Donald Trump’s impeachment Wednesday confirmed that “no one is
above the law,” US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said after the
defiant Republican president was impeached for the second time in
13 months.
![image](/2020/10/lawreport.jpg")
“Today in a bipartisan way the House demonstrated that no one is
above the law, not even the president of the United States,” the
top Democrat in Congress said at a ceremony at which she signed the
article of impeachment.
![image](/2020/10/NWLRland.jpg")
Trump, 74, was impeached for “incitement of insurrection” after
he exhorted his supporters to march on the US Capitol and “fight,”
leading to a mob storming the seat of American democracy.
He became the first US president in history to be impeached
twice when the House of Representatives voted Wednesday to charge
him with inciting last week’s mob attack on Congress.
The Senate will not hold a trial before January 20, when
Democrat Joe Biden assumes the presidency, meaning the real estate
tycoon will escape the risk of being forced to leave early.
He will, however, depart in disgrace and face a Senate trial
later — and if convicted would likely be barred in a follow-up vote
from seeking the presidency again in 2024.
“Donald Trump has deservedly become the first president in
American history to bear the stain of impeachment twice over,” said
Democratic Senator Chuck Schumer, who in a week’s time will become
Senate leader.
“The Senate is required to act and will proceed with his
trial.”
In the House of Representatives, the only question was how many
Republicans would join the lockstep Democratic majority in the
232-197 vote. At the final count, 10 Republicans broke ranks,
including the party’s number three in the House, Representative Liz
Cheney.
“I am in total peace today that my vote was the right thing and
I actually think history will judge it that way,” said Adam
Kinzinger, a vocal Trump critic and one of the Republicans who
crossed the aisle.
Holed up in the White House, Trump had no immediate reaction but
he earlier issued a brief statement insisting that he opposed
violence, “lawbreaking” and “vandalism” among his supporters.
Reflecting the fear of upheaval, armed National Guards deployed
across the capital and central streets were blocked to traffic.
In the Capitol building itself, guards in full camouflage and
carrying assault rifles assembled, some of them grabbing naps early
Wednesday under the ornate statues and historical paintings.
Trump survived a first impeachment almost exactly a year ago
when the Republican-controlled Senate acquitted him of abusing his
office to try and get dirt on Biden’s family before the
election.
This time, his downfall was triggered by a speech he delivered
to a crowd on the National Mall on January 6, telling them that
Biden had stolen the presidential election and that they needed to
march on Congress and show “strength.”
Amped up on weeks of election conspiracy theories pushed by
Trump, the mob then stormed into the Capitol, fatally wounded one
police officer, wrecked furniture and forced terrified lawmakers to
hide, interrupting a ceremony to put the legal stamp on Biden’s
victory.
One protester was shot dead, and three other people died of
“medical emergencies,” bringing the toll to five.
Democratic House Speaker Nancy Pelosi told the chamber that
Trump “must go.”
“He is a clear and present danger to the nation that we all
love,” she said.
And Democratic lawmaker Ilhan Omar branded Trump a “tyrant,”
saying that “for us to able to survive as a functioning democracy
there has to be accountability.”
But Nancy Mace, a newly-elected Republican congresswoman said
that while lawmakers “need to hold the president accountable,” the
speed of the impeachment “poses great questions about the
constitutionality.”
The top Republican in the House, Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy,
said that while Trump deserves censure, hurriedly impeaching will
“further divide this nation.”
AFP
Donald Trump’s impeachment Wednesday confirmed that “no one is
above the law,” US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said after the
defiant Republican president was impeached for the second time in
13 months.
“Today in a bipartisan way the House demonstrated that no one is
above the law, not even the president of the United States,” the
top Democrat in Congress said at a ceremony at which she signed the
article of impeachment.
Trump, 74, was impeached for “incitement of insurrection” after
he exhorted his supporters to march on the US Capitol and “fight,”
leading to a mob storming the seat of American democracy.
He became the first US president in history to be impeached
twice when the House of Representatives voted Wednesday to charge
him with inciting last week’s mob attack on Congress.
The Senate will not hold a trial before January 20, when
Democrat Joe Biden assumes the presidency, meaning the real estate
tycoon will escape the risk of being forced to leave early.
He will, however, depart in disgrace and face a Senate trial
later — and if convicted would likely be barred in a follow-up vote
from seeking the presidency again in 2024.
“Donald Trump has deservedly become the first president in
American history to bear the stain of impeachment twice over,” said
Democratic Senator Chuck Schumer, who in a week’s time will become
Senate leader.
“The Senate is required to act and will proceed with his
trial.”
In the House of Representatives, the only question was how many
Republicans would join the lockstep Democratic majority in the
232-197 vote. At the final count, 10 Republicans broke ranks,
including the party’s number three in the House, Representative Liz
Cheney.
“I am in total peace today that my vote was the right thing and
I actually think history will judge it that way,” said Adam
Kinzinger, a vocal Trump critic and one of the Republicans who
crossed the aisle.
Holed up in the White House, Trump had no immediate reaction but
he earlier issued a brief statement insisting that he opposed
violence, “lawbreaking” and “vandalism” among his supporters.
Reflecting the fear of upheaval, armed National Guards deployed
across the capital and central streets were blocked to traffic.
In the Capitol building itself, guards in full camouflage and
carrying assault rifles assembled, some of them grabbing naps early
Wednesday under the ornate statues and historical paintings.
Trump survived a first impeachment almost exactly a year ago
when the Republican-controlled Senate acquitted him of abusing his
office to try and get dirt on Biden’s family before the
election.
This time, his downfall was triggered by a speech he delivered
to a crowd on the National Mall on January 6, telling them that
Biden had stolen the presidential election and that they needed to
march on Congress and show “strength.”
Amped up on weeks of election conspiracy theories pushed by
Trump, the mob then stormed into the Capitol, fatally wounded one
police officer, wrecked furniture and forced terrified lawmakers to
hide, interrupting a ceremony to put the legal stamp on Biden’s
victory.
One protester was shot dead, and three other people died of
“medical emergencies,” bringing the toll to five.
Democratic House Speaker Nancy Pelosi told the chamber that
Trump “must go.”
“He is a clear and present danger to the nation that we all
love,” she said.
And Democratic lawmaker Ilhan Omar branded Trump a “tyrant,”
saying that “for us to able to survive as a functioning democracy
there has to be accountability.”
But Nancy Mace, a newly-elected Republican congresswoman said
that while lawmakers “need to hold the president accountable,” the
speed of the impeachment “poses great questions about the
constitutionality.”
The top Republican in the House, Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy,
said that while Trump deserves censure, hurriedly impeaching will
“further divide this nation.”
AFP