BIDEN ROW: WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?
US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi launched a formal impeachment inquiry against President Donald Trump. Here’s everything you need to know about the crisis
IT STARTED WITH A PHONE CALL
■ Donald Trump had a phone call with Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky regarding the conduct of a corruption probe of Democratic presidential contender Joe Biden and his son.
■ He also ordered military aid to Ukraine to be frozen, days
POSSIBILITIES
■ The House judiciary committee can recommend articles of impeachment against Trump.
■ If the judiciary panel backs impeachment articles, the matter goes to the full House for a vote. Democrats control the House.
■ If a majority of the full House votes for impeachment, the matter goes to the Senate.
■ It takes a two-thirds vote in the Senate to force a president from office - a daunting challenge for Democrats. before a telling phone conversation in July.
■ The incident raises the possibility that a US president used the power of his office to get a foreign government to help him win re-election.
TWO CASES FROM THE PAST
■ In 1998 and 1999, the House under Republican control pursued the impeachment of the Democratic president Bill Clinton, based on matters arising from his relationships with women outside his marriage.
■ Only two presidents have been impeached: Andrew Johnson in 1868 and Clinton. Both won acquittal in the Senate.
ROLE OF THE US CONSTITUTION
■ The Constitution gives the House “the sole power of impeachment” and the Senate “the sole power to try all impeachments”.
■ It dictates the removal from office of a president who is convicted by the Senate of “treason, bribery, or other high crimes and misdemeanors.”