Impeachment of Donald Trump, 2019-2020
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Donald Trump was impeached twice. This page covers the first impeachment. Click here for information on the second impeachment, which took place in 2021.
On February 5, 2020, President Donald Trump (R) was acquitted of abuse of power by a vote of 52-48 and obstruction of Congress by a vote of 53-47.[1]
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) first announced the House would pursue an inquiry into Trump on September 24, 2019, following allegations that Trump requested the Ukrainian government investigate former Vice President Joe Biden (D) and his son, Hunter Biden, in exchange for aid.[2]
Trump denied the allegations and called the inquiry "the worst witch hunt in political history."[3][4]
Following weeks of public hearings, the House voted to impeach Trump on December 18, 2019, charging him with abuse of power by a vote of 230-197 and obstruction of Congress by a vote of 229-198.[5] For a breakdown of the U.S. House votes by representative and party, click here.[6]
The trial began on January 16, 2020, after seven impeachment managers from the U.S. House of Representatives presented the two articles of impeachment to the U.S. Senate.
Sen. Mitt Romney (R-Utah) was the only Republican to vote guilty on the abuse of power charge, becoming the first senator in U.S. history to vote to convict a president from his own party in an impeachment trial. The vote on obstruction of Congress ran along party lines.[1]
For an overview and timeline of the impeachment trial proceedings, click here.
This page contains an overview of the following topics:
- Overview of the impeachment and trial process;
- Overview of trial proceedings in the U.S. Senate;
- Procedures for the impeachment inquiry in the U.S. House;
- An overview of the House Intelligence Committee and minority reports;
- Summary of the articles of impeachment;
- A timeline of witnesses, opening statements, and videos from hearings in the U.S. House;
- Public opinion over time;
- A list of additional resources to understand the impeachment process; and
- Historical background on previous impeachments.
Overview of impeachment
- See also: Impeachment of federal officials
The United States Congress has the constitutional authority to impeach and remove a federal official from office—including the president—if he or she has committed an impeachable offense. Impeaching and removing an official has two stages. First, articles of impeachment against the official must be passed by a majority vote of the U.S. House of Representatives. Then, a trial is conducted in the United States Senate potentially leading to the conviction and removal of the official.[7]
In most impeachment trials, the vice president presides over the trial. However, in impeachment trials of the president, the chief justice of the U.S. Supreme Court presides. In order to remove the person from office, two-thirds of senators that are present to vote must vote to convict on the articles of impeachment.[7]
Process for impeachment and conviction
The following two charts show the process for impeachment, which begins in the U.S. House with the introduction of an impeachment resolution and a committee inquiry conducted by the United States House Committee on the Judiciary. If the committee adopts articles of impeachment against the official, the articles will go to a full floor vote in the U.S. House.
When articles of impeachment are adopted by the U.S. House, the process moves to the U.S. Senate where senators will either acquit or convict the official following a trial.
Trial in U.S. Senate
Impeachment managers
The House delivered two impeachment articles to the Senate on January 15, 2020. The following seven representatives were named impeachment managers on the same day:[8][9]
- Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), chairman of the House Intelligence Committee
- Rep. Jerry Nadler (D-N.Y.), chairman of the House Judiciary Committee
- Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D-Calif.), member of the House Judiciary Committee
- Rep. Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.), chairman of the House Democratic Caucus
- Rep. Val Demings (D-Fla.), member of the House Judiciary and Intelligence committees
- Rep. Jason Crow (D-Colo.)
- Rep. Sylvia Garcia (D-Texas)
Trump's defense attorneys
The following attorneys are members of Trump's defense team:[10]
- Pat Cipollone, White House counsel
- Jay Sekulow, chief counsel for the American Center for Law and Justice,
- Alan Dershowitz, Harvard Law School professor
- Kenneth Starr, former independent counsel
- Robert Ray, former independent counsel
- Mike Purpura, deputy White House counsel
- Patrick Philbin, deputy White House counsel
- Pam Bondi, former Florida attorney general
Trial procedure
Chief Justice John Roberts was sworn in as the presiding officer of the trial on January 16, 2020. Ninety-nine U.S. senators—Sen. James Inhofe (R-Okla.) was not present—were also sworn in.[11] Inhofe was later sworn in on January 21, 2020, when the trial proceedings continued.[12]
On January 22, 2020, the Senate adopted trial rules by a party-line vote of 53-47.[13]
Trial timeline
This list provides a timeline of the trial proceedings, a link to a recording of each session, and brief summary of the session's activity.
- January 16, 2020: Chief Justice John Roberts and the U.S. senators were sworn in as the presiding officer and jurors.
- January 21, 2020: The House impeachment managers and the president's attorneys debated the proposed rules for the trial.
- January 22, 2020: The House impeachment managers delivered opening arguments in the trial.
- January 23, 2020: The House impeachment managers continued to deliver opening arguments in the trial.
