Headlines
Trump to serve out tenure despite hasty impeachment by House
BY NICHOLAS ABE
The United States House on Wednesday voted to impeach President Trump for the second time – making him the only US president to ever be impeached twice.
The resolution passed 232 to 197. Ten Republicans joined their Democratic party colleagues to impeach the president, charged with a single article of “incitement of insurrection” for his role in last week’s violent Capitol riot.
However, notwithstanding the hasty impeachment, Trump is most certain to serve out his tenure, ending January 20, 2021, when President-elect Joe Biden will be sworn in as the 46th President of the United States of America.
This is because the Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has made clear in a statement to fellow senators that President Trump’s impeachment trial would not start until after January 19.
McConnell said in the statement that he believes “it will best serve our nation if Congress and the executive branch spend the next seven days completely focused on facilitating a safe inauguration and an orderly transfer of power to the incoming Biden Administration.”
McConnell’s statement reads: “The House of Representatives has voted to impeach the President. The Senate process will now begin at our first regular meeting following receipt of the article from the House.
READ: US state AGs urge Senate to reject Trump’s impeachment
“Given the rules, procedures, and Senate precedents that govern presidential impeachment trials, there is simply no chance that a fair or serious trial could conclude before President-elect Biden is sworn in next week. The Senate has held three presidential impeachment trials. They have lasted 83 days, 37 days, and 21 days respectively.
“Even if the Senate process were to begin this week and move promptly, no final verdict would be reached until after President Trump had left office. This is not a decision I am making; it is a fact. The President-elect himself stated last week that his inauguration on January 20 is the ‘quickest’ path for any change in the occupant of the presidency.
“In light of this reality, I believe it will best serve our nation if Congress and the executive branch spend the next seven days completely focused on facilitating a safe inauguration and an orderly transfer of power to the incoming Biden Administration. I am grateful to the offices and institutions within the Capitol that are working around the clock, alongside federal and local law enforcement, to prepare for a safe and successful inauguration at the Capitol next Wednesday.”
The Senate acquitted Trump in February 2020 on both articles of impeachment last time, with Senator Mitt Romney being the only Republican to break with his party.
– Additional Report by CNN