In A Year, Trump Faces Two Impeachments

Donald Trump - Wikimedia Commons

JAKARTA - On Wednesday January 13, the United States DPR (US) tapped the hammer to impeach US President Donald Trump. The impeachment was carried out in response to criticism of his role in triggering the storming of the Capitol Building on Wednesday, January 6, 2021. Rioters who are pro-Trump made lawmakers leave the room during Joe Biden's winning certification procession at that time.

Ten Republican members joined the Democratic Party to vote for Trump's impeachment. It is worth remembering that this impeachment is Trump's second. Therefore, this is the first time in US history that a president has been impeached twice.

A year ago, on January 16, 2020, Trump was impeached. Two articles of impeachment submitted to the Senate by the US House of Representatives. At that time Trump's impeachment trial was scheduled for Tuesday, January 21, 2020.

As reported by VOI previously, the 45th presidential impeachment article was signed directly by the Speaker of the US House of Representatives, Nancy Pelosi. Interestingly, during the signing process, Pelosi used a lot of pens. The number of writing instruments used by Pelosi to sign Trump's impeachment article was up to three trays.

At that time, the impeachment was carried out because Trump was believed to be abusing his power as president. Trump has been accused of withholding military aid as a way to pressure the newly elected President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky, to continue investigating Joe Biden and his son Hunter. Trump also insisted on launching a theoretical inquiry that Ukraine intervened in the 2016 elections.

As noted earlier, there were two articles to Trump's first impeachment. Article I is the abuse of power and Article II is obstructing the tasks of the Congress. Republican Mitt Romney, the only senator to vote to punish his own party president in an impeachment hearing.

After various dramas unfolded, the trial ended with Trump's release from impeachment. Citing ABC News, the US Senate voted for the 'not guilty' vote by a margin of 52-48 on Article I of impeachment. Meanwhile, 53 votes voted not guilty in Article II of impeachment. Both are far from the majority of 67 votes needed to convict Trump and remove him from office.

Again impeached

A year on, Trump is now facing impeachment again. He faces impeachment a week before he leaves office as president. Democrats have urged US Vice President Mike Pence and the Cabinet to start a faster process of getting rid of Trump through the 25th Amendment. But Pence refused, arguing that the move was "not in the best interest of our Nation or consistent with our Constitution."

Quoting CNBC, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi opened the House impeachment debate on Wednesday January 13, 2021 by declaring Trump "must leave." Speaking after the vote on officially signing the impeachment articles, Pelosi said he was taking steps "with sadness and with a heart of shattering what it means for our country."

"Today, in a bipartisan way, the House shows that no one is above the law, not even the President of the US, that Donald Trump is a clear and present danger to our country," he said, speaking at the pulpit where a rioter was pictured as he exited The Capitol the week before.

Although a handful of Republicans voted to indict Trump, most Republican representatives opposed the attempt. House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy said Trump "bears responsibility" for the unrest, but he called impeachment a "mistake" without investigation or examination.

“A vote against (Trump) will further divide the nation. A vote on the charges will further fuel the flames of partisan divisions, "he said, calling for a resolution to denounce Trump.