- January 24, 2020: The House impeachment managers continued to deliver opening arguments in the trial.
- January 25, 2020: The president's defense attorneys presented opening arguments in the trial.
- January 27, 2020: The president's defense attorneys continued to deliver opening arguments in the trial.
- January 28, 2020: The president's defense attorneys continued to deliver opening arguments in the trial.
- January 29, 2020: The president's defense attorneys and House impeachment managers responded to questions submitted by the senators.
- January 30, 2020: The president's defense attorneys and House impeachment managers responded to questions submitted by the senators.
- January 31, 2020: The Senate debated and rejected a motion to allow witnesses and documents to be subpoenaed.
- February 3, 2020: The House impeachment managers and president's defense attorneys gave closing arguments.
- February 5, 2020: The Senate voted to acquit the president on both charges.
U.S. Senate vote to acquit on charge of abuse of power
On February 5, 2020, the U.S. Senate voted to acquit Trump by a vote of 52 to 48.
- All 45 Democrats and two independents (Sens. Angus King and Bernie Sanders) voted guilty.
- 1 Republican (Sen. Mitt Romney) also voted guilty.
- The other 52 Republicans voted not guilty.
List of U.S. Senate votes on abuse of power, February 5, 2020 | |||
---|---|---|---|
Official | Party | State | Vote |
Doug Jones | ![]() |
Alabama | Guilty |
Richard Shelby | ![]() |
Alabama | Not guilty |
Daniel S. Sullivan | ![]() |
Alaska | Not guilty |
Lisa Murkowski | ![]() |
Alaska | Not guilty |
Kyrsten Sinema | ![]() |
Arizona | Guilty |
Martha McSally | ![]() |
Arizona | Not guilty |
Tom Cotton | ![]() |
Arkansas | Not guilty |
John Boozman | ![]() |
Arkansas | Not guilty |
Dianne Feinstein | ![]() |
California | Guilty |
Kamala D. Harris | ![]() |
California | Guilty |
Michael Bennet | ![]() |
Colorado | Guilty |
Cory Gardner | ![]() |
Colorado | Not guilty |
Christopher S. Murphy | ![]() |
Connecticut | Guilty |
Richard Blumenthal | ![]() |
Connecticut | Guilty |
Tom Carper | ![]() |
Delaware | Guilty |
Chris Coons | ![]() |
Delaware | Guilty |
Rick Scott | ![]() |
Florida | Not guilty |
Marco Rubio | ![]() |
Florida | Not guilty |
David Perdue | ![]() |
Georgia | Not guilty |
Kelly Loeffler | ![]() |
Georgia | Not guilty |
Brian E. Schatz | ![]() |
Hawaii | Guilty |
Mazie K. Hirono | ![]() |
Hawaii | Guilty |
Mike Crapo | ![]() |
Idaho | Not guilty |
Jim Risch | ![]() |
Idaho | Not guilty |
Tammy Duckworth | ![]() |
Illinois | Guilty |
Dick Durbin | ![]() |
Illinois | Guilty |
Mike Braun | ![]() |
Indiana | Not guilty |
Todd C. Young | ![]() |
Indiana | Not guilty |
Joni Ernst | ![]() |
Iowa | Not guilty |
Chuck Grassley | ![]() |
Iowa | Not guilty |
Jerry Moran | ![]() |
Kansas | Not guilty |
Pat Roberts | ![]() |
Kansas | Not guilty |
Mitch McConnell | ![]() |
Kentucky | Not guilty |
Rand Paul | ![]() |
Kentucky | Not guilty |
Bill Cassidy | ![]() |
Louisiana | Not guilty |
John Neely Kennedy | ![]() |
Louisiana | Not guilty |
Angus King | ![]() |
Maine | Guilty |
Susan Collins | ![]() |
Maine | Not guilty |
