
The US House of Representatives has voted to impeach President Donald Trump for abuse of power, making him just the third president to be impeached in US history.
The vote on the first article was 230-197. All but two Democrats voted in favour, and all Republicans voted against. One Democrat, Tulsi Gabbard, voted “present.”
A House majority also voted yes on the second article, concerning the obstruction of Congress.
House Democrats, led by Speaker Nancy Pelosi, argued that the president had left them with “no choice” but to impeach him.
“If we do not act now we would be derelict in our duty,” Pelosi said. “It is tragic that the president’s reckless actions make impeachment necessary.”
Mamamia’s daily news podcast The Quicky explain what impeachment means for Donald Trump.
The articles accuse Trump of abusing his office by pressuring Ukraine to interfere in the 2020 presidential election. Trump is alleged to have withheld $391 million in military aid to the country as he sought to get Ukraine’s president to announce an investigation of former vice president Joe Biden, the Democratic frontrunner.
IT’S OFFICIAL!
Donald Trump has been IMPEACHED on both counts against him: Abuse of Power and Obstruction of Congress. pic.twitter.com/BMXjCD2PVk— Tom D’Angora (@TomDangora) December 19, 2019