House of Representatives formalises impeachment inquiry
Democrat-controlled House of Representative votes to advance the impeachment inquiry.
The Democrat-controlled House of Representative has voted to formally advance the impeachment inquiry, laying bare the stark partisan divide over the looming impeachment of Donald Trump.
The vote lays out the guidelines for the impeachment process, increasing the prospect that the house will impeach the president, possibly before the end of the year.
The 232-196 vote was almost entirely along party lines with just two democrats voting against the bill, both from Republican-leaning districts. No Republicans supported the bill.
The resolution sets out a road map for the impeachment inquiry and will make the impeachment process more public.
Democrats had initially argued that there was no need to formalise the impeachment inquiry but chose to do so to try to counter Republican claims that the process was a secretive sham.
Democrats House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said the move was “not cause for any glee or comfort” but she accused Republicans of trying to hide the truth about Mr Trump’s actions.
“I don’t know why Republicans are afraid of the truth,” she said.
“Every member should support the American people hearing the facts for themselves. That is what this vote is about. It’s about the truth. And what is at stake in all of this is nothing less than our democracy.”
But Republicans and the White House hit back, with the White House accusing Democrats of an “unhinged obsession with this illegitimate impeachment proceeding.”
“The Democrats are choosing every day to waste time on a sham impeachment — a blatantly partisan attempt to destroy the President,” press secretary Stephanie Grisham said.
Mr Trump tweeted: “The Greatest Witch Hunt in American History!”
The Greatest Witch Hunt In American History!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 31, 2019
Republican House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy said the vote was “a disaster for democracy.”
“Democrats are trying to impeach the president because they are scared they can’t defeat him at the ballot box,” he said.
“To my colleagues on the other side, I say this: Give the people back their power. Let them choose the next leader of the free world. Follow the principles of our Constitution. And do not dilute our democracy by interfering in elections from Washington.”
Mr. Trump’s campaign manager, Brad Parscale, said voters “will punish Democrats who support this farce and President Trump will be easily re-elected.”
White House press secretary Stephanie Grisham accused Ms Pelosi and the Democrats of an “unhinged obsession with this illegitimate impeachment proceeding.”
The investigation is focused on Mr Trump’s efforts to push Ukraine to investigate his Democrat rival Joe Biden and Mr Biden’s son Hunter, by allegedly withholding military aid and an Oval Office meeting requested by the country’s new president.
Democrats said the procedures - which give them the ability to curb the president’s lawyers from calling witnesses - are similar to rules used during the impeachment proceedings of Presidents Richard Nixon and Bill Clinton. Republicans complained they were skewed against Mr Trump.
It is likely to take weeks or more before the House decides whether to vote on actually impeaching the president.
If the House does vote for impeachment, the Senate would hold a trial to decide whether to remove the president from office. Both parties’ leaders were rounding up votes as Thursday’s roll call approached, with each side eager to come as close to unanimity as possible. Republicans said a solid GOP “no” vote would signal to the Senate that the Democratic push was a partisan crusade against a president they have never liked. Democrats were also hoping to demonstrate solidarity from their most liberal elements to their most moderate members. They argued that GOP cohesion against the measure would show that Republicans were blindly defending Trump, whatever facts emerge.
Democrats hope Thursday’s vote will undercut GOP assertions that the process has been invalid because the chamber hadn’t formally voted to start the proceedings. They note there is no constitutional provision or House rule requiring such a vote.
The rules lay out how the House Intelligence Committee - now leading the investigation by deposing diplomats and other officials behind closed doors - would transition to public hearings.
That panel would issue a report and release transcripts of the closed-door interviews it has been conducting.
The Judiciary Committee would then decide whether to recommend that the House impeach Trump.
Republicans could only issue subpoenas for witnesses to appear if the committees holding the hearings approve them - in effect giving Democrats veto power.
With AP
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