Chris Van Hollen | ![]() |
Maryland | Guilty |
Ben Cardin | ![]() |
Maryland | Guilty |
Elizabeth Warren | ![]() |
Massachusetts | Guilty |
Edward J. Markey | ![]() |
Massachusetts | Guilty |
Gary Peters | ![]() |
Michigan | Guilty |
Debbie Stabenow | ![]() |
Michigan | Guilty |
Tina Smith | ![]() |
Minnesota | Guilty |
Amy Klobuchar | ![]() |
Minnesota | Guilty |
Roger Wicker | ![]() |
Mississippi | Not guilty |
Cindy Hyde-Smith | ![]() |
Mississippi | Not guilty |
Roy Blunt | ![]() |
Missouri | Not guilty |
Josh Hawley | ![]() |
Missouri | Not guilty |
Jon Tester | ![]() |
Montana | Guilty |
Steve Daines | ![]() |
Montana | Not guilty |
Ben Sasse | ![]() |
Nebraska | Not guilty |
Deb Fischer | ![]() |
Nebraska | Not guilty |
Catherine Cortez Masto | ![]() |
Nevada | Guilty |
Jacky Rosen | ![]() |
Nevada | Guilty |
Maggie Hassan | ![]() |
New Hampshire | Guilty |
Jeanne Shaheen | ![]() |
New Hampshire | Guilty |
Bob Menendez | ![]() |
New Jersey | Guilty |
Cory Booker | ![]() |
New Jersey | Guilty |
Tom Udall | ![]() |
New Mexico | Guilty |
Martin Heinrich | ![]() |
New Mexico | Guilty |
Chuck Schumer | ![]() |
New York | Guilty |
Kirsten Gillibrand | ![]() |
New York | Guilty |
Richard Burr | ![]() |
North Carolina | Not guilty |
Thom Tillis | ![]() |
North Carolina | Not guilty |
John Hoeven | ![]() |
North Dakota | Not guilty |
Kevin Cramer | ![]() |
North Dakota | Not guilty |
Sherrod Brown | ![]() |
Ohio | Guilty |
Rob Portman | ![]() |
Ohio | Not guilty |
Jim Inhofe | ![]() |
Oklahoma | Not guilty |
James Lankford | ![]() |
Oklahoma | Not guilty |
Jeff Merkley | ![]() |
Oregon | Guilty |
Ron Wyden | ![]() |
Oregon | Guilty |
Bob Casey Jr. | ![]() |
Pennsylvania | Guilty |
Pat Toomey | ![]() |
Pennsylvania | Not guilty |
Sheldon Whitehouse | ![]() |
Rhode Island | Guilty |
Jack Reed | ![]() |
Rhode Island | Guilty |
Lindsey Graham | ![]() |
South Carolina | Not guilty |
Tim Scott | ![]() |
South Carolina | Not guilty |
John Thune | ![]() |
South Dakota | Not guilty |
Mike Rounds | ![]() |
South Dakota | Not guilty |
Lamar Alexander | ![]() |
Tennessee | Not guilty |
Marsha Blackburn | ![]() |
Tennessee | Not guilty |
Ted Cruz | ![]() |
Texas | Not guilty |
John Cornyn | ![]() |
Texas | Not guilty |
Mike Lee | ![]() |
Utah | Not guilty |
Mitt Romney | ![]() |
Utah | Guilty |
Patrick Leahy | ![]() |
Vermont | Guilty |
Bernie Sanders | ![]() |
Vermont | Guilty |
Tim Kaine | ![]() |
Virginia | Guilty |
Mark Warner | ![]() |
Virginia | Guilty |
Maria Cantwell | ![]() |
Washington | Guilty |
Patty Murray | ![]() |
Washington | Guilty |
Joe Manchin III | ![]() |
West Virginia | Guilty |
Shelley Moore Capito | ![]() |
West Virginia | Not guilty |
Tammy Baldwin | ![]() |
Wisconsin | Guilty |
Ronald Harold Johnson | ![]() |
Wisconsin | Not guilty |
John Barrasso | ![]() |
Wyoming | Not guilty |
Mike Enzi | ![]() |
Wyoming | Not guilty |
U.S. Senate vote to acquit on charge of obstruction of Congress
On February 5, 2020, the U.S. Senate voted to acquit Trump of obstruction of Congress by a vote of 53 to 47.
- All 45 Democrats and two independents (Sens. Angus King and Bernie Sanders) voted guilty.
- All 53 Republicans voted not guilty.
