Us comes down hard on trump with impeachment talks
You're referring to the impeachment inquiry and subsequent impeachment of President Donald Trump by the United States House of Representatives in 2019-2020. Here's a brief summary:
Impeachment Inquiry (September 2019 - December 2019)
The impeachment inquiry was launched by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) in response to a whistleblower complaint filed by a CIA officer, which alleged that President Trump had pressured Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to investigate former Vice President Joe Biden and his son Hunter Biden. The complaint also alleged that Trump had withheld military aid to Ukraine in an effort to influence the investigation.
The inquiry was led by the House Intelligence Committee, which held public hearings and gathered evidence from witnesses, including current and former government officials. The committee's report concluded that Trump had engaged in "serious misconduct" and that his actions had "undermined the integrity of the United States' democratic processes."
Articles of Impeachment (December 2019)
On December 18, 2019, the House Judiciary Committee voted to approve two articles of impeachment against President Trump:
- Abuse of Power: The first article accused Trump of abusing his power by using his office to pressure Ukraine to investigate Biden and his son, while withholding military aid to Ukraine.
- Obstruction of Congress: The second article accused Trump of obstructing Congress by refusing to comply with subpoenas and refusing to allow his administration officials to testify before the House Intelligence Committee.
Impeachment Vote (December 2019)
On December 19, 2019, the full House of Representatives voted on the articles of impeachment. The vote was largely along party lines, with 230 Democrats voting in favor of the first article and 197 Republicans voting against. The vote on the second article was similar, with 229 Democrats voting in favor and 198 Republicans voting against.
Acquittal in the Senate (February 2020)
The impeachment trial in the Senate began on January 16, 2020, and concluded on February 5, 2020. The trial was presided over by Chief Justice John Roberts, and Senators acted as jurors. On February 5, the Senate voted to acquit President Trump on both articles of impeachment, with 52 Republicans voting to acquit and 48 Democrats voting to convict.
Aftermath
The impeachment inquiry and trial had significant political and legal implications. Many Democrats argued that Trump's actions had undermined the integrity of the presidency and the rule of law, while Republicans argued that the impeachment process was a political witch hunt. The impeachment inquiry also led to increased scrutiny of Trump's dealings with foreign leaders and his administration's handling of government funds.
In the end, President Trump was acquitted by the Senate and remained in office until the end of his term in January 2021.