Donald Trump impeached as House of Representatives passes historic votes

Donald Trump has become only the third US president in US history to be impeached.

The move in the House of Representatives means the US leader, who was holding a rally at the time of the votes, will now face a Senate trial next month.

Members of the Democratic-led House debated two articles of impeachment against the president all day before voting to approve them both on Wednesday night.

They approved the first charge, of abuse of power, with 229 votes for to 197 against. The second article, of obstruction of Congress, was later passed by 229 to 198 votes.

Donald Trump hosts a rally as the House voted on impeachment charges against him
Getty Images

The articles centre on whether the 45th president withheld military aid from Ukraine in exchange for an investigation into a political rival.

As the voting took place the president was addressing a campaign rally in Battle Creek, Michigan.

Defiant in the face of the historic rebuke, Mr Trump rallied supporters in Michigan as the House voted to impeach him. He declared: "It doesn't really feel like we're being impeached."

He took time to praise "the miracle of Christmas, the greatness of America and the glory of God," even as he slammed Democrats, accusing the "radical left in Congress" of being "consumed with envy and hate and rage."

Aides had said Mr Trump would wait to see the House vote before coming out to address the rally, but he appeared onstage early and promised "the best speech you've ever heard" in a swing state that narrowly voted for him in 2016.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi announces the passage of the first article of impeachment
AP

The historic vote split along party lines, much the way it has divided the nation.

The articles of impeachment, the political equivalent of an indictment, now go to the Senate for trial. If Mr Trump is acquitted by the Republican-led chamber, as expected, he would have to run for re-election carrying the enduring mark of impeachment on his purposely disruptive presidency.

As Democrats led the voting Republicans stood beside the party's president who branded the whole affair a "witch hunt," a "hoax" and a "sham," and sometimes all three.

President Donald Trump reacts during a campaign rally in Battle Creek
REUTERS

Mr Trump began the day by tweeting his anger at the proceedings. As the House debated the articles of impeachment, Mr Trump's tweets switched to all capital letters: "SUCH ATROCIOUS LIES BY THE RADICAL LEFT, DO NOTHING DEMOCRATS. THIS IS AN ASSAULT ON AMERICA, AND AN ASSAULT ON THE REPUBLICAN PARTY!!!!" he wrote.

Impeachment sends the matter to the Senate for a trial, where a two-thirds vote is necessary for conviction.

While Democrats have the majority in the House, Republicans control the Senate and expect to acquit the president of the charges in the new year ahead of early state presidential primary voting.

"Today we are here to defend democracy for the people," Speaker Nancy Pelosi said as she opened debate.

"President Trump used the powers of the Presidency in a manner that compromised the national security of the United States and undermined the integrity of the United States democratic process," according to the impeachment resolution.

The president "betrayed the nation by abusing his high office to enlist a foreign power in corrupting democratic elections," it said, and then he obstructed Congress' oversight like "no president"' in US history.

"President Trump, by such conduct, has demonstrated that he will remain a threat to national security and the Constitution if allowed to remain in office," it said.

Democrats drew from history, the founders and their own experiences as minorities, women and some immigrants to the US, seeking to honour their oath of office to uphold the constitution.

Representative Lou Correa spoke in Spanish asking God to unite the nation. "In America," said Representative Hakeem Jeffries, "no one is above the law."

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