List of U.S. Senate votes on obstruction of Congress, February 5, 2020 | |||
---|---|---|---|
Official | Party | State | Vote |
Doug Jones | ![]() |
Alabama | Guilty |
Richard Shelby | ![]() |
Alabama | Not guilty |
Daniel S. Sullivan | ![]() |
Alaska | Not guilty |
Lisa Murkowski | ![]() |
Alaska | Not guilty |
Kyrsten Sinema | ![]() |
Arizona | Guilty |
Martha McSally | ![]() |
Arizona | Not guilty |
Tom Cotton | ![]() |
Arkansas | Not guilty |
John Boozman | ![]() |
Arkansas | Not guilty |
Dianne Feinstein | ![]() |
California | Guilty |
Kamala D. Harris | ![]() |
California | Guilty |
Michael Bennet | ![]() |
Colorado | Guilty |
Cory Gardner | ![]() |
Colorado | Not guilty |
Christopher S. Murphy | ![]() |
Connecticut | Guilty |
Richard Blumenthal | ![]() |
Connecticut | Guilty |
Tom Carper | ![]() |
Delaware | Guilty |
Chris Coons | ![]() |
Delaware | Guilty |
Rick Scott | ![]() |
Florida | Not guilty |
Marco Rubio | ![]() |
Florida | Not guilty |
David Perdue | ![]() |
Georgia | Not guilty |
Kelly Loeffler | ![]() |
Georgia | Not guilty |
Brian E. Schatz | ![]() |
Hawaii | Guilty |
Mazie K. Hirono | ![]() |
Hawaii | Guilty |
Mike Crapo | ![]() |
Idaho | Not guilty |
Jim Risch | ![]() |
Idaho | Not guilty |
Tammy Duckworth | ![]() |
Illinois | Guilty |
Dick Durbin | ![]() |
Illinois | Guilty |
Mike Braun | ![]() |
Indiana | Not guilty |
Todd C. Young | ![]() |
Indiana | Not guilty |
Joni Ernst | ![]() |
Iowa | Not guilty |
Chuck Grassley | ![]() |
Iowa | Not guilty |
Jerry Moran | ![]() |
Kansas | Not guilty |
Pat Roberts | ![]() |
Kansas | Not guilty |
Mitch McConnell | ![]() |
Kentucky | Not guilty |
Rand Paul | ![]() |
Kentucky | Not guilty |
Bill Cassidy | ![]() |
Louisiana | Not guilty |
John Neely Kennedy | ![]() |
Louisiana | Not guilty |
Angus King | ![]() |
Maine | Guilty |
Susan Collins | ![]() |
Maine | Not guilty |
Chris Van Hollen | ![]() |
Maryland | Guilty |
Ben Cardin | ![]() |
Maryland | Guilty |
Elizabeth Warren | ![]() |
Massachusetts | Guilty |
Edward J. Markey | ![]() |
Massachusetts | Guilty |
Gary Peters | ![]() |
Michigan | Guilty |
Debbie Stabenow | ![]() |
Michigan | Guilty |
Tina Smith | ![]() |
Minnesota | Guilty |
Amy Klobuchar | ![]() |
Minnesota | Guilty |
Roger Wicker | ![]() |
Mississippi | Not guilty |
Cindy Hyde-Smith | ![]() |
Mississippi | Not guilty |
Roy Blunt | ![]() |
Missouri | Not guilty |
Josh Hawley | ![]() |
Missouri | Not guilty |
Jon Tester | ![]() |
Montana | Guilty |
Steve Daines | ![]() |
Montana | Not guilty |
Ben Sasse | ![]() |
Nebraska | Not guilty |
Deb Fischer | ![]() |
Nebraska | Not guilty |
Catherine Cortez Masto | ![]() |
Nevada | Guilty |
Jacky Rosen | ![]() |
Nevada | Guilty |
Maggie Hassan | ![]() |
New Hampshire | Guilty |
Jeanne Shaheen | ![]() |
New Hampshire | Guilty |
Bob Menendez | ![]() |
New Jersey | Guilty |
Cory Booker | ![]() |
New Jersey | Guilty |
Tom Udall | ![]() |
New Mexico | Guilty |
Martin Heinrich | ![]() |
New Mexico | Guilty |
Chuck Schumer | ![]() |
New York | Guilty |
Kirsten Gillibrand | ![]() |
New York | Guilty |
Richard Burr | ![]() |
North Carolina | Not guilty |
Thom Tillis | ![]() |
North Carolina | Not guilty |
John Hoeven | ![]() |
North Dakota | Not guilty |
Kevin Cramer | ![]() |
North Dakota | Not guilty |
Sherrod Brown | ![]() |
Ohio | Guilty |
Rob Portman | ![]() |
Ohio | Not guilty |
Jim Inhofe | ![]() |
Oklahoma | Not guilty |
James Lankford | ![]() |
Oklahoma | Not guilty |
Jeff Merkley | ![]() |
Oregon | Guilty |
Ron Wyden | ![]() |
Oregon | Guilty |
Bob Casey Jr. | ![]() |
Pennsylvania | Guilty |
Pat Toomey | ![]() |
Pennsylvania | Not guilty |
Sheldon Whitehouse | ![]() |
Rhode Island | Guilty |
Jack Reed | ![]() |
Rhode Island | Guilty |
Lindsey Graham | ![]() |
South Carolina | Not guilty |
Tim Scott | ![]() |
South Carolina | Not guilty |
John Thune | ![]() |
South Dakota | Not guilty |
Mike Rounds | ![]() |
South Dakota | Not guilty |
Lamar Alexander | ![]() |
Tennessee | Not guilty |
Marsha Blackburn | ![]() |
Tennessee | Not guilty |
Ted Cruz | ![]() |
Texas | Not guilty |
John Cornyn | ![]() |
Texas | Not guilty |
Mike Lee | ![]() |
Utah | Not guilty |
Mitt Romney | ![]() |
Utah | Not guilty |
Patrick Leahy | ![]() |
Vermont | Guilty |
Bernie Sanders | ![]() |
Vermont | Guilty |
Tim Kaine | ![]() |
Virginia | Guilty |
Mark Warner | ![]() |
Virginia | Guilty |
Maria Cantwell | ![]() |
Washington | Guilty |
Patty Murray | ![]() |
Washington | Guilty |
Joe Manchin III | ![]() |
West Virginia | Guilty |
Shelley Moore Capito | ![]() |
West Virginia | Not guilty |
Tammy Baldwin | ![]() |
Wisconsin | Guilty |
Ronald Harold Johnson | ![]() |
Wisconsin | Not guilty |
John Barrasso | ![]() |
Wyoming | Not guilty |
Mike Enzi | ![]() |
Wyoming | Not guilty |
U.S. Senate vote on witnesses
On January 31, 2020, the U.S. Senate rejected a motion to allow witnesses and documents to be subpoenaed by a vote of 51 to 49.
