Trump 'is a clear and present danger to the nation we all love': Pelosi
The first debate is expected to last about an hour and will revolve around the rules governing the impeachment article
No Senate impeachment trial before 19 January, McConnell's office says
Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell’s office has said there will be no impeachment trial before 19 January, when the chamber is currently set to return from recess.
McConnell’s press secretary confirmed the Washington Post’s report on the timing on the trial.
Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer had called for the chamber to return early to take up the impeachment of Donald Trump, but McConnell is apparently declining to do so.
The decision means that Trump’s impeachment trial will overlap with the first days of Joe Biden’s presidency.
House Democrat: "Trump is a living, breathing, impeachable offense"
“Donald Trump is a living, breathing, impeachable offense. It is what it is,” Democratic Rep. Hakeem Jeffries said in his argument in favor of impeachment.
Jeffries also said that the President incited the deadly Capitol mob and called him "a clear and present danger” to the American people.
Pelosi calls President Trump a "clear and present danger" to the country
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi started the House debate over the article of impeachment against President Trump by saying that Trump is "a clear and present danger" to the country.
"We know that the President of the United States incited this insurrection, this armed rebellion against our common country. He must go, he is a clear and present danger to the nation that we all love," Pelosi said.
"Then came that day of fire we all experienced. The President must be impeached," she said.
She added that President Trump has "repeatedly" lied about the outcome of the election in November and cast doubt on democracy.
"I believe the President must be convicted by the Senate, a constitutional remedy that will ensure the republic will be safe from this man who is so resolutely determined to tear down the things we hold dear and that hold us together," Pelosi continued.
US House begins session to impeach Trump
The US House of Representatives has just convened and will now begin consideration of President Trump's impeachment.
The impeachment resolution the House will vote on today charges Trump with a single article, "incitement of insurrection," for his role in last week's deadly Capitol riot, reports the CNN.
The first debate is expected to last about an hour and will revolve around the rules governing the impeachment article.
After that, the House will vote on the rule.
Voting in the House takes time because of coronavirus protocols and now lawmakers also have to pass through metal detectors to get onto the House floor.
Trump is now staring at the shameful distinction of being impeached by the House of Representatives twice in just over a year – the only president in US history to be impeached twice.
Even if he's impeached on Wednesday, Trump will stay in office and likely finish out his term, because it takes a Senate conviction to remove him even after he's been impeached.
Democratic Rep. Jim McGovern, Chairman of the House Rules Committee, opened the House session this morning with some remarks about what happened on Jan. 6 and President Trump and his allies' roles in inciting a mob to storm the Capitol.
The House is currently holding a debate on the rules governing the impeachment article.
"On Wednesday, January 6th, Congress gathered here to fulfill our constitutional duty, tallying the electoral college victory of President-elect Biden and Vice President-elect Harris after a free and fair election. This is largely a ceremonial role for the Congress. One that sends the message to the world that democracy in the United States persists," McGovern said.
McGovern continued: "But at a rally, just a mile and a half down Pennsylvania avenue, Donald Trump and his allies were stoking the anger of a violent mob. A member of this very body proclaimed on that stage, today is the day American patriots start taking down names and kicking ass. Trump's personal attorney Rudy Giuliani called for trial by combat. Then Donald Trump told the crowd, we're going to have to fight much harder. You'll never take back our country with weakness."
"Even though, according to his own administration, that this election was the most secure in our history, Donald Trump repeated his big lie that this election was an egregious assault on democracy," he added.