United States President Donald Trump has been impeached. He has become the third US president in history to be impeached after a historic vote that will set up a trial to decide whether he remains in office. After three turbulent years of his presidency, Trump has been impeached on charges concerning abuse of power and obstructing Congress during investigation.
The US House of Representatives voted on partisan lines as all Republicans voted in favour of Trump and all Democrats consider him guilty as charged. Democrats insist they had no choice but to formally charge the president over his actions. Trump will now stand trial in the Senate where he is expected to be exonerated.
The latest scandal came after a whistleblower lodged a complaint that Trump pressured Ukraine’s president to investigate his potential rival in the 2020 presidential elections Joe Biden. Trump will certainly not go down without a fight and is fuming over the vote. He has termed it a disgrace and mark on the country.
When Bill Clinton was impeached over the infamous Monica Lewinsky scandal, he apologised for his behaviour which hurt his family and supporters. Trump has shown no contrition that his actions were wrong. US media has reported that Trump has been ranting about impeachment to Republicans. He even wrote a blistering letter to US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi on the eve of the impeachment.
This is certainly a stain on Trump’s presidency, but the bottom line is that he is still the president. The US Congress is divided more than ever before. Republicans claimed that Trump was treated more unfairly than witch hunts in the middle ages, but they are more concerned over another Democrat presidency. A Republican leader even compared impeachment to the trial of Jesus Christ.
Given the senate house numbers it is likely that Trump will be acquitted and thus remain in office. Donald Trump will still have a place in the history, but not for the reason he would have wanted. It is certain that the impeachment trial will stain his bid for a second term in office.
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