Impeached but impregnable: Why Trump will never be removed
Donald Trump has become the third US President in history to become impeached. The first two Presidents to be impeached were Andrew Johnson and Bill Clinton.
The US House of Representatives voted in favour of two articles of impeachment after more than 10 hours of gruelling debate.
Three Democrats defected to vote against impeachment while one Democrat voted present.
The first article of impeachment, which was an abuse of power for allegedly pressuring the Ukrainian PResident to investigate the Bidens, passed 230 -197.
The second article of impeachment, which was an obstruction of Congress for allegedly stonewalling its investigation, passed 229 - 198.
Trump has made his feelings known in a public rally after the successful bid.
He told the cheering crowd in Michigan that it “doesn’t really feel like we’re being impeached”.
“The country is doing better than ever before,” he said to thunderous applause.
“We did nothing wrong and we have tremendous support in the Republican Party, like we’ve never had before.”
The President went on to accuse the Democrats of “cheapening the impeachment process”, saying it’s “exactly what our Founding Fathers didn’t want”.
“But I know one thing,” he added. “Americans will show up by the tens of millions next year to vote Pelosi the hell out of office.”
House speaker Nancy Pelosi opened the gruelling 10 hour long debate by saying that Trump had left the Democrats with “no choice” but to proceed with impeachment.
“If we do not act now, we would be derelict in our duty,” Ms Pelosi said. “It is tragic that the President’s reckless actions make impeachment necessary.”
Trump tweeted about how “nothing happened” after that trial.
Despite the impeachment, it doesn't necessarily means he will be removed from office as the Senate has to convict him with a two-thirds majority. This is currently a tall order as the Senate is in Republican hands.
There will be a trial over which Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts will preside.