Carney, Jordain, GOP senator plans to seek dismissal of impeachment articles,thehill.com/homenews/senate/476582-gop-senator-plans-to-seek-dismissal-of-impeachment-articles, January 3, 2020, The Hill (newspaper), The Hill, January 2, 2020, January 3, 2020,web.archive.org/web/20200103000408/https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/476582-gop-senator-plans-to-seek-dismissal-of-impeachment-articles, live, On December 12, as the articles were being considered by the House Judiciary Committee, McConnell met with White House counsel Pat Cipollone and Director of Legislative Affairs Eric Ueland. McConnell stated later that day, “Everything I do during this I’m coordinating with the White House counsel. There will be no difference between the president’s position and [ours]NEWS,thehill.com/homenews/senate/474399-mcconnell-says-hell-be-in-total-coordination-with-white-house-on-impeachment, McConnell says he’ll be in ‘total coordination’ with White House on impeachment trial strategy, Jordain, Carney, December 12, 2019, The Hill (newspaper), The Hill, December 19, 2019, November 20, 2020,web.archive.org/web/20201120195811/https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/474399-mcconnell-says-hell-be-in-total-coordination-with-white-house-on-impeachment, live, {{Nbsp}}... I’m going to take my cues from the president’s lawyers.” McConnell added that the coordination with the White House would also pertain to whether witnesses would be allowed to testify,NEWS, Blake, Aaron, McConnell indicates he’ll let Trump’s lawyers dictate Trump’s impeachment trial,www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2019/12/13/mcconnell-says-hell-let-trumps-white-house-dictate-trumps-impeachment-trial/, The Washington Post, December 14, 2019, December 20, 2019, December 19, 2019,web.archive.org/web/20191219124528/https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2019/12/13/mcconnell-says-hell-let-trumps-white-house-dictate-trumps-impeachment-trial/, live, and told Sean Hannity of Fox News that there was no chance Trump would be convicted, expressing his hope that all Senate Republicans would acquit the president of both charges.NEWS,www.nbcnews.com/politics/trump-impeachment-inquiry/mcconnell-there-s-no-chance-trump-removed-office-n1101286, McConnell: ‘There’s no chance’ Trump is removed from office, Egan, Lauren, December 13, 2019, NBC News, December 16, 2019, live,web.archive.org/web/20191215202600/https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/trump-impeachment-inquiry/mcconnell-there-s-no-chance-trump-removed-office-n1101286, December 15, 2019, Republican senators Lisa Murkowski and Susan Collins criticized McConnell’s comments regarding coordinating with the White House.NEWS, Fearnow, Benjamin, Second Republican senator, Susan Collins, criticizes Mitch McConnell for impeachment bias, says she’s open to calling witnesses,www.newsweek.com/susan-collins-second-republican-criticizes-mcconnell-fair-senate-impeachment-trial-clinton-model-1479842, December 31, 2019, Newsweek, December 31, 2019, December 31, 2019,web.archive.org/web/20191231152014/https://www.newsweek.com/susan-collins-second-republican-criticizes-mcconnell-fair-senate-impeachment-trial-clinton-model-1479842, live, Collins was also critical of Democratic senator Elizabeth Warren for prejudging the trial.NEWS, Carney, Jordain, Collins knocks McConnell, Democrats: ‘Inappropriate’ to prejudge Trump trial,thehill.com/homenews/senate/476350-collins-knocks-mcconnell-dems-inappropriate-to-prejudge-trump-trial, January 7, 2020, The Hill (newspaper), The Hill, December 31, 2019, January 3, 2020,web.archive.org/web/20200103062052/https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/476350-collins-knocks-mcconnell-dems-inappropriate-to-prejudge-trump-trial, live,

