Breaking news impeachment

Here are the latest updates on the impeachment inquiry and trial:

Latest Developments:

• The House of Representatives has voted to impeach President Donald Trump on charges of abuse of power and obstruction of Congress. The vote was largely along party lines, with 230 Democrats voting in favor of the first article of impeachment and 197 Republicans voting against it. The second article of impeachment, obstruction of Congress, passed with 229 Democratic votes and 198 Republican votes against it.
• The impeachment inquiry was sparked by a whistleblower complaint that alleged Trump had pressured Ukraine to investigate his political rival, Joe Biden, and his son Hunter Biden, in exchange for military aid and a White House meeting.
• The House Judiciary Committee has approved two articles of impeachment against Trump, charging him with abuse of power and obstruction of Congress.
• The full House of Representatives is expected to vote on the articles of impeachment in the coming days.
• The Senate is expected to hold a trial on the impeachment charges, with Chief Justice John Roberts presiding. The trial is expected to begin in January.

Key Quotes:

• "The President's actions have seriously violated the Constitution, and he must be held accountable," said House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.
• "This is a witch hunt, and it's a sham," said Trump.
• "The President's conduct is a threat to our democracy, and it's our duty to hold him accountable," said House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff.

What's Next:

• The House of Representatives will vote on the articles of impeachment in the coming days.
• The Senate will hold a trial on the impeachment charges, with Chief Justice John Roberts presiding.
• The trial is expected to begin in January and could last several weeks.
• If the Senate votes to convict Trump, he would be removed from office and Vice President Mike Pence would assume the presidency.

Background:

• The impeachment inquiry was sparked by a whistleblower complaint that alleged Trump had pressured Ukraine to investigate his political rival, Joe Biden, and his son Hunter Biden, in exchange for military aid and a White House meeting.
• The complaint was filed by a CIA officer who was concerned about Trump's actions and believed they were a threat to national security.
• The House Intelligence Committee held public hearings in November to gather evidence and hear testimony from witnesses, including Trump's former national security adviser, John Bolton, and his former ambassador to Ukraine, Marie Yovanovitch.
• The committee also obtained documents and emails that showed Trump's efforts to pressure Ukraine to investigate Biden and his son.

Reactions:

• Democrats have largely supported the impeachment inquiry and have accused Trump of abusing his power and obstructing Congress.
• Republicans have largely opposed the impeachment inquiry and have accused Democrats of trying to overturn the 2016 election.
• Some Republicans have expressed concerns about Trump's actions, but have stopped short of supporting impeachment.
• The public has been divided on the issue, with some supporting Trump and others calling for his removal from office.