What does Donald Trump being impeached mean? What happens next?

The Senate will decide if Donald Trump will lose his presidency
REUTERS
Ellena Cruse21 January 2020

For only the third time in history an American president is facing an impeachment trial.

Such a hearing could lead to President Donald Trump being removed from office.

The process first started after a whistle-blower alleged that Mr Trump may have abused the power of his presidency.

This was allegedly through withholding military aid as a means of pressurising the newly elected president of the Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky, into doing his bidding and helping his re-election chances.

Presiding officer Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts swears in members of the Senate for the trial
AP

What is impeachment?

Impeachment is when a senior figure, suspected of committing offences while in office, is held to account by other senior figures.

Judges, cabinet members and presidents are examples of roles which can be examined.

The suspected party can be impeached for a whole host of reasons including alleged treason, bribery and misdemeanours.

Papers outlining procedures during the impeachment trial by Republican leader Mitch McConnell.
AP

After someone is impeached they go on trial in front of the upper house of Congress called the Senate.

The members decide if the person is guilty of the offence.

Impeachment is a political trial and not a criminal one.

What is Donald Trump accused of?

The US president faces two impeachment charges.

  1. He is accused of seeking help from the Ukraine government to help himself get re-elected. It is claimed Mr Trump held back millions of dollars in military aid, agreed to a White house meeting and put pressure on the country to publicly announce an investigation into rival Joe Biden after polls suggested the Democrat could beat him.
The president needs a two-thirds majority from the senate to be ousted from his job
REUTERS
  1. After the White House refused to allow staff to testify at earlier impeachment hearings, Mr Trump is accused of obstructing Congress – the branch of the government which introduces and writes laws. The president denies wrong doing and said the charges are “flimsy”.

What has happened so far?

A whistle-blower made claims against Mr Trump in August 2019.

An investigation took place in the lower house of Congress, the House of Representatives, in October 2019.

In December 2019, Democratic leaders voted to impeach Mr Trump.

House Sergeant at Arms Paul Irving and Clerk of the House Cheryl Johnson deliver the articles of impeachment
REUTERS

The case was passed up to the upper house of Congress, called the Senate in January 2020.

It is controlled by Mr Trump’s Republicans and is where the trial will take place.

What happens at a Senate trial?

The constitution only has general rules about impeachment proceedings, which are largely based on the trial of President Andrew Johnson in 1868.

The other president to face an impeachment trial was Bill Clinton in 1999.

Both presidents kept their jobs.

Two people are deciding how the trial will be conducted.

The impeachment trial of President Donald Trump will be resumed in January 2020
AP

Republican leader of the Senate, Mitch McConnell and his Democratic counterpart, Chuck Schumer.

While Mr McConnell wants a quick trial and acquittal, Mr Schumer wants the American people to see exactly what has gone on and has accused the Republicans of trying to prevent evidence from being heard.

What is agreed however is that there will be no live-tweeting form the chamber and senators will not be allowed to speak to those sitting near them while the case is being heard.

The members will hear from both sides, lawyers and witnesses before been given a day to deliberate.

The Senate impeachment trial will take place in Washington
REUTERS

Mr Trump needs a two-thirds majority of 67 votes to be ousted from his position.

However as there are 53 Republicans and 47 Democrats in the Senate, the president is expected to be cleared.

If the Senate wishes to end the trial they only need a majority of 51 to stop proceedings.

Who presides over the trial?

Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts is leading the trial to make sure predetermined rules are followed.

However, the 100 senators will ultimately act as both judge and jury.

A group of Democrats will act as prosecutors and present the case for impeachment to the Senate.

Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts presides over the first session of the US Senate impeachment trial
REUTERS

These include Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff and Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerry Nadler.

Mr Trump’s defence team will include personnel who helped President Clinton during impeachment.

He will also have a lawyer on his side who represented OJ Simpson.

Will Donald Trump speak at the trial?

The president has the option to appear but it is likely that his lawyers will speak on his behalf.

His defence team, like the Democrat prosecutors, will be able to deliver opening and closing statements and question witnesses.

The Democrats would like several senior White House officials to testify, including former National Security Adviser John Bolton, whereas Mr Trump is keen for Mr Biden and the original whistle-blower to testify.

Donald Trump impeachment protests: December 2019

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Senators can question the witnesses by submitting questions to Justice Roberts in written form.

However, witnesses might not appear in front of the upper house and could be interviewed on video which is then shown to the chamber.

If the Republic-heavy Senate decides it wants a short trial, it could also bar witnesses from both sides with a 51 vote majority.

When will the impeachment proceedings finish?

After the lower house of Congress presents the impeachment case to the upper house, senators must sit in session every day, bar Sunday, until they make a final decision.

President Clinton’s trial lasted almost a month and this one is inspected to last for a good few weeks, but experts can only guess at this stage.

Folder with articles of impeachment against President Donald Trump
AP

Four Democratic senators, who are running for presidency, will have to leave their campaigns behind for the duration of the trial.

They will most likely hope the hearing is completed by February in time for the 2020 primary election which decides on the candidate nominated by the Democrats.

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