Officers

The U.S. Constitution stipulates that the Chief Justice of the United States presides over impeachment proceedings when the President is tried.WEB,www.senate.gov/reference/Index/Impeachment.htm, U.S. Senate: Impeachment, Senate.gov, January 13, 1993, January 16, 2020, January 13, 2020,web.archive.org/web/20200113190646/https://www.senate.gov/reference/Index/Impeachment.htm, live, NEWS, Nina, Totenberg, Nina Totenberg, January 10, 2020,www.npr.org/2020/01/10/794749544/at-impeachment-trial-chief-justice-roberts-may-have-more-prestige-than-power, At Impeachment Trial, Chief Justice Roberts May Have More Prestige Than Power, NPR, January 11, 2020, January 11, 2020,web.archive.org/web/20200111144028/https://www.npr.org/2020/01/10/794749544/at-impeachment-trial-chief-justice-roberts-may-have-more-prestige-than-power, live, {{efn|The office of Chief Justice is only mentioned once in the constitution and it is in relation to impeachment trials of the president.WEB, Steven R., Shapiro, September 12, 2005, January 27, 2020,www.aclu.org/blog/speakeasy/role-chief-justice, The Role of Chief Justice, American Civil Liberties Union, December 29, 2018,web.archive.org/web/20181229082841/https://www.aclu.org/blog/speakeasy/role-chief-justice, live, }} The current chief justice was John Roberts, who was appointed by President George W. Bush in 2005. The House managers, acting as prosecutors for the case, were several Democratic representatives, consisting of Adam Schiff as lead manager, Jerry Nadler, Zoe Lofgren, Hakeem Jeffries, Val Demings, Jason Crow, and Sylvia Garcia. Trump named a defense team led by White House Counsel Pat Cipollone and his private attorney Jay Sekulow, who previously represented Trump in the Russia investigation. They were joined by celebrity law professor Alan Dershowitz, former Independent Counsel Kenneth Starr, former Deputy Independent Counsel Robert Ray, former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi, and former Federal Prosecutor Jane Raskin.WEB,www.npr.org/2020/01/14/795929276/here-are-the-lawyers-who-will-defend-president-trump-against-impeachment, Trump Impeachment Defense Team Includes Cipollone, Sekulow, NPR, April 26, 2017, January 16, 2020, January 15, 2020,web.archive.org/web/20200115170430/https://www.npr.org/2020/01/14/795929276/here-are-the-lawyers-who-will-defend-president-trump-against-impeachment, live,