- All 45 Democrats and two independents (Sens. Angus King and Bernie Sanders) voted yes.
- 2 Republicans (Sens. Susan Collins and Mitt Romney) also voted yes.
- The other 51 Republicans voted no.
List of U.S. Senate votes on motion to allow witnesses, January 31, 2020 | |||
---|---|---|---|
Official | Party | State | Vote |
Doug Jones | ![]() |
Alabama | ![]() |
Richard Shelby | ![]() |
Alabama | ![]() |
Daniel S. Sullivan | ![]() |
Alaska | ![]() |
Lisa Murkowski | ![]() |
Alaska | ![]() |
Kyrsten Sinema | ![]() |
Arizona | ![]() |
Martha McSally | ![]() |
Arizona | ![]() |
Tom Cotton | ![]() |
Arkansas | ![]() |
John Boozman | ![]() |
Arkansas | ![]() |
Dianne Feinstein | ![]() |
California | ![]() |
Kamala D. Harris | ![]() |
California | ![]() |
Michael Bennet | ![]() |
Colorado | ![]() |
Cory Gardner | ![]() |
Colorado | ![]() |
Christopher S. Murphy | ![]() |
Connecticut | ![]() |
Richard Blumenthal | ![]() |
Connecticut | ![]() |
Tom Carper | ![]() |
Delaware | ![]() |
Chris Coons | ![]() |
Delaware | ![]() |
Rick Scott | ![]() |
Florida | ![]() |
Marco Rubio | ![]() |
Florida | ![]() |
David Perdue | ![]() |
Georgia | ![]() |
Kelly Loeffler | ![]() |
Georgia | ![]() |
Brian E. Schatz | ![]() |
Hawaii | ![]() |
Mazie K. Hirono | ![]() |
Hawaii | ![]() |
Mike Crapo | ![]() |
Idaho | ![]() |
Jim Risch | ![]() |
Idaho | ![]() |
Tammy Duckworth | ![]() |
Illinois | ![]() |
Dick Durbin | ![]() |
Illinois | ![]() |
Mike Braun | ![]() |
Indiana | ![]() |
Todd C. Young | ![]() |
Indiana | ![]() |
Joni Ernst | ![]() |
Iowa | ![]() |
Chuck Grassley | ![]() |
Iowa | ![]() |
Jerry Moran | ![]() |
Kansas | ![]() |
Pat Roberts | ![]() |
Kansas | ![]() |
Mitch McConnell | ![]() |
Kentucky | ![]() |
Rand Paul | ![]() |
Kentucky | ![]() |
Bill Cassidy | ![]() |
Louisiana | ![]() |
John Neely Kennedy | ![]() |
Louisiana | ![]() |
Angus King | ![]() |
Maine | ![]() |
Susan Collins | ![]() |
Maine | ![]() |
Chris Van Hollen | ![]() |
Maryland | ![]() |
Ben Cardin | ![]() |
Maryland | ![]() |
Elizabeth Warren | ![]() |
Massachusetts | ![]() |
Edward J. Markey | ![]() |
Massachusetts | ![]() |
Gary Peters | ![]() |
Michigan | ![]() |
Debbie Stabenow | ![]() |
Michigan | ![]() |
Tina Smith | ![]() |
Minnesota | ![]() |
Amy Klobuchar | ![]() |
Minnesota | ![]() |
Roger Wicker | ![]() |
Mississippi | ![]() |
Cindy Hyde-Smith | ![]() |
Mississippi | ![]() |
Roy Blunt | ![]() |
Missouri | ![]() |
Josh Hawley | ![]() |
Missouri | ![]() |
Jon Tester | ![]() |
Montana | ![]() |
Steve Daines | ![]() |
Montana | ![]() |
Ben Sasse | ![]() |
Nebraska | ![]() |
Deb Fischer | ![]() |
Nebraska | ![]() |
Catherine Cortez Masto | ![]() |
Nevada | ![]() |
Jacky Rosen | ![]() |
Nevada | ![]() |
Maggie Hassan | ![]() |
New Hampshire | ![]() |
Jeanne Shaheen | ![]() |
New Hampshire | ![]() |
Bob Menendez | ![]() |
New Jersey | ![]() |
Cory Booker | ![]() |
New Jersey | ![]() |
Tom Udall | ![]() |
New Mexico | ![]() |
Martin Heinrich | ![]() |
New Mexico | ![]() |
Chuck Schumer | ![]() |
New York | ![]() |
Kirsten Gillibrand | ![]() |
New York | ![]() |
Richard Burr | ![]() |
North Carolina | ![]() |
Thom Tillis | ![]() |
North Carolina | ![]() |
John Hoeven | ![]() |
North Dakota | ![]() |
Kevin Cramer | ![]() |
North Dakota | ![]() |
Sherrod Brown | ![]() |
Ohio | ![]() |
Rob Portman | ![]() |
Ohio | ![]() |
Jim Inhofe | ![]() |
Oklahoma | ![]() |
James Lankford | ![]() |
Oklahoma | ![]() |
Jeff Merkley | ![]() |
Oregon | ![]() |
Ron Wyden | ![]() |
Oregon | ![]() |
Bob Casey Jr. | ![]() |
Pennsylvania | ![]() |
