Impeachment of Donald Trump
Background
The impeachment of Donald Trump, the 45th President of the United States, occurred in two instances during his presidency. The first impeachment occurred in December 2019, while the second took place in January 2021. Both instances were initiated by the House of Representatives.
First Impeachment
The first impeachment proceedings against Donald Trump began in September 2019, following a whistleblower's allegations that Trump had solicited foreign interference in the 2020 U.S. presidential election. The whistleblower claimed that Trump had pressured the president of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky, to investigate Joe Biden, a potential political rival in the upcoming election.
Charges and Proceedings
On December 10, 2019, the House Judiciary Committee unveiled the charges against Trump: abuse of power and obstruction of Congress. The charges stemmed from allegations that Trump had solicited Ukraine to interfere in the 2020 U.S. election, and that he had obstructed Congress by refusing to cooperate with the impeachment inquiry.
The House of Representatives voted on December 18, 2019, to impeach Trump on both charges. The vote made Trump the third U.S. president to be impeached.
Senate Trial and Acquittal
The impeachment case was forwarded to the Senate for trial. The trial began on January 16, 2020, and ended on February 5, 2020, with the Senate voting to acquit Trump on both charges.
Second Impeachment
The second impeachment of Donald Trump was initiated following the storming of the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021. Trump was accused of inciting an insurrection against the U.S. government.
Charges and Proceedings
On January 13, 2021, the House of Representatives voted to impeach Trump on the charge of incitement of insurrection. The vote made Trump the first U.S. president to be impeached twice.
Senate Trial and Acquittal
The impeachment case was forwarded to the Senate for trial. The trial began on February 9, 2021, and ended on February 13, 2021, with the Senate voting to acquit Trump.
Impact and Legacy
The impeachments of Donald Trump have had a significant impact on American politics and society. They have sparked debates about the limits of presidential power, the role of Congress in holding the president accountable, and the state of American democracy.