Process and schedule

(Article One of the United States Constitution#Clause 6: Trial of Impeachment|Article I, Section 3, Clause 6) of the U.S. Constitution states that “[t]he Senate shall have the sole Power to try all Impeachments.” Per the Senate’s impeachment rules adopted in 1986, the submission of the articles to the Senate initiated the trial.WEB, Rules of Procedure and Practice in the Senate When Sitting on Impeachment Trials,www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/SMAN-113/pdf/SMAN-113-pg223.pdf, U.S. Government Publishing Office, January 3, 2020, 223, December 15, 2019,web.archive.org/web/20191215042254/https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/SMAN-113/pdf/SMAN-113-pg223.pdf, live, The articles were formally delivered on January 15, 2020, and were presented the following day.NEWS,www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-51139740, Impeachment trial: Why did Pelosi use so many pens?, BBC, January 16, 2020, January 16, 2020, Helier Cheung, January 16, 2020,web.archive.org/web/20200116223006/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-51139740, live, At the end of the session on January 21, the Senate voted along party lines to pass McConnell’s proposed trial rules and reject 11 amendments proposed by Democrats.NEWS, Fox, Lauren, Raju, Manu, Herb, Jeremy, Impeachment resolution shortens trial’s opening arguments to two days per side,www.cnn.com/2020/01/20/politics/senate-organizing-resolution-released/index.html, January 20, 2020, CNN, January 20, 2020, January 20, 2020,web.archive.org/web/20200120230025/https://www.cnn.com/2020/01/20/politics/senate-organizing-resolution-released/index.html, live, McConnell stated that he wanted to follow the rules laid down during the Clinton trial in 1999, which had the morning reserved for Senate business and the afternoon hours reserved for the trial,NEWS, January 27, 2020,www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/politics/special/clinton/stories/senaterules.htm, The Washington Post, Special Report: Clinton Accused, June 17, 2017,www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/politics/special/clinton/stories/senaterules.htm," title="web.archive.org/web/20170617155756www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/politics/special/clinton/stories/senaterules.htm,">web.archive.org/web/20170617155756www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/politics/special/clinton/stories/senaterules.htm, live, but his resolution increased the hours spent per day on opening arguments from six to eight hours.NEWS, Faulders, Katherine, Turner, Trish, Siegel, Benjamin, Ebbs, Stephanie, Owen, Quinn, Trump impeachment: GOP-led Senate rejects amendments, approves rules of trial,abcnews.go.com/Politics/trump-impeachment-trial-live-updates-senate-rejects-democrats/story?id=68410003, January 22, 2020, ABC News, January 21, 2020, January 8, 2021,web.archive.org/web/20210108015904/https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/trump-impeachment-trial-live-updates-senate-rejects-democrats/story?id=68410003, live, The resolution also included provisions for a vote on whether to subpoena witnesses or documents after opening arguments.NEWS, Senate adopts ground rules for impeachment trial, delaying a decision on witnesses until after much of the proceedings, Seung Min, Kim, Felicia, Sonmez, Mike, DeBonis,www.washingtonpost.com/politics/republicans-ease-some-restrictions-as-trump-impeachment-trial-kicks-into-gear/2020/01/21/b0514516-3c75-11ea-8872-5df698785a4e_story.html, January 22, 2020, January 22, 2020, The Washington Post, January 22, 2020,web.archive.org/web/20200122015036/https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/republicans-ease-some-restrictions-as-trump-impeachment-trial-kicks-into-gear/2020/01/21/b0514516-3c75-11ea-8872-5df698785a4e_story.html, live, NEWS, Senate adopts trial rules after bitter debate over evidence.,www.nytimes.com/live/2020/impeachment-trial-01-21/senate-trial-rules, January 22, 2020, The New York Times, January 22, 2020, January 22, 2020,web.archive.org/web/20200122070050/https://www.nytimes.com/live/2020/impeachment-trial-01-21/senate-trial-rules, live, Shear, Michael D., The prosecution’s opening arguments and presentation of evidence took place between January 22 and 24, 2020.NEWS,abcnews.go.com/Politics/senate-impeachment-trial-live-updates-democrats-make-case/story?id=68448840, Senate impeachment trial live updates: Democrats make their case against Trump, ABC News, Benjamin Siegel, Trish Turner, Katherine Faulders, Stephanie Ebbs, Quinn Owen, January 22, 2020, January 22, 2020, January 22, 2020,web.archive.org/web/20200122210012/https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/senate-impeachment-trial-live-updates-democrats-make-case/story?id=68448840, live, On the first day, Schumer called the previous evening “a dark night for the Senate”, when the White House, in response to a Freedom of Information Act lawsuit, released new evidence including a string of heavily redacted emails revealing details about how the Office of Management and Budget froze aid to Ukraine.WEB,www.nytimes.com/2020/01/22/us/politics/ukraine-aid.html, Emails Show Budget Office Working to Carry Out Ukraine Aid Freeze, Eric, Lipton, January 22, 2020, The New York Times, January 22, 2020, January 22, 