Pat Toomey | ![]() |
Pennsylvania | ![]() |
Sheldon Whitehouse | ![]() |
Rhode Island | ![]() |
Jack Reed | ![]() |
Rhode Island | ![]() |
Lindsey Graham | ![]() |
South Carolina | ![]() |
Tim Scott | ![]() |
South Carolina | ![]() |
John Thune | ![]() |
South Dakota | ![]() |
Mike Rounds | ![]() |
South Dakota | ![]() |
Lamar Alexander | ![]() |
Tennessee | ![]() |
Marsha Blackburn | ![]() |
Tennessee | ![]() |
Ted Cruz | ![]() |
Texas | ![]() |
John Cornyn | ![]() |
Texas | ![]() |
Mike Lee | ![]() |
Utah | ![]() |
Mitt Romney | ![]() |
Utah | ![]() |
Patrick Leahy | ![]() |
Vermont | ![]() |
Bernie Sanders | ![]() |
Vermont | ![]() |
Tim Kaine | ![]() |
Virginia | ![]() |
Mark Warner | ![]() |
Virginia | ![]() |
Maria Cantwell | ![]() |
Washington | ![]() |
Patty Murray | ![]() |
Washington | ![]() |
Joe Manchin III | ![]() |
West Virginia | ![]() |
Shelley Moore Capito | ![]() |
West Virginia | ![]() |
Tammy Baldwin | ![]() |
Wisconsin | ![]() |
Ronald Harold Johnson | ![]() |
Wisconsin | ![]() |
John Barrasso | ![]() |
Wyoming | ![]() |
Mike Enzi | ![]() |
Wyoming | ![]() |
U.S. House vote on articles of impeachment
Abuse of power
On December 18, 2019, the House impeached Trump for abuse of power by a vote of 230 to 197.
- 229 Democrats and one independent (Rep. Justin Amash) voted yes.
- Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (D) voted present.
- 195 Republicans and two Democrats (Reps. Collin Peterson and Jeff Van Drew) voted no.
- Reps. Duncan Hunter (R), José Serrano (D), and John Shimkus (R) did not vote.
Obstruction of Congress
On December 18, 2019, the House impeached Trump for obstruction of Congress by a vote of 229 to 198.
- 228 Democrats and one independent (Rep. Justin Amash) voted yes.
- Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (D) voted present.
- 195 Republicans and three Democrats (Reps. Jared Golden, Collin Peterson, and Jeff Van Drew) voted no.
- Reps. Duncan Hunter (R), José Serrano (D), and John Shimkus (R) did not vote.
Impeachment inquiry procedures
On October 29, 2019, Rep. James McGovern (D-Mass.) introduced H. Res. 660, a House resolution outlining proposed impeachment inquiry procedures.
The resolution included specific instructions for the Intelligence Committee and the Judiciary Committee. Key procedures outlined in the resolution included the following:
- The Intelligence Committee would make public transcripts of private depositions available with redactions where necessary for classified and sensitive information.
- The chairman and ranking minority member of the Intelligence Committee would have an equal amount of time to question witnesses.
- The ranking minority member could request subpoenas and documents with the chairman's approval.
- The Judiciary Committee would be responsible for bringing forward articles of impeachment, if any.
- Trump and his counsel would be able to participate in the Judiciary Committee proceedings.
On October 31, 2019, the House of Representatives approved the resolution by a vote of 232-196. The vote ran primarily along party lines. No Republicans supported the measure. Two Democrats opposed it: Reps. Jeff Van Drew (D-N.J.) and Collin Peterson (D-Minn.). Rep. Justin Amash (Mich.), the only independent in the chamber, supported the resolution.[1]
The full text of the resolution follows:
Articles of impeachment
Rep. Jerrold Nadler (D-N.Y.), the chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, introduced two articles of impeachment against Trump on December 10, 2019.
