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Trump is impeached following vote in House of Representatives – live Trump is impeached following vote in House of Representatives – live
(30 minutes later)
House holds historic vote after day-long debate over two articles, making Trump the third US president to be impeachedHouse holds historic vote after day-long debate over two articles, making Trump the third US president to be impeached
RNC and DNC issue contrasting statements on impeachment
Republican National Committee chair Ronna McDaniel said “Nancy Pelosi and her fellow impeachment crusaders have ensured the reelection of President Trump” by voting to impeach him.
At the same time, the Democratic National Committee chair lauded those who voted for impeachment. “Those who voted for impeachment will be remembered for their courage and commitment to protecting our democracy,” said DNC chair Tom Perez.
Republicans and Democrats have stuck with tried and tested talking points, with the former continuing to cast the process as a “sham” and the latter repeating that House Dems had a constitutional responsibility to see the impeachment through.
Donald Trump is the third US president to be impeached. The moment offered a surreal split screen — as the president railed against Democrats at a rally, they cast their votes against him.
Here’s a recap of the day, in pictures:
Representative Debbie Dingell responded to Trump’s attacks against her and her late husband, writing that his “hurtful words just made my healing much harder”.
Dingell is a Democrat from Michigan, where Trump is holding a campaign rally tonight.
Now that Donald Trump has been impeached, it’s up to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi what happens next. Responding to questions from reporters, Pelosi wouldn’t say when she plans on sending the impeachment articles to the Senate, which is required to hold a trial to decide whether to remove the president from office.
“We’ll see what happens over there,” Pelosi said at her news conference, referring to the Senate. She said House Democrats would decide as “a group” when to send the articles over and name impeachment managers — House members who will make their case in the Senate trial.
Mitch McConnell, the Senate leader, said he will address the impeachment at 9:30 AM EST tomorrow morning.
Speaking at his campaign rally, Donald Trump said he regretted that Debbie Dingell, a Democratic representative from Michigan, voted to impeach him even though he allowed a state funeral to proceed for her late husband and have him “the A+ treatment”.Speaking at his campaign rally, Donald Trump said he regretted that Debbie Dingell, a Democratic representative from Michigan, voted to impeach him even though he allowed a state funeral to proceed for her late husband and have him “the A+ treatment”.
Trump also suggested John Dingell may be “looking up” from hell.Trump also suggested John Dingell may be “looking up” from hell.
2020 Democratic candidates laud impeachment2020 Democratic candidates laud impeachment
Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren indicated they were ready to take up the torch in the senate.Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren indicated they were ready to take up the torch in the senate.
Michael Bloomberg said the House “did its duty under the Constitution,” but added that “unfortunately, it increasingly appears that Senate Republicans will not. The issue won’t be settled until November, by the American people.”Michael Bloomberg said the House “did its duty under the Constitution,” but added that “unfortunately, it increasingly appears that Senate Republicans will not. The issue won’t be settled until November, by the American people.”
Julian Castro suggested that Mitch McConnell should recuse himself from the Senate trial. “The Senate should do its constitutional duty. Remove Donald Trump from office,” he said.Julian Castro suggested that Mitch McConnell should recuse himself from the Senate trial. “The Senate should do its constitutional duty. Remove Donald Trump from office,” he said.
Pete Buttigieg expressed similar sentiments. “Our lawmakers take an oath not to party but to country,” he said. “That oath is all the more important in the most difficult of times.Pete Buttigieg expressed similar sentiments. “Our lawmakers take an oath not to party but to country,” he said. “That oath is all the more important in the most difficult of times.
Nancy Pelosi would not definitively commit to sending over the articles of impeachment or naming impeachment managers.Nancy Pelosi would not definitively commit to sending over the articles of impeachment or naming impeachment managers.
“We cannot name managers until we see what the process is on the Senate side,” she said. “So far we haven’t seen anything that looks fair to us.”“We cannot name managers until we see what the process is on the Senate side,” she said. “So far we haven’t seen anything that looks fair to us.”
Senate leader Mitch McConnell is “in cahoots with the lawyers of the accused,” Pelosi said, but she did not say how exactly a fair Senate trial would look .Senate leader Mitch McConnell is “in cahoots with the lawyers of the accused,” Pelosi said, but she did not say how exactly a fair Senate trial would look .
Withholding the articles could give Pelosi some leverage over the trial as she pushes McConnell to call more witnesses.Withholding the articles could give Pelosi some leverage over the trial as she pushes McConnell to call more witnesses.
Adam Schiff: ‘Will the Senate uphold its duty?’Adam Schiff: ‘Will the Senate uphold its duty?’
“The question is whether the majority leader will allow a fair trial,” Shiff said, having seen the impeachment inquiry he led come to a close. “We have done our duty in the House, we have upheld the constitution. The question now is will the senate uphold its duty?”“The question is whether the majority leader will allow a fair trial,” Shiff said, having seen the impeachment inquiry he led come to a close. “We have done our duty in the House, we have upheld the constitution. The question now is will the senate uphold its duty?”
He urged senators to call more witnesses and demand to see documents that the president has withheld. “The president not only abused his office but threatens to abuse it again,” Schiff said.He urged senators to call more witnesses and demand to see documents that the president has withheld. “The president not only abused his office but threatens to abuse it again,” Schiff said.
Nancy Pelosi said today is a “sad day” for the country. “The president’s reckless activities necessitated us having to introduce articles of impeachment,” she said, before thanking the various House committee leaders who spearheaded the impeachment inquiry.Nancy Pelosi said today is a “sad day” for the country. “The president’s reckless activities necessitated us having to introduce articles of impeachment,” she said, before thanking the various House committee leaders who spearheaded the impeachment inquiry.
