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| Trump impeachment: Democrats plan first formal vote | Trump impeachment: Democrats plan first formal vote |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| The US House of Representatives plans to take its first formal vote this week on the impeachment inquiry into President Donald Trump. | |
| House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said the vote "sets forth due process rights for the President and his Counsel". | House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said the vote "sets forth due process rights for the President and his Counsel". |
| The president and his allies have argued the lack of a vote by the full chamber renders the inquiry invalid. | The president and his allies have argued the lack of a vote by the full chamber renders the inquiry invalid. |
| The House is investigating claims Mr Trump pressured a foreign government to investigate his political rivals. | |
| Thursday's vote planned by Mrs Pelosi and her fellow Democrats is not to impeach Mr Trump, but to set out ground rules for their inquiry. | |
| Mrs Pelosi, the most powerful elected Democrat, has until now rebuffed calls from Republicans to hold any such formal vote. | |
| But in her letter to fellow Democrats on Monday, the California congresswoman pointed out the US constitution does not require such a step. | |
| She said the move would "eliminate any doubt" as to whether the White House can withhold documents, disregard subpoenas or prevent witnesses from giving testimony. | |
| Mrs Pelosi said the resolution in the Democratic-controlled House would also "ensure transparency and provide a clear path forward". | |
| White House press secretary Stephanie Grisham said the vote supported Mr Trump's contention "that Democrats were conducting an unauthorised impeachment proceeding". | |
| She said Mrs Pelosi's party was "refusing to give the President due process, and their secret, shady, closed-door depositions are completely and irreversibly illegitimate". | |
| Last week some Republicans - who argue there has been a lack of transparency in the proceedings - disrupted and delayed a hearing being held behind closed doors. | |
| Quick facts on impeachment | Quick facts on impeachment |
| Impeachment is the first part - the charges - of a two-stage political process by which Congress can remove a president from office. | Impeachment is the first part - the charges - of a two-stage political process by which Congress can remove a president from office. |
| If the House of Representatives votes to pass articles of impeachment, the Senate is forced to hold a trial. | If the House of Representatives votes to pass articles of impeachment, the Senate is forced to hold a trial. |
| A Senate vote requires a two-thirds majority to convict - unlikely in this case, given that Mr Trump's party controls the chamber. | A Senate vote requires a two-thirds majority to convict - unlikely in this case, given that Mr Trump's party controls the chamber. |
| Only two US presidents in history - Bill Clinton and Andrew Johnson - have been impeached, but neither was convicted and removed. | Only two US presidents in history - Bill Clinton and Andrew Johnson - have been impeached, but neither was convicted and removed. |
| President Richard Nixon resigned before he could be impeached. | President Richard Nixon resigned before he could be impeached. |