Nadler summarized the articles in the following statement:[14]
“ |
The first article is for Abuse of Power. It is an impeachable offense for the President to exercise the powers of his public office to obtain an improper personal benefit, while ignoring or injuring the national interest. That is exactly what President Trump did when he solicited and pressured Ukraine to interfere in our 2020 Presidential Election—thus damaging our national security, undermining the integrity of the next election, and violating his oath to the American people. These actions, moreover, were consistent with President Trump’s previous invitations of foreign interference in our 2016 Presidential election. And when he was caught—when the House investigated and opened an impeachment inquiry—President Trump engaged in unprecedented, categorical, and indiscriminate defiance of the impeachment inquiry. This gives rise to the second article of impeachment for Obstruction of Congress. Here, too, we see a familiar pattern in President Trump’s misconduct. A President who declares himself above accountability, above the American people, and above Congress’s power of impeachment—which is meant to protect against threats to our democratic institutions—is a President who sees himself as above the law.[15] |
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—Jerrold Nadler, December 10, 2019[14] |
Read the full text of the articles here:
Reports
The Trump-Ukraine Impeachment Inquiry Report
The House Intelligence Committee voted on December 3, 2019, to adopt a committee report on Trump's alleged misconduct and obstruction and send it to the House Judiciary Committee. The 13-9 vote ran along party lines.[16]
Republicans released a minority report on the impeachment inquiry on December 2, 2019.[17]
- Read the House Intelligence Committee's "Trump-Ukraine Impeachment Inquiry Report" here.
- Read the Republican minority report prepared by the House Intelligence Committee, Oversight and Reform Committee, and Foreign Affairs Committee.
Timeline of public hearings and witnesses
This section includes video clips and transcripts from public hearings held during the impeachment inquiry in chronological order.
November 13, 2019
Witnesses
- William Taylor, U.S. diplomat
- George Kent, deputy assistant secretary of state
Transcripts and videos
- Read William Taylor's opening statement here.
- Read George Kent's opening statement here.
- Watch C-SPAN's coverage of the impeachment hearing with William Taylor and George Kent here.
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November 15, 2019
Witnesses
- Marie Yovanovitch, former U.S. ambassador to Ukraine
Transcripts and videos
- Read Marie Yovanovitch's opening statement here.
- Watch C-SPAN's coverage of the impeachment hearing with Marie Yovanovitch here.
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November 19, 2019
Witnesses
- Alexander Vindman, director for European Affairs at the U.S. National Security Council
- Jennifer Williams, U.S. Department of State official
- Kurt Volker, U.S. special envoy to Ukraine
- Tim Morrison, National Security Council aide
Transcripts and videos
- Read Alexander Vindman's opening statement here.
- Read Jennifer Williams' opening statement here.
- Read Kurt Volker's opening statement here.
- Read Tim Morrison's opening statement here.
- Watch C-SPAN's coverage of the impeachment hearing with Alexander Vindman and Jennifer Williams here.
- Watch C-SPAN's coverage of the impeachment hearing with Kurt Volker and Tim Morrison.
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November 20, 2019
Witnesses
- Gordon Sondland, U.S. ambassador to the European Union
- Laura Cooper, deputy assistant secretary of defense for Russian, Ukrainian, and Eurasian affairs
- David Hale, under secretary of state for political affairs
Transcripts and videos
- Read Gordon Sondland's opening statement here.
- Read Laura Cooper's opening statement here.
- Watch C-SPAN's coverage of the impeachment hearing with Gordon Sondland here.
- Watch C-SPAN's coverage of the impeachment hearing with Laura Cooper and David Hale.
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November 21, 2019
Witnesses
- Fiona Hill, former National Security Council official
- David Holmes, U.S. Department of State official
Transcripts and videos
- Read Fiona Hill's opening statement here.
- Read David Holmes' opening statement here.
- Watch C-SPAN's coverage of the impeachment hearing with Fiona Hill and David Holmes here.
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December 4, 2019
The Judiciary Committee held a hearing on the constitutional grounds for presidential impeachment.[18]
Witnesses
- Noah Feldman, Harvard Law School professor
- Pamela Karlan, Stanford Law School professor
- Michael Gerhardt, University of Noth Carolina School of Law professor
- Jonathan Turley, George Washington University Law School professor
Transcripts and videos
December 9, 2019
The Judiciary Committee held a hearing on the evidence presented in the impeachment inquiry.[19]
Transcrips and videos
Public opinion
The following chart shows the average percentage of support and opposition to impeachment over time, according to public opinion polls compiled by RealClearPolitics.
