first impeachment of Donald Trump

{{Donald Trump series}}

Donald Trump is the third U.S. president to be impeached by the House of Representatives, after Andrew Johnson in 1868 and Bill Clinton in 1998.{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2019/dec/18/trump-impeachment-history-andrew-johnson-bill-clinton-richard-nixon|title=Which other US presidents have been impeached?|last=McCarthy|first=Tom|date=December 19, 2019|work=The Guardian|access-date=December 19, 2019|language=en-GB|issn=0261-3077|archive-date=December 18, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191218235523/https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2019/dec/18/trump-impeachment-history-andrew-johnson-bill-clinton-richard-nixon|url-status=live}} Before Trump, Johnson was the only president to be impeached in his first term.{{efn|Johnson sought election to a full term, but failed to gain the nomination of his (Democratic) party, and the election was won by (Republican candidate) Ulysses S. Grant.}} The House Judiciary Committee also voted to adopt three articles of impeachment against Richard Nixon, but he resigned prior to the full House vote.{{Cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/as-goes-his-presidency-so-goes-his-impeachment-trump-disrupts-and-divides/2019/12/18/5755b986-2048-11ea-86f3-3b5019d451db_story.html |title=As goes his presidency, so goes his impeachment: Trump disrupts and divides |last=Fisher |first=Marc |date=December 18, 2019 |newspaper=The Washington Post |access-date=December 18, 2019 |archive-date=December 19, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191219014306/https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/as-goes-his-presidency-so-goes-his-impeachment-trump-disrupts-and-divides/2019/12/18/5755b986-2048-11ea-86f3-3b5019d451db_story.html |url-status=live }}{{efn|Nixon was pardoned for his crimes by his successor, Gerald Ford.}} The Senate voted to acquit both Johnson and Clinton in their trials.{{Cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/11/30/us/politics/impeachment-presidents.html |title=Long Before Trump, Impeachment Loomed Over Multiple Presidents |last=Baker |first=Peter |date=November 30, 2019 |work=The New York Times |access-date=December 18, 2019 |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331 |archive-date=December 3, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191203161014/https://www.nytimes.com/2019/11/30/us/politics/impeachment-presidents.html |url-status=live }}{{efn|Clinton was found to be guilty of civil contempt of court stemming from the Jones v. Clinton case over his testimony. Clinton ended up agreeing to a five-year suspension from practicing law in Arkansas. The Supreme Court suspended Clinton from the Supreme Court bar for his Arkansas suspension. Clinton would resign from the bar during the appeal process of disbarment from the court.{{cite news|title=Clinton asks to quit Supreme Court Bar |publisher=CNN |url=http://archives.cnn.com/2001/ALLPOLITICS/11/09/clinton.bar/ |date=November 9, 2001 |access-date=February 8, 2020 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071209032021/http://archives.cnn.com/2001/ALLPOLITICS/11/09/clinton.bar/ |archive-date=December 9, 2007 }}{{Cite web|title=US Supreme Court Center|url=https://supreme.findlaw.com/|access-date=February 8, 2021|website=Findlaw|language=en-US}}}}

File:2017 July - Impeaching Donald John Trump, President of the United States, for high crimes and misdemeanors.pdf]]

Congress's first efforts to impeach Trump were initiated by Democratic representatives Al Green and Brad Sherman in 2017.{{Cite news |url=https://www.foxnews.com/politics/reps-green-and-sherman-announce-plan-to-file-articles-of-impeachment |title=Reps. Green and Sherman announce plan to file articles of impeachment |last=Singman |first=Brooke |date=June 7, 2017 |access-date=June 7, 2017|url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190708162858/https://www.foxnews.com/politics/reps-green-and-sherman-announce-plan-to-file-articles-of-impeachment |archive-date=July 8, 2019 |publisher=Fox News}} In December 2017, an impeachment resolution failed in the House with a 58–364 vote margin. Following the 2018 elections, the Democrats gained a majority in the House and launched multiple investigations into Trump's actions and finances.{{Cite news |first=Mike |last=DeBonis |date=December 6, 2017 |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/powerpost/wp/2017/12/06/house-democratic-leaders-oppose-texas-lawmakers-trump-impeachment-effort/ |title=House votes to kill Texas lawmaker's Trump impeachment effort |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171207002738/https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/powerpost/wp/2017/12/06/house-democratic-leaders-oppose-texas-lawmakers-trump-impeachment-effort/ |archive-date=December 7, 2017 |newspaper=The Washington Post |access-date=December 6, 2017}} Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi initially resisted calls for impeachment. In May 2019, however, she indicated that Trump's continued actions, which she characterized as obstruction of justice and refusal to honor congressional subpoenas, might make an impeachment inquiry necessary.{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/democrats-eye-house-takeover-to-challenge-trump-as-gop-tries-to-hang-on/2018/11/06/2c4ff3a0-e200-11e8-8f5f-a55347f48762_story.html |title=Democrats take House, breaking up GOP's total control of government |last1=Werner |first1=Erica |date=November 7, 2018 |newspaper=The Washington Post |last2=DeBonis |first2=Mike |issn=0190-8286 |access-date=September 24, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190925023527/https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/democrats-eye-house-takeover-to-challenge-trump-as-gop-tries-to-hang-on/2018/11/06/2c4ff3a0-e200-11e8-8f5f-a55347f48762_story.html|archive-date=September 25, 2019 |url-status=live}}{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/03/04/us/politics/trump-obstruction.html |title=With Sweeping Document Request, Democrats Launch Broad Trump Corruption Inquiry |last=Fandos |first=Nicholas |author-link=Nicholas Fandos |date=March 4, 2019 |work= The New York Times |issn=0362-4331 |access-date=September 24, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190904112517/https://www.nytimes.com/2019/03/04/us/politics/trump-obstruction.html|archive-date=September 4, 2019 |url-status=live}}