2020,web.archive.org/web/20200122220304/https://www.nytimes.com/2020/01/22/us/politics/ukraine-aid.html, live, WEB,thehill.com/homenews/administration/479311-trump-admin-releases-trove-of-documents-on-ukrainian-military-aid, Trump admin releases trove of documents on Ukrainian military aid, Justin, Wise, January 22, 2020, The Hill (newspaper), The Hill, January 22, 2020, January 22, 2020,web.archive.org/web/20200122175738/https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/479311-trump-admin-releases-trove-of-documents-on-ukrainian-military-aid, live, {{efn|The night after the Senate voted against subpoenaing witnesses in the trial, the Justice Department and a lawyer for the Office of Management and Budget acknowledged that some of the emails which remain undisclosed due to executive privilege contain details about why military aid to Ukraine was frozen.NEWS, Itkowitz, Colby, Justice Department acknowledges 24 emails reveal Trump’s thinking on Ukraine,www.washingtonpost.com/politics/justice-dept-acknowledges-24-emails-reveal-trumps-thinking-on-ukraine/2020/02/01/7deea84c-450e-11ea-b503-2b077c436617_story.html, February 2, 2020, The Washington Post, February 1, 2020, February 2, 2020,web.archive.org/web/20200202010322/https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/justice-dept-acknowledges-24-emails-reveal-trumps-thinking-on-ukraine/2020/02/01/7deea84c-450e-11ea-b503-2b077c436617_story.html, live, }}Trump’s defense presentation began on January 25. The primary arguments were a lack of direct evidence of wrongdoing and that Democrats were attempting to use the impeachment to steal the 2020 election.{{efn|Trump has also argued that the impeachment’s timing was designed to hurt Bernie Sanders’ presidential campaign by forcing him to focus on the trial instead.NEWS, Lejeune, Tristan, Trump: Impeachment timing intended to hurt Sanders,thehill.com/homenews/administration/478763-trump-impeachment-trial-timing-intended-to-hurt-sanders, The Hill (newspaper), The Hill, January 25, 2020, January 17, 2020, January 25, 2020,web.archive.org/web/20200125095641/https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/478763-trump-impeachment-trial-timing-intended-to-hurt-sanders, live, }} Professor Alan Dershowitz argued that while a president can be impeached for committing a criminal act, irrespective of motive, the idea of a quid pro quo being a basis for removal from office requires that the ‘quo’ be something illegal, and that simply having mixed motives for requesting a legal act (an investigation into alleged corruption) would not be sufficient grounds for impeachment. He observed that all politicians act with an eye and motive toward re-election and that such motive neither makes illegal acts lawful nor unlawful act legal.NEWS,www.wsj.com/articles/democrats-are-lying-about-my-argument-11580773517, Opinion {{!, Democrats Are Lying About My Argument|last=Dershowitz|first=Alan M.|date=February 3, 2020|work=The Wall Street Journal|access-date=February 4, 2020|language=en-US|issn=0099-9660|archive-date=February 4, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200204014210www.wsj.com/articles/democrats-are-lying-about-my-argument-11580773517|url-status=live}} This position was criticized by Democratic political consultant and commentator Paul Begala in an editorial that did not address the legality/illegality aspect of the analysis.WEB,www.cnn.com/2020/01/29/opinions/begala-impeachment-trial-dershowitz-doctrine/index.html, The ludicrous ‘Dershowitz Doctrine’, Begala, Paul, CNN, January 30, 2020, February 4, 2020, February 3, 2020,web.archive.org/web/20200203222116/https://www.cnn.com/2020/01/29/opinions/begala-impeachment-trial-dershowitz-doctrine/index.html, live, On January 31, after a planned debate session, the Senate voted 51–49 against allowing subpoenas to call witnesses, including former National Security Advisor John Bolton,{{Efn|In his book The Room Where It Happened, published later that year, Bulton describes Trump’s involvement in the freezing of aid to Ukraine.WEB, Maggie, Haberman, Michael S., Schmidt,www.nytimes.com/2020/01/26/us/politics/trump-bolton-book-ukraine.html, Trump Tied Ukraine Aid to Inquiries He Sought, Bolton Book Says, The New York Times, January 26, 2020, January 26, 2020, February 1, 2020,archive.today/20200201193640/https://www.nytimes.com/2020/01/26/us/politics/trump-bolton-book-ukraine.html, live, }} or documents.NEWS, Herb, Jeremy, Mattingly, Phil, Raju, Manu, Fox, Lauren, Senate impeachment trial: Wednesday acquittal vote scheduled after effort to have witnesses, fails,www.cnn.com/2020/01/31/politics/senate-impeachment-trial-last-day/index.html, February 2, 2020, CNN, January 31, 2020, February 2, 2020,web.archive.org/web/20200202035520/https://www.cnn.com/2020/01/31/politics/senate-impeachment-trial-last-day/index.html, live, 51 Republican senators voted against calling witnesses, while 45 Democratic senators, two independents who typically voted Democratic, and two Republicans (Mitt Romney and Susan Collins) voted for witnesses.WEB, John, Haltiwanger, Sonam, Sheth, In an Unprecedented Move, the Senate Voted against Calling Witnesses in Trump’s Impeachment Trial, Business Insider, January 31, 2020,www.businessinsider.com/senate-voted-against-calling-witnesses-in-trump-impeachment-trial-2020-1, February 2, 2020, February 1, 2020,web.archive.org/web/20200201130022/https://www.businessinsider.com/senate-voted-against-calling-witnesses-in-trump-impeachment-trial-2020-1, live,

