Democrats have moved to impeach US President Donald Trump, who they have accused of inciting supporters to storm the Capitol as Congress was preparing to finalise president-elect Joe Biden’s victory.
House Democrats on Monday (local time) introduced a resolution containing a single article of impeachment against Mr Trump, charging him with incitement of insurrection for his role in the attack on the Capitol last week.
The resolution noted Mr Trump had addressed a rally shortly before his supporters mounted the attack and said he made statements that “encouraged and foreseeably resulted in” the lawless actions at the Capitol.
The resolution was introduced after an initial move to have Vice-President Mike Pence invoke the 25th Amendment to remove Mr Trump from office failed.
It paves the way for Mr Trump to become the first US president to be impeached twice and could lead to him facing a trial if 67 of the nation’s 100 senators agree.
If Mr Trump is convicted, he might be prevented from running again for the presidency or ever holding public office again.
The first step of the process involves a vote on the articles of impeachment in the House of Representatives and that could happen by Wednesday (local time).
More than 200 House Democrats and one Republican have already said they supported impeachment, and two Senate Republicans are also backing the move.
More to come
ABC/AP