Investigations into various scandals in the Trump administration, which could lead to articles of impeachment, were initiated by various House congressional committees led by Pelosi in February 2019. A formal impeachment investigation began in July 2019,{{Cite news|last=Desiderio|first=Andrew|url=https://www.politico.com/story/2019/08/08/nadler-this-is-formal-impeachment-proceedings-1454360|title=Nadler: 'This is formal impeachment proceedings'|website=Politico|date=August 8, 2019|access-date=December 20, 2019|archive-date=December 19, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191219123432/https://www.politico.com/story/2019/08/08/nadler-this-is-formal-impeachment-proceedings-1454360|url-status=live}} and several subpoenas were issued; while most were honored, several were not. The Trump administration asserted executive privilege, which led to several lawsuits, including In re: Don McGahn.{{cite web|url=https://www.politico.com/news/2019/12/23/doj-impeachment-vote-undercut-house-mcgahn-testimony-089604|title=House counsel suggests Trump could be impeached again|work=Politico|last1=Gerstein|first1=Josh|last2=Cheney|first2=Kyle|date=December 23, 2019|access-date=December 24, 2019|archive-date=December 24, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191224011942/https://www.politico.com/news/2019/12/23/doj-impeachment-vote-undercut-house-mcgahn-testimony-089604|url-status=live}}

{{Main|Trump–Ukraine scandal}}

{{multiple image

| align = right

| total_width = 360

| image1 = Whistleblower complaint on Donald Trump's communications with Volodymyr Zelensky.pdf

| caption1 = Whistleblower complaint dated August 12, 2019, regarding a July 25 phone conversation between Trump and Zelenskyy

| image2 = Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelensky telephone conversation memorandum.pdf

| caption2 = Memorandum of the call between Trump and Zelenskyy released by the White House on September 25, 2019

}}

File:President Trump Participates in a Bilateral Meeting with the President of Ukraine Sept 25 2019.webm

The Trump–Ukraine scandal revolved around efforts by former U.S. president Donald Trump to coerce Ukraine and other foreign countries into providing damaging narratives about 2020 Democratic Party presidential primary candidate Joe Biden, as well as information relating to the origins of previous political attacks against him, such as the claims investigated by Robert Mueller. Trump enlisted surrogates within and outside his official administration, including his lawyer Rudy Giuliani and Attorney General William Barr, to pressure Ukraine and other foreign governments to cooperate in investigating conspiracy theories concerning American politics.{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/trump-involved-pence-in-efforts-to-pressure-ukraines-leader-though-aides-say-vice-president-was-unaware-of-pursuit-of-dirt-on-bidens/2019/10/02/263aa9e2-e4a7-11e9-b403-f738899982d2_story.html|title=Trump involved Pence in efforts to pressure Ukraine's leader, though aides say vice president was unaware of pursuit of dirt on Bidens|last1=Miller|first1=Greg|date=October 2, 2019|newspaper=The Washington Post |access-date=October 2, 2019|url-status=live|archive-url=https://archive.today/20191003002753/https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/trump-involved-pence-in-efforts-to-pressure-ukraines-leader-though-aides-say-vice-president-was-unaware-of-pursuit-of-dirt-on-bidens/2019/10/02/263aa9e2-e4a7-11e9-b403-f738899982d2_story.html|archive-date=October 3, 2019|last2=Jaffe|first2=Greg|last3=Parker|first3=Ashley|url-access=limited}}{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/09/30/us/politics/trump-australia-barr-mueller.html|title=Trump Pressed Australian Leader to Help Barr Investigate Mueller Inquiry's Origins|last1=Mazzetti|first1=Mark|date=September 30, 2019|work=The New York Times|access-date=October 4, 2019|url-status=live|archive-url=https://archive.today/20191003014641/https://www.nytimes.com/2019/09/30/us/politics/trump-australia-barr-mueller.html|archive-date=October 3, 2019|last2=Benner|first2=Katie|url-access=limited}}{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/10/03/us/politics/trump-china-bidens.html|title=Trump Publicly Urges China to Investigate the Bidens |last1=Baker|first1=Peter|date=October 3, 2019|work=The New York Times |access-date=October 4, 2019|url-status=live|archive-url=https://archive.today/20191003161404/https://www.nytimes.com/2019/10/03/us/politics/trump-china-bidens.html|archive-date=October 3, 2019|last2=Sullivan|first2=Eileen|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331|url-access=limited}}{{cite news |first1=Veronica |last1=Stracqualursi |first2=Michael |last2=Warren |url=https://www.cnn.com/2019/10/12/politics/giuliani-trump-ukraine-russia-impeachment-inquiry/index.html |title=Rudy Giuliani tells CNN he's unaware he's under investigation for Ukraine involvement |publisher=CNN |date=October 12, 2019 |quote=the unraveling Ukraine scandal |access-date=December 18, 2019 |archive-date=November 17, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201117190808/https://www.cnn.com/2019/10/12/politics/giuliani-trump-ukraine-russia-impeachment-inquiry/index.html |url-status=live }}{{cite news |last1=Mallin |first1=Alexander |first2=Jonathan |last2=Karl |title=Barr asked Trump for introductions to Italy, Australia in Russia probe review |url=https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/barr-asked-trump-introductions-australia-italy-review-russia/story?id=65964849 |date=September 30, 2019 |work=ABC News |access-date=October 20, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191006025016/https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/barr-asked-trump-introductions-australia-italy-review-russia/story?id=65964849 |archive-date=October 6, 2019 |url-status=live}} Trump blocked but later released payment of a congressionally mandated $400 million military aid package to allegedly obtain quid pro quo cooperation from Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the president of Ukraine. A number of contacts were established between the White House and the government of Ukraine, culminating in a phone call between Trump and Zelenskyy on July 25, 2019.{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2019/10/04/us/politics/ukraine-text-messages-volker.html|title=Read the Text Messages Between U.S. and Ukrainian Officials|last1=Savage|first1=Charlie|date=October 4, 2019|newspaper=The New York Times|access-date=October 5, 2019|url-status=live|archive-url=https://archive.today/20191011043711/https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2019/10/04/us/politics/ukraine-text-messages-volker.html|archive-date=October 11, 2019|last2=Williams |first2=Josh|quote=A newly released set of text exchanges revealed details about President Trump's efforts to use American foreign policy to benefit himself.|author-link=Charlie Savage (author)|url-access=limited}} Less than two hours later, on behalf of the President, senior executive budget official Michael Duffey discreetly instructed the Pentagon to continue withholding military aid to Ukraine.{{efn|This remained classified until December 2019.{{cite news |last1=Stolberg |first1=Sheryl Gay |title=Democrats, Citing White House Emails, Renew Calls for Impeachment Witnesses |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/12/22/us/politics/democrats-impeachment-witnesses.html |access-date=January 5, 2020 |work=The New York Times |date=December 22, 2019 |archive-date=December 26, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191226014220/https://www.nytimes.com/2019/12/22/us/politics/democrats-impeachment-witnesses.html |url-status=live }}}}