Additional resources
Read more about the details of the impeachment inquiry and process in the following articles:
- BBC News: Trump impeachment inquiry: A simple guide
- GovTrack.us: Impeachment Guide
- The New York Times: What Is the Impeachment Process? A Step-by-Step Guide
- NPR: Trump Impeachment Inquiry: A Guide To Key People, Facts And Documents
- U.S. Senate: Impeachment
Which presidents have been impeached?
- See also: Impeachment of federal officials
This section provides a brief history of the impeachment of presidents. Of the other three presidents who have had articles of impeachment against them adopted, two were acquitted by the U.S. Senate and one resigned before the full U.S. House vote took place.
Andrew Johnson
On February 24, 1868, President Andrew Johnson (Union) became the first sitting president to be impeached. Following Congress' passage of the Tenure of Office Act forbidding the president from removing federal officials without the approval of Congress, Johnson fired Secretary of War Edwin Stanton and replaced him with Ulysses S. Grant. Johnson hoped to challenge the constitutionality of the Act.
The House charged him with violating the Act and passed an impeachment resolution 126-47. Johnson was acquitted by the Senate on May 16, 1868, by a vote of 35-19, one vote short of two-thirds. Seven Republican senators broke ranks with the party to prevent Johnson's conviction.[20]
Richard Nixon
Three articles of impeachment for obstruction of justice, misuse of power, and contempt of Congress were approved by the House Judiciary Committee against President Richard Nixon (R) in July 1974. The charges followed Nixon's involvement in covering up the attempted burglary and wiretapping of the Democratic National Committee headquarters at Watergate two years earlier.
Nixon resigned on August 8, 1974, before the articles of impeachment went to a full floor vote in the House.[21]
Bill Clinton
President William Jefferson Clinton (D) was impeached by the U.S. House on charges of perjury and obstruction of justice on December 19, 1998. The first article of impeachment for perjury passed the House by a vote of 228-206, while the second vote on obstruction of justice passed by 221-212. The charges stemmed from an affair Clinton had with White House staffer Monica Lewinski. House Republicans accused Clinton of lying and having others lie to hide the affair. Two other charges, perjury in regards to an affair with Paula Jones and abuse of power, were rejected by the House.[22]
With 708 days remaining in his second term as president, the Senate acquitted Clinton on both charges brought up by the House on February 12, 1999. The perjury charge failed by a vote of 45-55 while the obstruction of justice charge failed on a tied vote of 50-50.[23]
See also
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 CNN, "Trump acquitted at impeachment trial," February 5, 2020 Cite error: Invalid
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tag; name "CNN" defined multiple times with different content - ↑ CBS News, "Pelosi launches formal Trump impeachment inquiry," September 25, 2019
- ↑ White House, "Remarks by President Trump and President Salih of Iraq Before Bilateral Meeting," September 24, 2019
- ↑ Associated Press, "The Latest: Democrats say Trump allegations are impeachable," September 24, 2019
- ↑ NBC News, "Trump impeached by the House for abuse of power, obstruction of Congress," December 18, 2019
- ↑ NBC News, "House Judiciary Committee votes to impeach Trump, capping damaging testimony," December 13, 2019
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 Congressional Research Service, "Impeachment and removal," October 29, 2015
- ↑ Cite error: Invalid
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- ↑ CBS News, "What to know about the House impeachment managers," January 15, 2020
- ↑ Reuters, "Factbox: The members of Trump's impeachment defense team," January 27, 2020
- ↑ NPR, "Senators To Be Sworn In For Trump Impeachment Trial," January 16, 2020
- ↑ KTUL, "Sen. Inhofe comments on Senate impeachment trial," January 21, 2020
- ↑ Congress.gov, "S.Res.483 - A resolution to provide for related procedures concerning the articles of impeachment against Donald John Trump, President of the United States," accessed January 22, 2020
- ↑ 14.0 14.1 House Committee on Oversight and Reform, "Chairman Nadler Announces the Introduction of Articles of Impeachment Against President Donald J. Trump," December 10, 2019
- ↑ Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ CNN, "House Democrats vote to send impeachment report to Judiciary Committee," December 3, 2019
- ↑ NPR, "House Democrats' New Report: Top Trump Officials Knew Of Ukraine Scheme," December 3, 2019
- ↑ House Judiciary Committee, "Committee Activity," accessed November 26, 2019
- ↑ House Judiciary Committee, "The Impeachment Inquiry into President Donald J. Trump: Presentations from the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence and House Judiciary Committee," December 9, 2019
- ↑ PBS, "The Impeachment of Andrew Johnson," accessed March 27, 2014
- ↑ History, "The Watergate Scandal: A Timeline," June 10, 2019
- ↑ New York Times, "IMPEACHMENT: THE OVERVIEW -- CLINTON IMPEACHED; HE FACES A SENATE TRIAL, 2D IN HISTORY; VOWS TO DO JOB TILL TERM'S 'LAST HOUR'," December 22, 1998
- ↑ Washington Post, "The Senate Acquits President Clinton," February 13, 1999