Anushka Mansharamani
U.S.A President Donald Trump was impeached just days before the end of his presidential tenure. This was the first time an American President was impeached twice.
Trump was charged with inciting a mob of Trump supporters which led to the storming of the Capitol during the House session.
The mob that took place went on a rampage and led to structural damages. It further resulted in the death of 5 people inclusive of a police officer.
During the session, Democrats along with 10 Republicans voted to impeach Trump on the grounds of inciting violence.
However, the Senate would not begin with the trial until 19th January, a day before Democrat Joe Biden is sworn into office.
It is also not clear, as to how the trial would proceed and whether any Republicans from the Senate would vote to convict Trump.
The trial would take place after he leaves office, however, this might have the effect of preventing him from running for the presidency in 2024.
The dynamics of the trial would change after Vice President Kamala Harris is sworn in, making her the president of the Senate.
McConnell made it clear that the trial would take place after Trump leaves office.
As per the US, constitution impeachment means holding the president guilty on charges of high crime or misdemeanor by the House of Representatives.
In case the Lower House impeaches the president, the issue goes over to the Senate, and then the Senate needs 2/3rd majority to remove the president from his office.
In order for that to take place, the Senate must first convict Trump in an Impeachment trial after he leaves office.
If the Senate succeeds to convict him the lawmakers can then have a vote to conclude whether they can disqualify Trump to hold office in the future.
Trump could further also lose the benefits provided to him under the Former Presidents Act of 1958 which includes annual travel budget, life pension, etc.
On 12th January, Vice President Mike Pence refused to invoke the 25th Amendment to remove his powers before the vote as in the letter written to Nancy Pelosi she mentioned that it “would set a terrible precedent.” and further stated, “I do not believe that such a course of action is in the best interest of our nation or consistent with our Constitution.”
On 13th January the House voted 232-197 to impeach Trump which included 10 members of Trump’s Republican Party and 222 Democrats for his alleged role in the siege of Capitol Hill on 6th January.
