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Democrats in the House of Representatives have introduced a resolution containing a single impeachment article against Donald Trump, accusing him of “incitement to insurrection” for his role in the attack on the United States Capitol last week.
It sets a course in motion that will likely result in a second impeachment for Trump, making him the first U.S. president to be indicted twice.
The impeachment is a mechanism by which Congress can remove a sitting president. Before Donald Trump, only two American presidents had been charged.
Democrats are demanding that the president be removed from office after he incited a violent mob to attack the US Capitol on January 6.
The resolution noted that Trump addressed a rally shortly before his supporters mounted the attack and says he made statements that “encouraged and predictably resulted in” the illegal actions on Capitol Hill.
When addressing his supporters on January 6, Trump told the crowd to march on Congress and “fight like hell” in his attempt to reverse his electoral loss to Joe Biden.
Trump was indicted in 2020 on accusations that he abused his power by withholding aid to Ukraine in hopes that its leader would investigate Joe Biden, his political rival. He was indicted by the House of Representatives but acquitted by the Senate.
American Democrats could delay an impeachment trial until after Joe Biden’s first 100 days in office, a senior official said, freeing the incoming president to follow his initial agenda.
House Majority Leader James Clyburn said the House would deal with articles of impeachment against Trump this week, but would likely not send them to the Senate for several months.
This is how impeachment works.
What is the accusation?
The impeachment is the process by which Congress puts certain officials, namely the president, on trial.
The United States Constitution establishes a wide range of crimes that can lead to impeachment: “Treason, bribery, or other serious crimes and misdemeanors.”
What would it mean for Donald Trump?
If the 45th President is successfully impeached, he could be barred from running for or serving in public office. This would end any possible conversation about a comeback in 2024.
The US Senate has the power to prevent Trump from doing so, and a vote on this should only pass by a simple majority. There is a precedent for the Senate to prevent public officials from seeking charges after impeachment. Justices Robert Archbald (in 1913) and West H Humphreys (in 1862) were barred from running for public office after impeachment, though this fate has never happened to a president before.
A vote on this could only take place after an impeachment vote.
Outside of this, if Trump were indicted, he would also lose access to a host of public benefits to which he would otherwise be entitled.
Under the Former Presidents Act of 1958, he would be denied his $ 200,000 annual pension, a $ 1 million annual travel stipend, and additional funds for his personal future. However, thanks to an order signed by his predecessor, Barack Obama, Trump will still be guaranteed his secret service for life.
If Trump tries to forgive himself before leaving office, something no president has tried before, the situation would get significantly murkier.
How does it work and how many votes are needed?
The impeachment does not necessarily mean that a president is removed from office. It proceeds like a bill that passes through the legislature.
First, a majority in the House of Representatives (218 of 435 members) must pass previously approved articles of impeachment in committee.
Democrats have a majority in the House of Representatives; 233 to 195 (five vacant posts and one independent).
When Trump was impeached in 2020, articles of impeachment passed easily in the House.
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