US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi shows the article of impeachment against US President Donald Trump after signing it in an engrossment ceremony, at the US Capitol in Washington January 13, 2021. — Reuters pic
The Democratic-led House of Representatives voted 232-197 on Wednesday to impeach Trump on a charge of incitement one week after his supporters rampaged in the Capitol following a speech in which the outgoing Republican president urged them to fight Democrat Joe Biden’s Nov. 3 election victory. Ten Republicans joined Democrats in supporting impeachment, while others argued Trump’s remarks were protected by the First Amendment of the US Constitution, which defends free speech.
Representative Diana DeGette, one of nine Democratic impeachment managers who will argue the House’s case against Trump, said yesterday that Pelosi was working with Republican Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell on when to transmit the article of impeachment to the Senate and trigger the start of the trial.