It has finally begun: the impeachment trial of President Donald Trump.
Seven House impeachment managers marched the articles across the Capitol to the Senate just after noon in Washington, and Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA) stood before the assembled senators to read them.
“Resolved,” Schiff read, “that Donald J. Trump, President of the United States is impeached for high crimes and misdemeanors and that the following articles of impeachment be exhibited to the United States Senate.”
Article I: Abuse of Power.
“In his conduct of the office of President of the United States — and in violation of his constitutional oath faithfully to execute the office … to the best of his ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States,” Schiff read, “and in violation of his constitutional duty to take care that the laws be faithfully executed — Donald J. Trump has abused the powers of the Presidency….”
Schiff went on to read the accusation that Trump “solicited the interference of a foreign government, Ukraine,” in the 2020 U.S. presidential election.
“He did so through a sceme or course of conduct that including soliciting the government of Ukraine to publicly announce investigations that would benefit his re-election” and influence the election to his advantage.
“President Trump also sought to pressure the government of Ukraine to take these steps by conditioning official [U.S. government] acts of significant value to Ukraine on its public announcement of the investigations … for corrupt purposes in pursuit of personal political benefit,” Schiff read.
This, Article I states, “compromised the national security of the United States and undermined the integrity of the United States democratic process.”
Article II: Obstruction of Congress.
In his conduct of the office of the presidency, Schiff read, Trump violated “his constitutional duty to take care that the laws be faithfully executed” by directing “the unprecedented, categorical, and indiscriminate defiance of subpoenas issued by the House of Representatives….”
In doing so, Trump “assumed to himself functions and judgments necessary to the exercise of the sole power of impeachment vested by the Constitution in the House of Representatives,” Schiff read.
He concluded: “Wherefore, President Trump, by such conduct, has demonstrated that he will remain a threat to the Constitution if allowed to remain in office, and has acted in a manner grossly incompatible with self-governance and the rule of law, President Trump thus warrants impeachment and trial, removal from office, and disqualification to hold and enjoy any office of honor trust or profit under the United States.”
Wednesday afternoon, the senators were to be sworn in by Chief Justic John Robert as jurors in the impeachment trial, which Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said will begin “in earnest” on Tuesday.
