Trump impeachment: House impeaches president in historic vote along party lines
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Washington Bureau Chief
The House has voted to impeach Donald Trump, making him the third president in American history to receive such a censure.
After roughly eight hours of debate, the House of Representatives gathered to vote and ultimately charged him with abusing the power of his office by attempting to extort a political favour from Ukraine. The House then voted on a second article of impeachment, approving formal charges that Mr Trump had obstructed Congress during the subsequent congressional investigation into his conduct.
The Senate will now take up the approved impeachment articles in the new year.
Defiant as ever, Mr Trump walked onstage at a rally in Michigan just as the House began voting — and was bragging about his Space Force and mocking stock market jitters as the first article of impeachement was approved. Before it became official, as the vote crept towards approving the first article of impeachment, Mr Trump was interrupted by a protester, who he suggested was treated too well by security forces — and that they should have been tougher on her.
Before the vote and rally, Washington Post columnist David Ignatius described a letter sent by Mr Trump to House speaker Nancy Pelosi on Tuesday as “the most unpresidential presidential document ever written” on MSNBC’s Morning Joe after rallies backing the impeachment process were held in cities across the country on Tuesday evening.
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House Democrats have approved a motion to end debate on the "rule" outlining procedures for impeachment today.
But, two House Democrats have joined Republicans to vote against the procedural vote, signaling a potential schism among Democrats (though one that is unlikely to play a major role).
Those two are Collin Peterson of Minnesota, and Jeff Van Drew of New Jersey. Mr Van Drew has threatened to leave the Democratic primary amid the impeachment effort.
Republican senator Susan Collins has announced, right dab in the middle of impeachment debates, that she is running for re-election.
Ms Collins is a centrist from Maine, and is considered one of few Republicans who could potentially vote in favour of removing Mr Trump once impeachment makes its way to the Senate.
While that still seems a bit unlikely, she is likely to be a key target for Democrats as she looks for a fifth term.
House speaker Nancy Pelosi is now speaking on the House floor, and reciting the pledge of allegiance for show.
Show has a big poster with a waving American flag and the words "To the Republic for which it stands..." written underneath.
In case you're wondering about the timeline of this, as Ms Pelosi continues her speech, we're expecting around six hours of debate before the ultimate impeachment vote.
Ms Pelosi's recitation of the pledge of allegiance was technically the first words spoken during the impeachment debate that will likely lead to the third impeachment of a US president in history.
Ms Pelosi's speech has resulted in a round of applause from the Democratic side of the chamber.
Following Ms Pelosi is Republican Doug Collins, who is — notably — not the highest ranking Republican in the House.
Mr Collins, true to form, is delivering an impassioned speech defending the president.
"If we do not act now, we are derelict in our duty," Pelosi said during her opening speech, starting the third impeachment of a US president in American history.
She claimed Trump had "violated the Constitution" and left Democrats with "no choice" but to impeach.
Soon after that round of applause, Collins returned fire, and mocked the speaker.
"This is not a solemn occasion," he said. "They've been wanting to do this ever since the election."
Jerry Nadler, the House Judiciary chairman, is now delivering his remarks. Nadler oversaw the Judiciary's investigation, after Adam Schiff and the House Intelligence Committee did much of the leg work.
Congressman Jim Sensenbrenner — one of just 14 Republicans who were in the House during the 1990s impeachment of Bill Clinton — just delivered remarks on the floor, denouncing the effort.
He was the manager of impeachment last time around.
White House press secretary Stephanie Grisham has released the following statement, when asked by reporters why the president is keeping a light schedule today, and whether he will watch the impeachment debate.
"The President will be working all day. He will be briefed by staff throughout that day, and could catch some of the proceedings between meetings."
Shortly after that statement, Mr Trump tweeted this:
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