First modification:
The United States Senate already has the indictment against former Republican President Donald Trump, which will lead him to face a second impeachment process as of January 8. The Democratic majority House of Representatives accuses Trump of “inciting insurrection” during the assault on the Capitol on January 6.
The House of Representatives, with a Democratic majority, handed over to the US Senate the charge of “inciting an insurrection”, the crime of which former President Donald Trump is accused. Thus begins the second political trial against the Republican, which could end with a lifetime disqualification that blocks his future presidential aspirations.
Nine House Democrats, who will serve as prosecutors at the trial, accompanied the House Clerk and Acting Sergeant-at-Arms during the delivery of the indictment to the Senate. The 100 senators will participate as a jury in the process.
Trump faces a second impeachment process, something unusual in American history, for allegedly having caused the violent seizure of the Capitol on January 6, which ended with five people dead.
The House of Representatives voted overwhelmingly in favor of prosecuting the former president on January 13, with the support of all Democrats and ten Republicans who joined this cause.
However, the Senate is divided, with 50 Democrats and 50 Republicans. To convict Trump, a two-thirds majority of the chamber is needed, which translates to 17 Republicans voting with the Democratic caucus.
After the step that the House of Representatives took today, the Senate will begin the impeachment trial in the week of January 8, after a two-week pause that was reached after an agreement between Democrats and Republicans so that both parties have time to get prepared.
Chuck Schumer, leader of the Democratic majority in the Senate, reported that Trump “would receive a speedy but fair trial. It won’t take long because we have a lot more to do, ”Schumer told reporters on January 24.
Controversy over the appointment of Patrick Leahy as president of the trial
Patrick Leahy, currently acting president of the Senate as the senior official, announced that he would be the president of the trial, generating adverse reactions in the Republican ranks.
When presiding over an impeachment trial, the president pro tempore takes a special oath to do impartial justice according to the Constitution & the laws. It is an oath that I take extraordinarily seriously. My comment here on presiding over Pres. Trump’s impeachment trial: pic.twitter.com/Y93RedVb8w
– Sen. Patrick Leahy (@SenatorLeahy) January 25, 2021
Under the US Constitution, it is the responsibility of the Chief Justice to direct presidential political trials. However, “this figure could be exercised by a senator, when the accused is not the current president,” a source told the Reuters news agency.
John Roberts, presided over the impeachment held in February 2020 when Republicans had a majority within the Senate. Back then, Democrats in the lower house voted to impeach Trump on charges of abuse of power and obstruction of Congress in an investigation.
For some Republicans, Leahy’s presence as a judge could present a conflict of interest since he voted in favor of Trump’s impeachment during the trial between the end of 2019 and February 2020.
“Without precedent, it has never happened in the entire history of the United States. So there is no Senate rule, or constitutional provision authorizing it. How does a senator preside as a judge, who also acts as a jury? ”Said Republican Senator John Cornyn.
Unprecedented; never happened in all of American history. So there isn’t a Senate rule or constitutional provision authorizing this. How does a Senator preside, like a judge, and serve as juror too? #conflictofinterest https://t.co/CBGGzE2FDC
– Senator John Cornyn (@JohnCornyn) January 25, 2021
How Republicans are facing this second impeachment against Trump
This second impeachment trial is presented in different conditions than the one that took place at the end of 2019. Now, Trump will find a Senate where Democrats and Republicans have the same number of seats (50 per side) whose majority is on the Democratic side thanks to the tie-breaking vote for Vice President Kamala Harris.
In addition, to pass a sentence against Trump, two thirds of the votes of the Senate must be gathered, that is, 67 senators.
On the other hand, the trial has generated internal divisions within the Republican Party. For some, such as Marco Rubio, the process “is stupid and counterproductive” while others, such as Mitch McConnell, have directly blamed Trump for what happened on Capitol Hill.
Should he be found guilty, an impeachment trial would end with the removal of a sitting president. In Trump’s case, he could be barred from public office and lose some benefits as a former president.
With Reuters and AP
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source https://pledgetimes.com/house-of-representatives-brings-impeachment-charges-against-trump-to-senate/
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