IMPEACHMENT
Donald J. Trump, the 45th U.S. President, was impeached on January 13, 2021, for the second time in the same term.
After inciting an insurrection at the U.S. Capitol, the House of Representatives impeached Donald J. Trump. The resolution (H.Res.24 - Impeaching Donald John Trump, President of the United States, for high crimes and misdemeanors.) was sponsored by Representative David Cicilline (D-RI 1st District). The resolution was introduced only 5 days after the insurrection on January 11, 2021.
The article of impeachments describes how Trump warrants impeachment and trial, including:
- How he "repeatedly issued false statements asserting that the presidential election results were fraudulent and should not be accepted by the American people or certified by state or federal officials."
- Encouraging his supporters to engage in violent and seditious acts against the U.S. Government, that resulted in vandalizing the Capitol building and the death of a law enforcement officer.
- How he "gravely endangered the security of the United States and its institutions of government, threatened the integrity of the democratic system, interfered with the peaceful transition of power, and imperiled a coequal branch of government."
SUPPORT FOR IMPEACHMENT
Pictured above are 10 Republican U.S. Representatives who voted to impeach Donald J. Trump. This impeachment, passed by the House on January 13, 2021, is known as the most bi-partisan impeachment in U.S. history. Pictured from top left to bottom right: Representative Liz Cheney (R-WY At-large district), Representative Anthony Gonzalez (R-OH 16th District), Representative Peter Meijer (R-MI 3rd District),Representative Dan Newhouse (R-WA 4th District), Representative Adam Kinzinger (R-IL 16th District), Representative John Katko (R-NY 24th District), Representative Fred Upton (R-MI 6th District), Representative Jaime Herrera Beutler (R-WA 3rd District), Representative Tom Rice (R-SC 7th District), David Valadao (R-CA 21st District).
TRUMP'S 2ND TRIAL
Things you should know
- Many members of Congress objected Trump's second impeachment since he only had a few days left in his term.
- Since the resolution was already passed in the House (232 voting yes and 197 voting no), the impeachment article has yet to be transmitted to the Senate.
- Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, has not officially transmitted the impeachment article to the Senate, which raises the question if the Senate could even hold a trial for an ex-president.
- Steve Vladeck, a University of Texas law professor, stated that a former president can be convicted. The Constitution allows for the Senate to prohibit a former president from holding office again.
- Compared the Trump's 2020 impeachment trial, this year "Pelosi has selected nine impeachment managers and Trump hasn’t even identified a legal team to deliver his case."
- According to Politico, this year in the Senate impeachment trial, there is a likelihood that 17 Republicans could join all 50 Democrats to vote for conviction.
PROCESS OF IMPEACHMENT
Inside the House of Representatives
- The House is responsible for initiating the process of impeachment in the United States.
- The House votes on the articles of impeachment (why the official is being tried) and if a majority of people vote on an article, the official is impeached it is then handed off to the Senate to be tried.
- In other words, the impeachment process in the House can be considered as the confirmation that the official has done something wrong.
DEALING WITH IMPEACHMENT
The Senate
- In the Senate, a member of the House accuses the official of their wrongdoing. The official in question and their lawyers provide their defense.
- The Senate conducts the trial and decides on the conviction.
- A 2/3 majority must vote against the defense in order for the official to be kicked from office.
- If the president or vice president is being impeached, then the chief justice of the Supreme Court presides.
WHAT'S THE POINT?
- If 2/3 of the Senate vote to impeach Trump, he may not be able to run for office in the future.
- This conviction would also hurt his reputation.
- Trump could lose some benefits including lifetime pension and an annual travel budget and other benefits under the Former Presidents Act.
- There is also a chance, if Congress amends the law, that he could lose the Secret Service.
What Do Others Think?
Credits:
Created with images by jensjunge - "capitol building architecture" • bones64 - "congress architecture building"