Trump impeached

Defiant president rallies support as he faces abuse of power charges

PRESIDENT Donald Trump was impeached by the US House of Representatives on Wednesday night, becoming only the third American chief executive to be formally charged under the Constitution’s ultimate remedy for high crimes and misdemeanours.

The historic vote split along party lines, much the way it has divided the nation, over a charge that the 45th president abused the power of his office by enlisting a foreign government to investigate a political rival ahead of the 2020 election.

The House then approved a second charge, that he obstructed Congress in its investigation. The articles of impeachment, the political equivalent of an indictment, now go to the Senate for trial.

If Mr Trump is acquitted by the Republican-led chamber, as expected, he still would have to run for re-election carrying the enduring stain of impeachment on his purposely disruptive presidency.

“The president is impeached,” Speaker Nancy Pelosi declared after the vote.

She called it “great day for the Constitution of the United States, a sad one for America that the president’s reckless activities necessitated us having to introduce articles of impeachment.”

Mr Trump, who began Wednesday tweeting his anger at the proceedings, pumped his fist before an evening campaign rally in Battle Creek, Michigan, boasting of “tremendous support” in the Republican Party.

“By the way,” he told the crowd, “it doesn’t feel like I’m being impeached”.

The start of Mr Trump’s Michigan rally was delayed as the voting was under way in

Washington but once he took the stage he boasted of accomplishments and complained bitterly about his foes for two hours, defiant rather than contrite.

He called Ms Pelosi names and warned the impeachment would be politically disastrous for Democrats.

He has called the whole affair a “witch hunt,” a “hoax” and a “sham,” and sometimes all three.