Donald Trump questioned by House for abuse of power & obstruction of Congress

President
Donald Trump was impeached by the U.S. House of Representatives on Wednesday
night, becoming only the third American chief executive to be formally charged
under the Constitution’s ultimate remedy for high crimes and wrongdoings.

The historic
vote split along party lines, much the way it has divided the nation, over the
charges that the 45th president abused the power of his office by enlisting a
foreign government to investigate a political rival ahead of the 2020 election.

The House
then approved a second charge, that he obstructed Congress in its
investigation.

The articles
of impeachment, the political equivalent of an allegation, now go to the Senate
for trial. If Trump is discharged  by the
Republican-led chamber, as expected, he would have to run for re-election
carrying the undergo  mark of impeachment
on his purposely disruptive presidency.

Democrats
led Wednesday night’s voting, framed in what many said was their duty to
protect the Constitution and uphold the nation’s system of checks and balances.

 Republicans stood by their party’s leader, who
has frequently tested the bounds of civic norms. Trump called the whole affair
a “witch hunt,” a “hoax” and a “sham,” and sometimes all three.

The trial is
expected to begin in January in the Senate, where a vote of two-thirds is
necessary for conviction. While Democrats had the majority in the House to
impeach Trump, Republicans control the Senate and few if any are expected to
diverge from plans to discharge the president ahead of early state
election-year primary voting.