KEY POINTS

  • House debates articles of impeachment charging Trump with abuse of power and obstructing Congress
  • It is only the fourth time in U.S. history a president has faced indictment by the House
  • The vote is expected to split along party lines

Update: 12:55 p.m. EST

President Trump Wednesday tweeted the impeachmen debate was filled with "atrocious lies" as lawmakers debated two articles of impeachment. He called the impeachment process an "assault on America and an assault on the Republican party!"

Original story:

The U.S. House debated whether to impeach President Donald Trump on Wednesday for only the third time in history such action has been taken.

The House Judiciary Committee approved two articles of impeachment last week, accusing Trump of abuse of the power of his office for personal gain and then blocking Congress from investigating his conduct.

Before the six-hour debate began, House Minority Whip Steve Scalise, R-La., called the impeachment process a "stain on Speaker [Nancy] Pelosi's legacy." He noted in the past, impeachment proceedings started with an actual crime and bipartisan support, something lacking in the current process. The articles against Trump charge no statutory violations.

You can watch the live debate below:

Trump is accused of pressuring Ukraine into investigating former Vice President Joe Biden and a debunked conspiracy theory promoted by Moscow that Ukraine, not Russia, interfered in the 2016 U.S. presidential election.

House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., said Pelosi is wasting her majority and accused Democrats of moving forward with no facts.

Protesters rallied across the country Tuesday night in favor of impeachment, with demonstrators in New England chanting, "Dump Trump," and those in Florida carrying signs reading, "Impeach Putin's Puppet." In Kansas, protesters repeated, "Country over party."

At the close of debate, lawmakers were expected to vote along party lines to impeach Trump. The process then moves to the Senate where Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., has said he would move the trial along swiftly.
Trump is not expected to be removed from office.

Trump sent a six-page letter to Pelosi Tuesday railing against the impeachment process and warning Democrats they would pay a high price come 2020.

Only two other presidents have been impeached: Bill Clinton and Andrew Johnson. Richard Nixon resigned before a formal vote could be taken.

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