In the history of the United States of America, Trump on Wednesdayhas become the first President to be impeached twice, although he was acquitted in February 2019 impeachment effort, his fate seems to be unclear in the second, speedy impeachmentattempt.
Lookingback: Donald Trump's first impeachment inquiry, 2019
The senate voted to acquit the President with 52-48 onthe charges of abuse of power and 53-47 on the charges of obstruction ofcongress. The only Republican, Senator Mitt Romney voted to convict him onabuse of power.
Reasons:
The first Impeachmentof US President Donald Trump can be traced back to "Trump-UkraineScandal" where an intelligence officer had filed a whistleblower complaintalleging wrongdoing on the part of Trump.
The whistleblower had alleged that Trump pressurizedUkraine to investigate his political rivals on a phone call. The whistleblower alsoalleged that the White House tried to conceal the facts. It was touted as abuseof power by the the President of US.
According to a complaint by the whistleblower, Trumpabused his power to solicit help from the Ukrainian President VolodymyrZelensky for the US elections in 2020.
It was alleged that the President asked Zelensky,to investigate his political rivals including 'Joe Biden'and his son 'Hunter Biden.' The whistleblower was the member of the CIA as perseveral media reports.
It was also said that there were many phone calls made topressurize Zelensky in investigating Trump's political rivals with the helpfrom Trump's personal lawyer Rudy Giuliani.
It was not an isolated effort by Trump but a series ofefforts that included agencies like William Barr's Justice Department, MikePompeo's State Department, and Mick Mulvaney's Office of Management and Budget.
Allegedly, Trump also tried to influence Ukraine byholding $400 million in the US military aid. The whistleblower filed thecomplaint in mid-August. This led Nancy Pelosy to declare that the House ofRepresentatives would conduct an impeachment inquiry.
The whistleblower had written about the possible coverup. He write, "In the days following the phone call, I learned frommultiple U.S. officials that senior White House officials had intervened to“lock down” all records of the phone call, especially the officialword-for-word transcript of the call that was produced — as is customary — bythe White House Situation Room. This set of actions underscored to me thatWhite House officials understood the gravity of what had transpired in thecall."
Whatdid the whistleblower do?
The whistleblower filed a complaint with the InspectorGeneral (IG). Under the Intelligence Community Whistleblower Protection Act, ifthe IG deems it a matter of urgent concern, they can forward to the director ofnational intelligence. In this case, the IG, Joseph Maguire didn't forward thecomplaint. Instead he sought suggestions from the JusticeDepartment's Office of Legal Council.
IG didn't forward it to the national intelligence. It wasunearthed in September, 2019. Pro-Trump supporters tried to discredit thewhistleblower by labeling him biased.
Whatensued after the whistleblower's allegations in 2019?
The White House released an edited summary of a call thattook place on July 25 between US and Ukrainian Presidents. Media reports saidthat the document was like a transcript that was circulated.
In the summary, Trump asked for a favor from Ukraine toinvestigate Ukraine's possession of a Democratic email server (it was termed asunfounded and baseless by experts) and another into the alleged corruptdealings of the Biden family withUkrainian prosecutor.
According to report published in Washington Post, Trumpordered chief of staff Mick Mulvaney to suspend $400 million US military aid toUkraine, just a week before calling Zelensky.
In a summary, when Trump asked that they do a lot for Ukraine,Zelensky expressed his gratefulness on the phone call. Trump also asked Ukraineto investigate Hunter Biden's business with the Ukrainian company and unfoundedclaims in which he alleged Joe Biden was trying to shield his son.
ImpeachmentInquiry:
The axis of the inquiry was related to Trump-Ukrainescandal. House Speaker, Nancy Pelosy announced that House of Representatives ispursuing an impeachment inquiry in September 2019.
Fact:Itis extremely difficult to remove the President from the office, in the past twoUS Presidents were impeached but they were later acquitted While Richard Nixonhad resigned after Watergate Scandal in 1974. So, till now only threepresidents are impeached while none convicted.
Adam Schiff, the House Intelligence Committee Chairwanted to investigate four questions:
a. Did Trump sought foreign aid in US elections?
b. Did the meeting with Ukraine held on the condition of investigationsdiscussed on call?
c. Did Ukraine has any reason to believe that US military aid was suspendedtill investigations are launched?
d. Is there any cover-up on Trump's conduct?
Inhis defence, Trump asserted having no connection toanything inappropriate happened on call. The White House Senior Advisor, StephenMiller claimed that it is all a plot by 'deep state' who dislike Trump.
When the reporters asked if Trump actually asked favorsby withholding US military aid to Ukraine, the acting White House Chief ofStaff Mick Mulvaney's on October 17, 2019 told that it is normal in US toincentivize another countries to give what US wants.
HowTrump acquitted in 2020?
Trump was found not guilty in Article 1, Abuse of Powerby senators with 52-48 tally and not guilty in Article 2, the Obstruction ofCongress with 53-47 tally. It was alleged that the Chamber's Republicanmajority defeated an effort to call witnesses who could have testified againsthim.
He became the third President to have acquitted in aSenate trial. To remove a president, the two third majority of 67 senators isrequired.
Fastforward to Present: Trump's Impeachment in 2021
Reflecting back on Donald Trump's last year in the officeas the President of US, it ended on a similar note like his last year when hewas impeached. Trump became the first president in the history of US to beimpeached twice.
In a unanimous vote by House Democrats, and joining them10 Republicans, it has become the most bipartisan impeachment efforthistorically.
Thereason to impeach Trump is inflaming his supporters for USCapitol unrest and assault that lead to five deaths.
TheTen Republicans who joined to Impeach Trump are LizCheney, Anthony Gonzalez, Peter Meijer, Dan Newhouse, Adam Kinzinger, John Katko,Fred Upton, Jaime Harrera Beutler, Tom Rice and David Valadao.
After backing Donald Trump for many years, Republicanswho joined to impeach Trump believe in his role of inciting the violent mob onthe US Capitol. This time the impeachment effort is speedy as compared to theprevious one.
Hindrancesto removal from office after Impeachment:
It is lucid that there is not majority of votes in theSenate to convict Trump. The conviction requires 67 votes or two-third majorityof the chamber. It means 17 Republicans have to join 50 Democratic caucus on aconviction vote after the newly elected Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock areseated.
Not even a single Republican has announced that they willvote to convict Trump, however, Senate Majority Leader, Mitch McConnell is saidto be pleased on the beginning of the impeachment proceedings.
Whatif Trump is impeached?
The lawmakers can bar Donald Trump from holding Presidency if heis impeached. It will clear the path for Senator Ted Cruz and Josh Hawley. Theyboth have their own presidential ambitions.
Whatchanges: Comparing Past & Present
It is evident from the above facts and points that thistime the proceedings are fast paced, however, it is too early to say if Trump willbe impeached and barred from holding Presidency later on. It is pertinent tonote here that even when some Republicans have joined to impeach Trump and somelike Senator Lisa Murkowski and Pat Toomey have called for Trump's resignationand others like Ben Sesse is said to consider the article of impeachment.
While in the past the senators acquitted him, this timeit might be a little tough to get out of the proceedings. Moreover, as per mediareports, Impeachment trial won't happen until after Biden is sworn in as thePresident.