The scandal reached public attention in mid-September 2019 after a whistleblower complaint made in August 2019.{{cite news |publisher=CNN |url=https://www.cnn.com/2019/11/09/politics/impeachment-transcript-takeaways/index.html |title=We read all 2,677 pages of impeachment inquiry testimony released to date. Here's what's clear. |first1=Manu |last1=Raju |first2=Jeremy |last2=Herb |first3=Marshall |last3=Cohen |date=November 9, 2019 |access-date=November 11, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191110235639/https://www.cnn.com/2019/11/09/politics/impeachment-transcript-takeaways/index.html |archive-date=November 10, 2019 |url-status=live}} The complaint raised concerns about Trump using presidential powers to solicit foreign electoral intervention in the 2020 U.S. presidential election.{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/house-intelligence-committee-releases-whistleblowers-complaint-citing-trumps-call-with-ukraines-president/2019/09/26/402052ee-e056-11e9-be96-6adb81821e90_story.html|title=Whistleblower claimed Trump abused his office and that White House officials tried to cover it up|last=Barrett|first=Devlin|date=September 26, 2019|newspaper=The Washington Post|access-date=September 29, 2019|url-status=live|archive-url=https://archive.today/20190926143727/https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/house-intelligence-committee-releases-whistleblowers-complaint-citing-trumps-call-with-ukraines-president/2019/09/26/402052ee-e056-11e9-be96-6adb81821e90_story.html|archive-date=September 26, 2019|url-access=limited}} The Trump White House has corroborated several allegations raised by the whistleblower. A non-verbatim transcript of the Trump–Zelenskyy call confirmed that Trump requested investigations into Joe Biden and his son Hunter, as well as a discredited conspiracy theory involving a Democratic National Committee server,{{cite web |title=Telephone Conversation with President Zelenskyy of Ukraine |url=https://trumpwhitehouse.archives.gov/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/Unclassified09.2019.pdf |access-date=December 26, 2019 |date=September 24, 2019 |archive-date=January 20, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210120173711/https://trumpwhitehouse.archives.gov/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/Unclassified09.2019.pdf |via=National Archives |work=whitehouse.gov |url-status=live }}{{Cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/10/29/us/politics/alexander-vindman-trump-ukraine.html |title=White House Ukraine Expert Sought to Correct Transcript of Trump Call |first1=Julian E. |last1=Barnes |first2=Nicholas |last2=Fandos |first3=Danny |last3=Hakim |date=October 29, 2019 |newspaper=The New York Times |access-date=February 6, 2020 |archive-date=January 16, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200116064035/https://www.nytimes.com/2019/10/29/us/politics/alexander-vindman-trump-ukraine.html |url-status=live }} while repeatedly urging Zelenskyy to work with Giuliani and Barr on these matters.{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2019/09/27/trump-says-whistleblower-complaint-isnt-accurate-white-house-keeps-showing-how-it-is/|title=Trump says the whistleblower complaint isn't accurate. The White House keeps showing how it is.|last1=Bump|first1=Philip|date=September 27, 2019|newspaper=The Washington Post|access-date=October 4, 2019|url-status=live|archive-url=https://archive.today/20191012223748/https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2019/09/27/trump-says-whistleblower-complaint-isnt-accurate-white-house-keeps-showing-how-it-is/|archive-date=October 12, 2019|url-access=limited}}{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/mounting-evidence-buttresses-the-facts-laid-out-in-whistleblower-complaint/2019/10/05/c752843e-e6b5-11e9-b403-f738899982d2_story.html|title=Mounting evidence buttresses the facts laid out in whistleblower complaint|last=Helderman|first=Rosalind S.|date=October 5, 2019|newspaper=The Washington Post|access-date=October 5, 2019|url-status=live|archive-url=https://archive.today/20191005220957/https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/mounting-evidence-buttresses-the-facts-laid-out-in-whistleblower-complaint/2019/10/05/c752843e-e6b5-11e9-b403-f738899982d2_story.html|archive-date=October 5, 2019|author-link=Rosalind S. Helderman|url-access=limited}} The White House also confirmed that the record of the call had been transferred to a highly classified system.