House panel setting rules for impeachment debate

Two articles expected to be voted on by the full chamber today.

WASHINGTON — The House was expected to move one step closer to impeaching President Donald Trump, as the Rules Committee met Tuesday to set the parameters on how the two articles of impeachment — abuse of power and obstruction of Congress — will be debated and voted on by the full chamber today.

The session was poised to last late into the night. But the outcome is not in doubt, since Democrats hold a 9-4 majority on the panel.

At the heart of the Democrats’ case is the allegation that Trump tried to leverage a White House meeting and military aid, sought by Ukraine to combat Russian military aggression, to pressure Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy to launch an investigation of former vice president Joe Biden and his son Hunter Biden. Trump is also said to have sought a probe of an unfounded theory that Kyiv conspired with Democrats to interfere in the 2016 presidential election.

House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerrold Nadler, D-N.Y., was not present because of a family emergency. Rep. Jamie Raskin, D-Md., was tapped to fill in for Nadler, whose committee approved two articles of impeachment last week. The committee aide said lawmakers are hopeful that Nadler will return today for the full House debate and vote.

Rep. Douglas Collins of Georgia, the top Republican on the House Judiciary Committee, said he would argue that for Democrats to “give us as much time as they possibly can” during debate over impeachment on the House floor.

Today, a procedural vote by the full House, expected around midday, will launch the debate, which is expected to last several hours and culminate in an evening vote on the articles of impeachment.

The House also is planning to vote today on a resolution formally naming House managers, or prosecutors, for the Senate trial, who will be selected by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif.

The Senate trial is expected to start in early January.

GETTY Rep. Douglas Collins of Georgia, the top Republican on the House Judiciary Committee, said he would argue for Democrats to “give us as much time as they possibly can” to debate.