Acquittal

Under the U.S. Constitution, two-thirds of the Senate is required to convict the president. The possible penalties are the removal from office and disqualification from holding office in the future.WEB,www.senate.gov/artandhistory/history/common/briefing/Senate_Impeachment_Role.htm, Impeachment, Senate.gov, United States Senate, December 19, 2019, December 2, 2010,senate.gov/artandhistory/history/common/briefing/Senate_Impeachment_Role.htm," title="web.archive.org/web/20101202133604senate.gov/artandhistory/history/common/briefing/Senate_Impeachment_Role.htm,">web.archive.org/web/20101202133604senate.gov/artandhistory/history/common/briefing/Senate_Impeachment_Role.htm, live, NEWS,www.businessinsider.com/how-trump-could-be-impeached-convicted-but-win-reelection-2020-2019-11, Here’s how Trump could be impeached, removed from office, and still win re-election in 2020, Grace, Panetta, Business Insider, December 18, 2019, January 21, 2020, December 21, 2019,web.archive.org/web/20191221160834/https://www.businessinsider.com/how-trump-could-be-impeached-convicted-but-win-reelection-2020-2019-11, live, NEWS, Wolf, Zachary B., Top takeaways from the start of the Trump team’s impeachment defense,www.cnn.com/2020/01/25/politics/impeachment-watch-january-25/index.html, January 26, 2020, CNN, January 25, 2020, January 25, 2020,web.archive.org/web/20200125232716/https://www.cnn.com/2020/01/25/politics/impeachment-watch-january-25/index.html, live, On February 5, 2020, the Senate acquitted Trump on both counts. The votes were 48–52 to convict on the first count and 47–53 to convict on the second count, both short of the two-thirds majority needed to convict, therefore resulting in acquittal. The votes were sharply divided along party lines.WEB, How senators voted on Trump’s impeachment,www.politico.com/interactives/2019/trump-impeachment-vote-count-senate-results/, Politico, February 5, 2020, February 5, 2020, February 5, 2020,web.archive.org/web/20200205215232/https://www.politico.com/interactives/2019/trump-impeachment-vote-count-senate-results/, live, Mitt Romney became the first senator in history from an impeached president’s party to vote to convict, voting “guilty” on the first count.{{citation needed|date=September 2023}}{| class=“wikitable” style="width:100%”United States Government Publishing Office, 166, 24, S937–S938,www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/CREC-2020-02-05/pdf/CREC-2020-02-05.pdf, March 15, 2020, February 7, 2020,web.archive.org/web/20200207103056/https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/CREC-2020-02-05/pdf/CREC-2020-02-05.pdf, live, WEB, Fandos, Nicholas, February 5, 2020, Trump Acquitted of Two Impeachment Charges in Near Party-Line Vote, The New York Times,www.nytimes.com/2020/02/05/us/politics/trump-acquitted-impeachment.html, March 15, 2020, February 5, 2020,web.archive.org/web/20200205220311/https://www.nytimes.com/2020/02/05/us/politics/trump-acquitted-impeachment.html, live, ! style="width:20%;” colspan=“2” rowspan=“2” | Party! colspan=“2” | Article I (Abuse of power)! colspan=“2” | Article II (Obstruction of Congress)! style="width:20%;“| Guilty! style="width:20%;“| Not guilty! style="width:20%;“| Guilty! style="width:20%;“| Not guiltyDemocratic Party (United States)}} (45) 45| –Republican Party (United States)}} (53)title= 1|1= Mitt Romney}} 53Independent politician}} (2)Angus King|2= Bernie Sanders}}| –Angus King|2= Bernie Sanders}}| –! colspan=“2” | Total (100)! 48! 52! 47! 53! colspan=“2” | Result! colspan=“2” | Not guilty{{efn|name=guiltycalculation|Guilt based on “the Concurrence of two thirds of the Members present” according to the Constitution ((Article One of the United States Constitution#Clause 6: Trial of Impeachment|Article 1, Section 3, Clause 6)). There are 100 Senate seats (two per U.S. state) and all Senators were present at the trial. Two-thirds of 100 is 66.{{overline|6}}, so 67 guilty votes are needed for a guilty verdict.}}! colspan=“2” | Not guilty{{efn|name=guiltycalculation}}