{{cite news |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2019/09/27/politics/donald-trump-ukraine-transcript-white-house/index.html|title=First on CNN: White House says lawyers directed moving Ukraine transcript to highly secure system|last1=Brown|first1=Pamela|date=September 27, 2019|access-date=October 4, 2019|url-status=live|archive-url=https://archive.today/20191012224947/https://edition.cnn.com/2019/09/27/politics/donald-trump-ukraine-transcript-white-house/index.html|archive-date=October 12, 2019|publisher=CNN}}{{cite news |url=https://www.apnews.com/article/ec576ac2faa942d18450f7bdfac0ef24|title=Subpoenas mark first concrete steps for Trump impeachment|last1=Miller|first1=Zeke|date=September 28, 2019|access-date=October 4, 2019|url-status=live|archive-url=https://archive.today/20191012224337/https://www.apnews.com/ec576ac2faa942d18450f7bdfac0ef24|archive-date=October 12, 2019|work=Associated Press|last2=Tucker|first2=Eric|last3=Balsamo|first3=Michael}} White House acting chief of staff Mick Mulvaney said one reason why Trump withheld military aid to Ukraine was Ukrainian "corruption related to the DNC server", referring to a debunked theory that Ukrainians framed Russia for hacking into the DNC computer system.{{cite news |last1=Becket |first1=Stefan |last2=Segers |first2=Grace |last3=Watson |first3=Kathryn |title=Mulvaney links delay in Ukraine aid to DOJ investigation into 2016 |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/live-news/trump-impeachment-inquiry-latest-kurt-volker-gordon-sondland-testimony-2019-10-17/ |work=CBS News |date=October 18, 2019 |access-date=October 31, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191029192841/https://www.cbsnews.com/live-news/trump-impeachment-inquiry-latest-kurt-volker-gordon-sondland-testimony-2019-10-17/ |archive-date=October 29, 2019 |url-status=live}} After the impeachment inquiry began, Trump publicly urged Ukraine and China to investigate the Bidens.{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/trump-publicly-calls-on-china-to-investigate-bidens/2019/10/03/2ae94f6a-e5f2-11e9-b403-f738899982d2_story.html|title=Trump publicly calls on China to investigate Bidens|last1=Rucker|first1=Philip|date=October 4, 2019|newspaper=The Washington Post|access-date=October 4, 2019|url-status=live|archive-url=https://archive.today/20191012225550/https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/trump-publicly-calls-on-china-to-investigate-bidens/2019/10/03/2ae94f6a-e5f2-11e9-b403-f738899982d2_story.html|archive-date=October 12, 2019|last2=Bade|first2=Rachael|last3=Itkowitz|first3=Colby|url-access=limited}} Bill Taylor, the Trump administration's top diplomat to Ukraine, testified that he was told that U.S. military aid to Ukraine and a Trump–Zelenskyy White House meeting were conditioned on Zelenskyy publicly announcing investigations into the Bidens and alleged Ukrainian interference in the 2016 U.S. elections.{{cite news |last1=Bade |first1=Rachael |last2=Gearan |first2=Anne |last3=Demirjan |first3=Karoun |last4=DeBonis |first4=Mike |title=Trump made Ukraine aid contingent on public pledge to investigate Bidens and 2016 election, U.S. envoy says he was told |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/powerpost/diplomat-who-raised-alarm-about-withholding-aid-to-ukraine-testifies-in-impeachment-probe/2019/10/22/086fb850-f436-11e9-8cf0-4cc99f74d127_story.html |date=October 22, 2019 |newspaper=The Washington Post |access-date=October 28, 2019 |archive-date=January 8, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210108015859/https://www.washingtonpost.com/powerpost/diplomat-who-raised-alarm-about-withholding-aid-to-ukraine-testifies-in-impeachment-probe/2019/10/22/086fb850-f436-11e9-8cf0-4cc99f74d127_story.html |url-status=live }} United States ambassador to the European Union Gordon Sondland testified that he worked with Giuliani at Trump's "express direction" to arrange a quid pro quo with the Ukraine government.{{cite news |title=Impeachment inquiry: Donald Trump directed Ukraine to dig up dirt on Joe Biden, ambassador claims |date=November 20, 2019 |publisher=iNews |url=https://inews.co.uk/news/world/donald-trump-impeachment-hearing-ukraine-ambassador-quid-pro-quo-1315067 |access-date=November 24, 2019 |archive-date=January 8, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210108015851/https://inews.co.uk/news/world/donald-trump-impeachment-hearing-ukraine-ambassador-quid-pro-quo-365511 |url-status=live }}