House Judiciary chair Jerrold Nadler added that the “no one, not even the president is above the law”.House Judiciary chair Jerrold Nadler added that the “no one, not even the president is above the law”.
Donald Trump continued to speak at a campaign rally in Battle Creek, Michigan as a majority of the House voted to pass both articles of impeachment.Donald Trump continued to speak at a campaign rally in Battle Creek, Michigan as a majority of the House voted to pass both articles of impeachment.
“The do-nothing Democrats are declaring their deep hatred and disdain for the American people,” he told the crowd. “This lawless partisan impeachment is a political suicide march for the Democrat party.”“The do-nothing Democrats are declaring their deep hatred and disdain for the American people,” he told the crowd. “This lawless partisan impeachment is a political suicide march for the Democrat party.”
In a statement, Trump’s press secretary Stephanie Grisham said the president is “confident the Senate will restore regular order, fairness, and due process, all of which were ignored in the House proceedings”.In a statement, Trump’s press secretary Stephanie Grisham said the president is “confident the Senate will restore regular order, fairness, and due process, all of which were ignored in the House proceedings”.
“He is prepared for the next steps and confident that he will be fully exonerated,” she said.“He is prepared for the next steps and confident that he will be fully exonerated,” she said.
The House has now passed the second article of impeachment, which is obstruction of Congress. The final vote was 229-198, with only Democratic congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard voting “present.”The House has now passed the second article of impeachment, which is obstruction of Congress. The final vote was 229-198, with only Democratic congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard voting “present.”
Trump has been impeached on both abuse of power and obstruction of Congress, and the two articles will now taken up by the Senate in a trial to determine whether he should be removed from office.Trump has been impeached on both abuse of power and obstruction of Congress, and the two articles will now taken up by the Senate in a trial to determine whether he should be removed from office.
It is widely expected the president will be acquitted by the Republican-controlled Senate, but the importance of this moment cannot be understated.It is widely expected the president will be acquitted by the Republican-controlled Senate, but the importance of this moment cannot be understated.
A majority of the House of representatives has declared that Trump has abused his power and obstructed Congress, and he will go down in history as only the third US president to ever be impeached.A majority of the House of representatives has declared that Trump has abused his power and obstructed Congress, and he will go down in history as only the third US president to ever be impeached.
Democratic congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard, who voted “present” on both articles of impeachment, has issued a statement explaining her stance, which will certainly prove controversial with the rest of her caucus.Democratic congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard, who voted “present” on both articles of impeachment, has issued a statement explaining her stance, which will certainly prove controversial with the rest of her caucus.
“After doing my due diligence in reviewing the 658-page impeachment report, I came to the conclusion that I could not in good conscience vote either yes or no,” Gabbard said in the statement.“After doing my due diligence in reviewing the 658-page impeachment report, I came to the conclusion that I could not in good conscience vote either yes or no,” Gabbard said in the statement.
This moment is quickly going viral. After the first article of impeachment officially passed, speaker Nancy Pelosi appeared to shush the House Democrats who started to applaud.This moment is quickly going viral. After the first article of impeachment officially passed, speaker Nancy Pelosi appeared to shush the House Democrats who started to applaud.
Pelosi has emphasized throughout the day that this is a “sad” occasion, and the speaker reportedly instructed her caucus not to appear celebratory of the inevitable result.Pelosi has emphasized throughout the day that this is a “sad” occasion, and the speaker reportedly instructed her caucus not to appear celebratory of the inevitable result.
A majority of the House of representatives has now voted in favor of the second article of impeachment, obstruction of Congress, after passing the first article, abuse of power.
The vote is not final until speaker Nancy Pelosi gavels it in, but the tally is currently 221-165, with only Tulsi Gabbard voting present.
Three House Democrats -- Jeff Van Drew, Collin Peterson and Jared Golden -- have voted “no” on the second article of impeachment, which is obstruction of Congress.
Democratic congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard voted “present,” as she did on the first article of impeachment.
With Nancy Pelosi presiding over the House, the speaker called for a vote on the second article of impeachment, which is obstruction of Congress.
This vote will go much the same as the first, with one notable exception: Democratic congressman Jared Golden has said he will vote “no” on this article, despite supporting the first article.
Members have five minutes to cast their ballots.
The House has passed the first article of impeachment against Trump, abuse of power, by a vote of 230-197.
Donald Trump is officially the third president in US history to be impeached by the House.
The members will now move on to the second article of impeachment, which is obstruction of Congress.
Speaker Nancy Pelosi turned in a green “yes” card moments ago, casting her ballot in favor of the first article of impeachment.
After much speculation as to whether she was even going to participate in the vote, congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard, who is seeking the Democratic presidential nomination, has voted “present” on the first article of impeachment.
A majority of House members have now voted “yes” on the first article of impeachment, but it is not official until the end of the vote is called.
The vote is currently 219-164.
Congressman Collin Peterson has now voted “no” on the first article of impeachment, becoming only the second (and likely last) House Democrat to oppose the article.
Congressman Ron Kind, who avoided stating publicly whether he would support impeachment, has voted “yes,” as has congressman Jared Golden.
Golden, a Democrat from Maine, announced yesterday that he would support the first article of impeachment, but not the second, so his vote will switch to a “no” when that article is taken up.
As expected, congressman Jeff Van Drew, the Democrat who is expected to switch parties after the impeachment vote and has spent the day on the Republican side of the aisle, has voted “no” on the first article of impeachment.
Democratic congressman Collin Peterson is also likely to vote “no,” but every other House Democrat is expected to support the first article, which is abuse of power.
More than 11 hours after the start of today’s impeachment hearings, the vote is now underway on the first article of impeachment against Trump, which is abuse of power.
House members will have 15 minutes to cast their votes, and many are choosing to do it by hand rather than electronically.