Washington: After weeks of delay and strategizing, the US House is planning to vote on Wednesday to send the articles of impeachment against President Donald Trump to the Senate to start the trial on removing him from office.
Speaker Nancy Pelosi met privately on Tuesday at the Capitol with House Democrats about the next steps, ending her blockade a month after they voted to impeach Trump on charges of abuse of power and obstruction of Congress.
Pelosi said that the House will vote to transmit the charges and name the House managers for the case. She warned the Republican-led Senate off any idea of simply dismissing the case against Trump.
“The President and the Senators will be held accountable,” Pelosi said in a statement. “The American people deserve the truth, and the Constitution demands a trial.”
The action will launch the Senate proceeding, only the third presidential impeachment trial in American history, a dramatic endeavor coming amid the backdrop of a politically divided nation and an election year.
Read also: Pelosi unclear about Trump impeachment
Trump was impeached by the Democratic-led House last month on charges of abuse of power over pushing Ukraine to investigate Democratic rival Joe Biden and obstruction of Congress in the following probe. The trial would then begin in a matter of days.
Trump, joined by his Republican party has accused Democrats of one-sided impeachment proceedings against him.
Republicans enjoy a majority in the 100-member Senate. As such Trump appears to be confident that impeachment would be defeated in the Senate. The White House has confirmed its defence team for the Senate trial.
Read also: Impeachment vote political suicide, shame for Democrats: Trump