Public opinion

Before the trial, in mid-January 2020, Americans were sharply divided on whether Trump should be removed from office, with Democrats largely supporting removal, Republicans largely opposing, and independents divided.NEWS,projects.fivethirtyeight.com/impeachment-polls/, Do Americans Support Impeaching Trump?, Bycoffe, Aaron, January 20, 2019, FiveThirtyEight, January 20, 2020,web.archive.org/web/20200115143750/https://projects.fivethirtyeight.com/impeachment-polls/, January 15, 2020, live, A USA Today / Suffolk University poll conducted between December 10 and 14, 2019, found that 45% of respondents supported the impeachment and removal of Trump from office, while 51% opposed it. A CNN poll conducted from December 12 to 15 also found 45% supported impeachment and removal, compared to 47% who opposed the idea. A Gallup poll released on the day of Trump’s impeachment found that the president’s approval rating increased by six points during the impeachment process, while support for the impeachment fell.WEB,news.gallup.com/poll/271691/trump-approval-inches-support-impeachment-dips.aspx, Trump Approval Inches Up, While Support for Impeachment Dips, McCarthy, Justin, December 18, 2019, Gallup, December 23, 2019, December 21, 2019,web.archive.org/web/20191221235436/https://news.gallup.com/poll/271691/trump-approval-inches-support-impeachment-dips.aspx, live, Another CNN poll conducted between January 16 and 19, 2020, found that 51% supported Trump’s removal from office, compared to 45% who opposed it. An NBC / Wall Street Journal poll released on January 2, 2020, showed 46% favored removal from office and 49% opposed, with the in favor/opposed being almost exclusively along party lines.WEB, February 2, 2020, Murray, Mark,www.nbcnews.com/politics/meet-the-press/nbc-wsj-poll-country-remains-divided-over-trump-s-impeachment-n1128326, NBC/WSJ poll: Country remains divided over Trump’s impeachment trial, NBC News, en, February 4, 2020,web.archive.org/web/20200204064431/https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/meet-the-press/nbc-wsj-poll-country-remains-divided-over-trump-s-impeachment-n1128326, live, {| class=“wikitable sortable” style="font-size:90%; text-align:center;“|+ Polling of Americans on the impeachment and removal from office of Trump style="vertical-align:bottom; font-size:90%;“! Poll source! Date(s) conducted! Sample size!Margin of error!Support{{efn|name=color-coding|These polls are color-coded relative to the margin of error (×2 for spread). If the poll is within the doubled margin of error, both colors are used. If the margin of error is, for example, 2.5, then the spread would be 5, so a 50% support / 45% oppose would be tied.}}!Oppose{{efn|name=color-coding}}!Undecided Yahoo! News / YouGovANDREW >LAST=ROMANO TITLE=NEW YAHOO NEWS/YOUGOV POLL SHOWS THAT DEMOCRATS HAVE SO FAR FAILED TO SEAL THE DEAL ON IMPEACHMENT DATE=DECEMBER 6, 2019 ARCHIVE-URL=HTTPS://WEB.ARCHIVE.ORG/WEB/20191230035538/HTTPS://NEWS.YAHOO.COM/NEW-YAHOO-NEWS-YOU-GOV-POLL-SHOWS-THAT-DEMOCRATS-HAVE-FAILED-TO-SEAL-THE-DEAL-ON-IMPEACHMENT-210403091.HTML URL-STATUS=LIVE, HTTPS://D25D2506SFB94S.CLOUDFRONT.NET/CUMULUS_UPLOADS/DOCUMENT/RN4F1HI16O/YAHOO_IMPEACHMENT_TOPLINES.PDF>TITLE=YAHOO! NEWS IMPEACHMENT TRACKERARCHIVE-URL=HTTPS://WEB.ARCHIVE.ORG/WEB/20191209202121/HTTPS://D25D2506SFB94S.CLOUDFRONT.NET/CUMULUS_UPLOADS/DOCUMENT/RN4F1HI16O/YAHOO_IMPEACHMENT_TOPLINES.PDFURL-STATUS=LIVE, December 4–6, 2019|1500|± 2.8%47%|39%|14% Monmouth UniversityPATRICK >LAST=MURRAY TITLE=MOST SAY TRUMP HINDERED