{{main|Impeachment inquiry into Donald Trump}}

On the evening of September 24, 2019, Pelosi announced that six committees of the House of Representatives would begin a formal impeachment inquiry into President Trump. Pelosi accused the President of betraying his oath of office, national security, and the integrity of the country's elections.{{Cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/powerpost/pelosi-top-democrats-privately-discuss-creation-of-select-committee-for-impeachment/2019/09/24/af6f735a-dedf-11e9-b199-f638bf2c340f_story.html |title=Pelosi announces impeachment inquiry, says Trump's courting of foreign political help is a 'betrayal of national security' |last1=Bade |first1=Rachael |date=September 24, 2019 |newspaper=The Washington Post |last2=DeBonis |first2=Mike|access-date=September 24, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190924201421/https://www.washingtonpost.com/powerpost/pelosi-top-democrats-privately-discuss-creation-of-select-committee-for-impeachment/2019/09/24/af6f735a-dedf-11e9-b199-f638bf2c340f_story.html|archive-date=September 24, 2019 |url-status=live}}{{Cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/09/24/us/politics/democrats-impeachment-trump.html |title=Nancy Pelosi Announces Formal Impeachment Inquiry of Trump |last=Fandos |first=Nicholas |author-link=Nicholas Fandos |date=September 24, 2019 |work=The New York Times |issn=0362-4331 |access-date=September 24, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190924150010/https://www.nytimes.com/2019/09/24/us/politics/democrats-impeachment-trump.html|archive-date=September 24, 2019 |url-status=live}}{{cite news |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/trump-impeachment-inquiry/pelosi-announce-formal-impeachment-inquiry-trump-n1058251 |title=Nancy Pelosi announces formal impeachment inquiry of Trump |last1=Przybyla |first1=Heidi |last2=Edelman |first2=Adam |date=September 24, 2019 |work=NBC News |url-status=live |access-date=September 24, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190924193028/https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/trump-impeachment-inquiry/pelosi-announce-formal-impeachment-inquiry-trump-n1058251|archive-date=September 24, 2019}} The six committees charged with the task were those on Financial Services, the Judiciary, Intelligence, Foreign Affairs, Oversight and Reform, and Ways and Means.{{cite news |url=https://www.rollcall.com/news/congress/pelosi-announces-formal-impeachment-inquiry |title=Pelosi announces formal impeachment inquiry, but leaves some questions |last=McPherson |first=Lindsey |date=September 24, 2019 |work=Roll Call |access-date=September 25, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190924234239/https://www.rollcall.com/news/congress/pelosi-announces-formal-impeachment-inquiry|archive-date=September 24, 2019 |url-status=live}}

In October 2019, three congressional committees (Intelligence, Oversight, and Foreign Affairs) deposed witnesses, including Ambassador Taylor,{{cite news |first1=Stefan |last1=Becket |first2=Arden |last2=Farhi |first3=Kathryn |last3=Watson |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/bill-taylor-opening-statement-read-the-full-text-of-the-top-us-diplomats-statement-to-congress/ |title=Top diplomat tells lawmakers Ukraine aid was directly tied to investigations |date=October 23, 2019 |work=CBS News |url-status=live |access-date=October 24, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191108195849/https://www.cbsnews.com/news/bill-taylor-opening-statement-read-the-full-text-of-the-top-us-diplomats-statement-to-congress/ |archive-date=November 8, 2019}} Laura Cooper (the deputy assistant secretary of defense for Russian, Ukrainian, and Eurasian affairs),{{cite news |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/trump-impeachment-inquiry/laura-cooper-pentagon-official-overseeing-ukraine-testifies-impeachment-inquiry-n1070586 |title=Key Pentagon official finally testifies after Republicans storm impeachment hearing |date=October 23, 2019 |work=NBC News |url-status=live |first1=Alex |last1=Moe |first2=Rebecca |last2=Shabad |access-date=October 24, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191024024641/https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/trump-impeachment-inquiry/laura-cooper-pentagon-official-overseeing-ukraine-testifies-impeachment-inquiry-n1070586 |archive-date=October 24, 2019}} and former White House official Fiona Hill.{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/trumps-former-top-russia-adviser-to-testify-in-house-impeachment-probe/2019/10/14/e6015c1c-ee34-11e9-8693-f487e46784aa_story.html |title=Trump's ex-Russia adviser told impeachment investigators of Giuliani's efforts in Ukraine |last1=Demirjian |first1=Karoun |last2=Harris |first2=Shane |last3=Rachael |first3=Bade |date=October 14, 2019 |newspaper=The Washington Post |access-date=October 15, 2019 |archive-date=January 8, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210108015853/https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/trumps-former-top-russia-adviser-to-testify-in-house-impeachment-probe/2019/10/14/e6015c1c-ee34-11e9-8693-f487e46784aa_story.html |url-status=live }} Witnesses testified that they believed that President Trump wanted Zelenskyy to publicly announce investigations into the Bidens and Burisma (a Ukrainian natural gas company on whose board Hunter Biden had served){{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/11/07/world/europe/ukraine-trump-zelensky.html|title=Ukraine's Zelensky Bowed to Trump's Demands, Until Luck Spared Him|last=Kramer|first=Andrew E.|date=November 7, 2019|work=The New York Times |access-date=November 26, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191107121834/https://www.nytimes.com/2019/11/07/world/europe/ukraine-trump-zelensky.html|archive-date=November 7, 2019|url-status=live}}{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/10/24/world/europe/ukraine-war-impeachment.html|title=The Cost of Trump's Aid Freeze in the Trenches of Ukraine's War|last=Kramer|first=Andrew E.|date=October 24, 2019|work=The New York Times|oclc=1645522 |access-date=November 13, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191101094603/https://www.nytimes.com/2019/10/24/world/europe/ukraine-war-impeachment.html|archive-date=November 1, 2019|url-status=live}} and 2016 election interference. On October 8, in a letter from White House counsel Pat Cipollone to House speaker Pelosi, the White House officially responded that it would not cooperate with the investigation due to concerns including that there had not yet been a vote of the full House and that interviews of witnesses were being conducted behind closed doors.{{Cite news |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-49981806 |title=White House 'will not co-operate with impeachment inquiry' |date=October 9, 2019 |work=BBC News |access-date=October 9, 2019 |archive-date=January 8, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210108015845/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-49981806 |url-status=live }}{{Cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2019/10/09/white-houses-scathing-legally-questionable-impeachment-letter-annotated/ |title=The White House's scathing and legally dubious impeachment letter, annotated |last1=Blake |first1=Aaron |date=October 9, 2019 |newspaper=The Washington Post |issn=0190-8286 |oclc=2269358 |access-date=October 11, 2019 |url-access=limited |archive-date=January 8, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210108015905/https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2019/10/09/white-houses-scathing-legally-questionable-impeachment-letter-annotated/ |url-status=live }} On October 17, Mulvaney said in response to a reporter's allegation of quid pro quo, "We do that all the time with foreign policy. Get over it." He walked back his comments later that day, asserting there had been "absolutely no quid pro quo" and that Trump had withheld military aid to Ukraine over concerns of the country's corruption.{{cite news |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/donald-trump/mulvaney-acknowledges-trump-held-ukraine-aid-political-reasons-get-over-n1068256 |title=Mulvaney acknowledges Trump held up Ukraine aid for political reasons: 'Get over it' |last=Smith |first=Allan |date=October 17, 2019 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20191024095917/https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/donald-trump/mulvaney-acknowledges-trump-held-ukraine-aid-political-reasons-get-over-n1068256 |archive-date=October 24, 2019 |work=NBC News |access-date=November 5, 2019}}

