How to Watch the Senate Vote on President Trump’s Impeachment (Video)
Senators will vote Wednesday afternoon on the two articles of impeachment against President Donald Trump, ending the months-long impeachment proceedings first announced by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi last fall. You can stream the vote, which is set for around 4 p.m. ET/1 p.m. PT, via PBS NewsHour in the video player embedded above.
The Republican-majority Senate is almost certain to acquit the president. Last week, the Senate voted not to hear witness testimony after opening arguments from the Democratic House impeachment managers and Trump’s defense team.
Mitt Romney (R-Utah) said he will break from his party and vote to convict the president. “The grave question the Constitution tasks senators to answer is whether the president committed an act so extreme and egregious that it rises to the level of a high crime and misdemeanor. Yes, he did,” Romney said in a speech on the Senate floor.
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In December, the House impeached Trump on charges that he abused the power of his office and obstructed Congress. The House voted on two articles of impeachment, drafted by the House Judiciary Committee, which charged the president with abuse of power and obstruction of Congress.
For abuse of power, the House voted 230-197; for obstruction of Congress, the House voted 229-198. The votes concluded a months-long impeachment inquiry process into Trump’s dealings with Ukraine, which sought to determine whether he solicited foreign power for his own political gain. And as the inquiry unfolded, the White House’s refusal to cooperate and attempts to block witnesses from testifying amounted to obstruction of Congress, according to the articles of impeachment.
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