INQUIRY, BUT IMPEACHMENT OPINION IS UNMOVED DATE=DECEMBER 11, 2019 ARCHIVE-URL=HTTPS://WEB.ARCHIVE.ORG/WEB/20191211171758/HTTPS://WWW.MONMOUTH.EDU/POLLING-INSTITUTE/REPORTS/MONMOUTHPOLL_US_121119/ URL-STATUS=LIVE, December 4–8, 2019|903|± 3.3% 50%|5% Fox NewsHTTPS://WWW.FOXNEWS.COM/POLITICS/FOX-NEWS-POLL-RESULTS-DECEMBER-8-11-2019>TITLE=FOX NEWS POLL RESULTS DECEMBER 8–11, 2019DATE=DECEMBER 15, 2019 ARCHIVE-URL=HTTPS://WEB.ARCHIVE.ORG/WEB/20191215213554/HTTPS://WWW.FOXNEWS.COM/POLITICS/FOX-NEWS-POLL-RESULTS-DECEMBER-8-11-2019URL-STATUS=LIVE, December 8–11, 2019RV|Registered Voters}}|± 3%50%|41%|5% NPR / PBS NewsHour / Marist PollDOMENICO URL=HTTPS://WWW.NPR.ORG/2019/12/16/787896163/POLL-OPINIONS-OF-IMPEACHMENT-REMAIN-UNCHANGED-SIGNS-POINT-TO-BASE-ELECTION-IN-20 PUBLISHER=NPR ACCESS-DATE=JANUARY 2, 2020 ARCHIVE-DATE=JANUARY 1, 2020 DATE=DECEMBER 11, 2019URL-STATUS=LIVEARCHIVE-URL=HTTPS://WEB.ARCHIVE.ORG/WEB/20191217053120/HTTP://MARISTPOLL.MARIST.EDU/WP-CONTENT/UPLOADS/2019/12/UPDATED_NPR_PBS-NEWSHOUR_MARIST-POLL_USA-NOS-AND-TABLES_1912131159.PDF#PAGE=3, December 17, 2019, December 9–11, 2019|1744|± 3.5%46%49%|5% USA Today / SuffolkHTTPS://WWW.USATODAY.COM/STORY/NEWS/POLITICS/2019/12/15/POLL-IMPEACHMENT-LOOMS-NARROW-MAJORITY-OPPOSES-CONVICTING-TRUMP/2657549001/>TITLE=USA TODAY POLL: NARROW MAJORITY OPPOSES REMOVING TRUMP FROM OFFICE IF HE IS IMPEACHEDFIRST=SUSAN PAGE, NICHOLAS WU AND WILLIAMWORK=USA TODAYURL-STATUS=LIVEARCHIVE-DATE=DECEMBER 17, 2019DATE=JANUARY 1, 2020ACCESS-DATE=JANUARY 2, 2020ARCHIVE-DATE=JANUARY 2, 2020, live, December 10–14, 2019|1000 RV|± 3% 45.2% 50.5%|4.3% Quinnipiac UniversityHTTPS://POLL.QU.EDU/NATIONAL/RELEASE-DETAIL?RELEASEID=3652>TITLE=QU POLL RELEASE DETAILLANGUAGE=ENARCHIVE-URL=HTTPS://WEB.ARCHIVE.ORG/WEB/20191216201311/HTTPS://POLL.QU.EDU/NATIONAL/RELEASE-DETAIL?RELEASEID=3652URL-STATUS=LIVE, December 11–15, 2019|1390 RV|± 4.1% 45% 51%|4% CNN / SSRSHTTPS://WWW.CNN.COM/2019/12/16/POLITICS/IMPEACHMENT-POLL-CNN/INDEX.HTML>TITLE=CNN POLL: THE NATION REMAINS DIVIDED ON IMPEACHMENT AS HOUSE VOTE APPROACHESFIRST=JENNIFERWORK=CNNURL-STATUS=LIVEARCHIVE-DATE=DECEMBER 17, 2019, en-US, December 12–15, 2019|888 RV|± 3.7%45%47%|9% December 18, 2019Politico / Morning ConsultSTEVEN >LAST=SHEPARD TITLE=POLL: MAJORITY APPROVES OF TRUMP’S IMPEACHMENT DATE=DECEMBER 20, 2019 ARCHIVE-URL=HTTPS://WEB.ARCHIVE.ORG/WEB/20191231020555/HTTPS://WWW.POLITICO.COM/NEWS/2019/12/20/POLL-TRUMP-IMPEACHMENT-088812 URL-STATUS=LIVE, NATIONAL TRACKING POLL 191284 >URL=HTTPS://WWW.POLITICO.COM/F/?ID=0000016F-2533-DCF7-A96F-6D3BFEE90000 POLITICO >ACCESS-DATE=JANUARY 2, 2020 ARCHIVE-DATE=DECEMBER 23, 2019, live, December 19–20, 2019|1387 RV|± 3.0%51%|42%|6% The Economist / YouGovALEXANDRA >LAST=HUTZLER TITLE=ALMOST 50% OF AMERICANS SAY DONALD TRUMP WILL GO DOWN IN HISTORY AS ‘POOR’ OR ‘BELOW AVERAGE’ PRESIDENT, POLL FINDS DATE=DECEMBER 26, 2019 ARCHIVE-URL=HTTPS://WEB.ARCHIVE.ORG/WEB/20200101215630/HTTPS://WWW.NEWSWEEK.COM/MORE-AMERICANS-SAY-TRUMP-WILL-VIEWED-POOR-PRESIDENT-POLL-1479236 URL-STATUS=LIVE, THE ECONOMIST/YOUGOV POLL >URL=HTTPS://D25D2506SFB94S.CLOUDFRONT.NET/CUMULUS_UPLOADS/DOCUMENT/BOGTLC7AGG/ECONTOPLINES.PDF ACCESS-DATE=JANUARY 2, 2020 ARCHIVE-DATE=DECEMBER 31, 2019, live, December 22–24, 2019|1500|± 2.9%44%41%|14% CNN / SSRSJENNIFER >LAST=AGIESTA TITLE=CNN POLL: 51% SAY SENATE SHOULD REMOVE TRUMP FROM OFFICE DATE=JANUARY 20, 2020 ARCHIVE-DATE=JANUARY 20, 2020 URL-STATUS=LIVE, January 16–19, 2020|1156|± 3.4%51%45%|4% NBC / The Wall Street Journal January 26–29, 2020|1000 RV|± 3.1%46%49%|5%