On October 29, 2019, Massachusetts representative Jim McGovern introduced a resolution referred to the House Rules Committee, which set forth the "format of open hearings in the House Intelligence Committee, including staff-led questioning of witnesses, and [authorization for] the public release of deposition transcripts".{{cite web |url=https://foreignaffairs.house.gov/2019/10/four-chairs-statement-on-resolution-for-open-hearings-on-trump-s-abuse-of-power |title=Four Chairs Statement on Resolution for Open Hearings on Trump's Abuse of Power |date=October 29, 2019 |publisher=House Foreign Affairs Committee |language=en |access-date=October 30, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191030061809/https://foreignaffairs.house.gov/2019/10/four-chairs-statement-on-resolution-for-open-hearings-on-trump-s-abuse-of-power |archive-date=October 30, 2019 |url-status=live}}{{cite news |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/live-news/trump-impeachment-inquiry-latest-alexander-vindman-to-testify-2019-10-29/ |title=House Democrats unveil impeachment resolution—live updates |last1=Segers |first1=Grace |last2=Watson |first2=Kathryn |last3=Tillett |first3=Emily |last4=Becket |first4=Stefan |date=October 29, 2019 |work=CBS News |language=en-US |url-status=live |access-date=October 30, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191030035422/https://www.cbsnews.com/live-news/trump-impeachment-inquiry-latest-alexander-vindman-to-testify-2019-10-29/ |archive-date=October 30, 2019}} This resolution, formally authorizing the impeachment inquiry, was approved by the House by a vote of 232 to 196 on October 31, 2019.{{cite news |date=October 31, 2019 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/10/31/us/politics/house-impeachment-vote.html |title=A Divided House Endorses Impeachment Inquiry Into Trump |newspaper=The New York Times |first1=Nicholas |last1=Fandos |first2=Sheryl Gay |last2=Stolberg |access-date=January 25, 2020 |archive-date=January 8, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200108164927/https://www.nytimes.com/2019/10/31/us/politics/house-impeachment-vote.html |url-status=live }} In November 2019, the House Intelligence Committee held a number of public hearings in which witnesses testified publicly. On November 13, Taylor and Kent testified publicly.{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/impeachment-hearings-begin-with-revelation-of-phone-call-implicating-trump-in-ukraine-scandal/2019/11/13/de8d21b8-063b-11ea-b17d-8b867891d39d_story.html|date=November 13, 2019|title=Impeachment hearings begin with new evidence of phone call implicating Trump in Ukraine controversy|first1=Karoun|last1=Demirjian|newspaper=The Washington Post |access-date=December 19, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191218143949/https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/impeachment-hearings-begin-with-revelation-of-phone-call-implicating-trump-in-ukraine-scandal/2019/11/13/de8d21b8-063b-11ea-b17d-8b867891d39d_story.html|archive-date=December 18, 2019|url-status=live}} Ambassador Marie Yovanovitch testified before the committee on November 15, 2019.{{cite news|url=https://www.cnn.com/2019/11/15/politics/public-impeachment-hearings-day-2/index.html|title=Former U.S. ambassador to Ukraine tells impeachment inquiry she was 'shocked and devastated' after being removed from her post|last1=Herb|first1=Jeremy|last2=Raju|first2=Manu|date=November 15, 2019|publisher=CNN|access-date=November 15, 2019|archive-date=January 8, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210108015854/https://www.cnn.com/2019/11/15/politics/public-impeachment-hearings-day-2/index.html|url-status=live}} Lieutenant Colonel Alexander Vindman, the National Security Council's head of European affairs, and Jennifer Williams, Vice President Mike Pence's chief European security adviser, testified together on the morning of November 19, 2019.{{cite news |url=https://www.politico.com/news/2019/11/19/impeachment-hearings-live-highlights-and-updates-071459|title=Election meddling, an 'improper' call, and twins: What we learned in Vindman and Williams' testimony|work=Politico|first1=Natasha|last1=Bertrand|first2=Quint|last2=Forgey|first3=Abbey|last3=Marshall|date=November 19, 2019|access-date=November 20, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191119173843/https://www.politico.com/news/2019/11/19/impeachment-hearings-live-highlights-and-updates-071459|archive-date=November 19, 2019|url-status=live}} Later that day, Kurt Volker, the former U.S. special representative for Ukraine, and Tim Morrison, the former national security presidential adviser on Europe and Russia, gave public testimony before the House Intelligence Committee.{{cite news |first=Kevin |last=Liptak |url=https://www.cnn.com/politics/live-news/impeachment-hearing-11-19-19/h_fcef5e3a2b318f1fee6c3405a9b80d06|title=Morrison and Volker are the witnesses Republicans requested|date=November 19, 2019|publisher=CNN|access-date=December 19, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191215085546/https://www.cnn.com/politics/live-news/impeachment-hearing-11-19-19/h_fcef5e3a2b318f1fee6c3405a9b80d06|archive-date=December 15, 2019|url-status=live}} Also subpoenaed were Foreign Service officers Catherine Croft, Jennifer Williams, Christopher Anderson, and Suriya Jayanti.{{Cite news|title=Who's involved in the Trump impeachment inquiry|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/graphics/politics/trump-impeachment-key-figures/|access-date=January 31, 2021|newspaper=The Washington Post|language=en}}

