The United States House of Representatives has voted to impeach President Donald Trump (R). The House cast votes this evening on two proposed articles of impeachment that were referred by the House Judiciary Committee late last week.
The first article, which alleges abuse of power, passed by a 230-197-1 vote. The vote was largely along party lines. All but three House Democrats and one independent voted to impeach. Of the three Democrats not supporting impeachment, two voted against and one voted “present.” All Republicans voted against.
The second article, which alleges obstruction of Congress, passed by a 229-198-1 vote. This, too, was largely along party lines. All but four House Democrats and one independent voted to impeach. Of the four Democrats not supporting impeachment, three voted against and one voted “present.” Again, all Republicans voted against.
Only two previous presidents have been impeached—President Andrew Johnson (D) in 1868 and President Bill Clinton (D) in 1998. Both were acquitted in Senate trials, and no president has ever been removed from office. Articles of impeachment against President Richard Nixon (R) passed the House Judiciary Committee in 1974 but Nixon resigned before they could be considered by the full House.
The U.S. Senate must now hold an impeachment trial, which would be presided over by U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts. It would require a vote by a two-thirds super-majority of Senators to convict and remove the president from office.