Aftermath

File:President Trump Delivers Remarks (49498772251).jpg|thumb|Donald Trump holds up a copy of The Washington PostThe Washington PostTwo days after the Senate acquitted him in the impeachment trial, Trump fired two witnesses who testified in the impeachment inquiry about his conduct.NEWS, Baker, Peter, Haberman, Maggie, Hakim, Danny, Schmidt, Michael, Trump Fires Impeachment Witnesses Gordon Sondland and Alexander Vindman in Post-Acquittal Purge,www.nytimes.com/2020/02/07/us/politics/alexander-vindman-gordon-sondland-fired.html, February 9, 2020, The New York Times, February 7, 2020,archive.today/20200208061052/https://www.nytimes.com/2020/02/07/us/politics/alexander-vindman-gordon-sondland-fired.html, February 8, 2020, NEWS, Trump defends firing impeachment witness Alexander Vindman,www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-51408704, February 9, 2020, BBC News, February 9, 2020, February 8, 2020,web.archive.org/web/20200208152446/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-51408704, live, On February 7, Gordon Sondland’s ambassadorship was terminated, and Lieutenant Colonel Alexander Vindman was escorted from the White House after a dismissal from his job on the National Security Council. At the same time, Vindman’s twin brother, Yevgeny, likewise an Army lieutenant colonel on the National Security Council, was also dismissed. Shortly before the firings, Trump said he was “not happy” with Alexander Vindman; after the firings, Trump said he “didn’t know” Alexander Vindman but he was “very insubordinate”. Alexander Vindman’s lawyer responded that his client “was asked to leave for telling the truth. His honor, his commitment to right, frightened the powerful.” Sondland reacted by stating that he was “grateful to President Trump for the opportunity to serve”.In April 2020, Trump fired Inspector General of the Intelligence Community Michael K. Atkinson.NEWS, The New York Times,www.nytimes.com/2020/04/03/us/trump-inspector-general-intelligence-fired.html, Trump to Fire Intelligence Watchdog Who Had Key Role in Ukraine Complaint, April 3, 2020, January 7, 2021, December 14, 2020,web.archive.org/web/20201214122011/https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/03/us/trump-inspector-general-intelligence-fired.html, live, NEWS, Baker, Peter, Trump Proceeds With Post-Impeachment Purge Amid Pandemic,www.nytimes.com/2020/04/04/us/politics/trump-coronavirus-post-impeachment-purge.html, April 24, 2020, The New York Times, April 4, 2020,archive.today/20200405041817/https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/04/us/politics/trump-coronavirus-post-impeachment-purge.html, live, April 5, 2020, Trump further complained that Atkinson “never even came in to see me. How can you [forward the complaint] without seeing the person?”; he also concluded that Atkinson was “not a big Trump fan”.NEWS, Cook, Nancy, Sideshow Don: Trump pursues a non-virus agenda,www.politico.com/news/2020/04/04/trump-non-coronavirus-agenda-165086, April 24, 2020, Politico, April 4, 2020, April 9, 2020,web.archive.org/web/20200409025019/https://www.politico.com/news/2020/04/04/trump-non-coronavirus-agenda-165086, live, Atkinson responded that he believed Trump had fired him for “having faithfully discharged my legal obligations as an independent and impartial inspector general, and from my commitment to continue to do so”.NEWS, Bowden, John, Outgoing inspector general says Trump fired him for carrying out his ‘legal obligations’,thehill.com/policy/national-security/491283-outgoing-inspector-general-suggests-trump-fired-him-for-carrying-out, April 24, 2020, The Hill (newspaper), The Hill, April 5, 2020, April 10, 2020,web.archive.org/web/20200410155956/https://thehill.com/policy/national-security/491283-outgoing-inspector-general-suggests-trump-fired-him-for-carrying-out, live, Biden would be elected President of the United States that November. The subsequent storming of the U.S. Capitol would lead to Trump’s unprecedented second impeachment.

See also

Notes

{{Notelist}}

References

{{reflist}}

External links

{{commons category}} {{First impeachment and impeachment trial of Donald Trump}}{{Trump presidency}}{{Donald Trump}}{{Federal impeachment in the United States}}{{Legal affairs of Donald Trump}}{{Authority control}}

- content above as imported from Wikipedia
- "First impeachment of Donald Trump" does not exist on GetWiki (yet)
- time: 3:35am EDT - Wed, May 22 2024
[ this remote article is provided by Wikipedia ]
LATEST EDITS [ see all ]
GETWIKI 21 MAY 2024
GETWIKI 09 JUL 2019
Eastern Philosophy
History of Philosophy
GETWIKI 09 MAY 2016
GETWIKI 18 OCT 2015
M.R.M. Parrott
Biographies
GETWIKI 20 AUG 2014
CONNECT