File:Open Hearing with Dr. Fiona Hill and David Holmes.jpg and David Holmes on November 21, 2019]]

On November 20, 2019, Ambassador Sondland testified that he conducted his work with Giuliani at the "express direction of the president",{{cite news |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/trump-impeachment-inquiry/6-things-we-learned-gordon-sondland-s-impeachment-testimony-so-n1086841|title=6 things we learned from Gordon Sondland's impeachment testimony|last=Edelman|first=Adam|date=November 20, 2019|work=NBC News|access-date=November 20, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191120212911/https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/trump-impeachment-inquiry/6-things-we-learned-gordon-sondland-s-impeachment-testimony-so-n1086841|archive-date=November 20, 2019|url-status=live}} and that he understood a potential White House invitation for Zelenskyy to be contingent on Ukraine announcing investigations into the 2016 elections and Burisma.{{cite news|url=https://www.ft.com/content/30e68c3b-31fd-3736-a55a-b23189da2db1|title=Trump seeks to distance himself from Sondland|date=November 20, 2019|work=Financial Times|access-date=November 20, 2019|archive-date=January 8, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210108015847/https://www.ft.com/content/30e68c3b-31fd-3736-a55a-b23189da2db1|url-status=live}}{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/11/20/us/politics/impeachment-hearings.html|title=Impeachment Hearing Live Updates: Gordon Sondland Ties Trump to Ukraine Pressure Campaign|last1=Baker|first1=Peter|date=November 20, 2019|work=The New York Times|access-date=November 20, 2019|last2=Schmidt|first2=Michael S.|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331|archive-date=January 8, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210108015855/https://www.nytimes.com/2019/11/20/us/politics/impeachment-hearings.html|url-status=live}} Later that day, Cooper and David Hale, the under secretary of state for political affairs, testified jointly before the committee.{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2019/11/20/takeaways-laura-coopers-david-hales-testimony-about-military-aid-ukraine/ |first=Amber |last=Phillips |date=November 20, 2019 |title=3 takeaways from Laura Cooper's and David Hale's testimony |newspaper=The Washington Post |access-date=December 19, 2019 |archive-date=January 8, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210108015912/https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2019/11/20/takeaways-laura-coopers-david-hales-testimony-about-military-aid-ukraine/ |url-status=live }} On November 21, 2019, Fiona Hill – who, until August 2019, was the top Russia expert on the National Security Council – criticized Republicans for promulgating the "fictional narrative" that Ukraine rather than Russia interfered in the 2016 election, asserting that the theory was planted by Russia and played into its hands.{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/11/21/us/politics/impeachment-hearing.html|title=Impeachment Inquiry Live Updates: Fiona Hill Denounces 'Fictional' Claim of Ukraine Meddling in 2016|first=Michael D.|last=Shear|author-link=Michael D. Shear|date=November 21, 2019|work=The New York Times|access-date=December 19, 2019|archive-date=January 8, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210108015841/https://www.nytimes.com/2019/11/21/us/politics/impeachment-hearing.html|url-status=live}}{{cite news |url=https://www.pressherald.com/2019/11/21/todays-witnesses-will-cap-intense-week-in-impeachment-inquiry/ |title=Ex-official undercuts Trump defense: Hill testifies to diplomat's 'domestic political errand' and warns against Russia |last1=Mascaro |first1=Lisa |first2=Mary Clare |last2=Jalonick |last3=Tucker |first3=Eric |agency=Associated Press |date=November 22, 2019 |access-date=December 19, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191122200053/https://www.pressherald.com/2019/11/21/todays-witnesses-will-cap-intense-week-in-impeachment-inquiry/ |archive-date=November 22, 2019 |url-status=live}} Testifying alongside Hill was David Holmes, the current head of political affairs in the U.S. Embassy in Ukraine.{{cite news|url=https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/witness-david-holmes-expresses-concerns-about-giulianis-role-in-ukraine|title=WATCH: Witness David Holmes expresses concerns about Giuliani's role in Ukraine|agency=Associated Press|work=PBS NewsHour|date=November 21, 2019|access-date=November 21, 2019|archive-date=January 8, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210108015905/https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/witness-david-holmes-expresses-concerns-about-giulianis-role-in-ukraine|url-status=live}}{{Cite news |date=November 21, 2019 |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2019/11/21/david-holmes-made-clear-how-pressure-was-applied-ukraine-how-that-pressure-continues/ |title=David Holmes made clear how pressure was applied to Ukraine—and how that pressure continues |first=Philip |last=Bump |newspaper=The Washington Post |access-date=December 19, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191124072039/https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2019/11/21/david-holmes-made-clear-how-pressure-was-applied-ukraine-how-that-pressure-continues/ |archive-date=November 24, 2019 |url-status=live}}{{cite news |first=Amber |last=Phillips |date=November 21, 2019 |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2019/11/20/who-is-david-holmes-why-does-his-public-testimony-matter/|title=Who is David Holmes and why does his public testimony matter?|newspaper=The Washington Post|access-date=December 19, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191218133428/https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2019/11/20/who-is-david-holmes-why-does-his-public-testimony-matter/|archive-date=December 18, 2019|url-status=live}}

On December 3, the House Intelligence Committee voted 13–9 along party lines to adopt a final report and also send it to the House Judiciary Committee.{{cite news |url=https://www.cnn.com/2019/12/03/politics/house-intelligence-committee-report/index.html|title=House Democrats vote to send impeachment report to Judiciary Committee|first1=Manu|last1=Raju|first2=Jeremy|last2=Herb|publisher=CNN|date=December 3, 2019|access-date=December 4, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191203232830/https://www.cnn.com/2019/12/03/politics/house-intelligence-committee-report/index.html|archive-date=December 3, 2019|url-status=live}}{{cite news |url=https://www.foxnews.com/politics/house-intel-committee-trump-impeachment-report-vote|title=House Democrats vote to adopt Trump impeachment report, blast scheme to 'solicit foreign interference' in 2020 race|first1=Ronn|last1=Blitzer|first2=Gregg|last2=Re|publisher=Fox News|date=December 3, 2019|access-date=December 4, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191204103340/https://www.foxnews.com/politics/house-intel-committee-trump-impeachment-report-vote|archive-date=December 4, 2019|url-status=live}} The report's preface states:

[T]he impeachment inquiry has found that President Trump, personally and acting through agents within and outside of the U.S. government, solicited the interference of a foreign government, Ukraine, to benefit his reelection. In furtherance of this scheme, President Trump conditioned official acts on a public announcement by the new Ukrainian President, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, of politically-motivated investigations, including one into President Trump's domestic political opponent. In pressuring President Zelenskyy to carry out his demand, President Trump withheld a White House meeting desperately sought by the Ukrainian President, and critical U.S. military assistance to fight Russian aggression in eastern Ukraine.{{cite web|url=https://intelligence.house.gov/uploadedfiles/20191203_-_full_report___hpsci_impeachment_inquiry_-_20191203.pdf|title=Report of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, Pursuant to H. Res. 660 in Consultation with the House Committee on Oversight and Reform and the House Committee on Foreign Affairs|date=December 3, 2019|publisher=U.S. House of Representatives Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191204093152/https://intelligence.house.gov/uploadedfiles/20191203_-_full_report___hpsci_impeachment_inquiry_-_20191203.pdf|archive-date=December 4, 2019 |access-date=December 5, 2019}}{{Rp|8–9}}

{{wikisource|Report of the Committee on the Judiciary, House of Representatives: Impeachment of Donald J. Trump, President of the United States}}

File:Impeachment of Donald J. Trump, President of the United States — Report of the Committee on the Judiciary, House of Representatives.pdf

On December 5, Speaker Pelosi authorized the Judiciary Committee to begin drafting articles of impeachment.{{cite news |url=https://thehill.com/homenews/morning-report/473326-the-hills-morning-report|title=The Hill's Morning Report — Pelosi makes it official: Trump will be impeached|last=Rowland|first=Geoffrey|date=December 6, 2019|website=The Hill|access-date=December 6, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191206163110/https://thehill.com/homenews/morning-report/473326-the-hills-morning-report|archive-date=December 6, 2019|url-status=live}}

A set of impeachment hearings was brought before the Judiciary Committee, with Trump and his lawyers being invited to attend.{{cite news |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/trump-impeachment-inquiry/house-judiciary-committee-announces-first-impeachment-hearing-invites-trump-attend-n1091861|title=House Judiciary Committee announces first impeachment hearing, invites Trump to attend|last=Gregorian|first=Dareh|date=November 26, 2019 |work=NBC News |access-date=November 27, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191127051745/https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/trump-impeachment-inquiry/house-judiciary-committee-announces-first-impeachment-hearing-invites-trump-attend-n1091861|archive-date=November 27, 2019|url-status=live}}{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2019/nov/26/trump-house-judiciary-committee-impeachment-hearing|title=Trump invited to House judiciary committee's first impeachment hearing|last=Gambino|first=Lauren|date=November 26, 2019|newspaper=The Guardian|access-date=December 10, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191210205800/https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2019/nov/26/trump-house-judiciary-committee-impeachment-hearing|archive-date=December 10, 2019|url-status=live}} The administration declined as the President was scheduled to attend a NATO summit in London.{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-50625550|title=Trump will not participate in impeachment hearing, White House says|date=December 2, 2019|work=BBC News|access-date=December 4, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191204211414/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-50625550|archive-date=December 4, 2019|url-status=live}} In a second letter on December 6, Cipollone again said that the White House would not offer a defense or otherwise participate in the impeachment inquiry, writing to chairman Jerry Nadler, "As you know, your impeachment inquiry is completely baseless and has violated basic principles of due process and fundamental fairness."{{cite news |url=https://www.foxnews.com/politics/trump-responds-to-impeachment-deadline-i|title=White House won't participate in impeachment hearings, tells Nadler to 'end this inquiry now'|last=Schultz|first=Marisa|date=December 6, 2019|publisher=Fox News|language=en-US|url-status=live|access-date=December 6, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191206215143/https://www.foxnews.com/politics/trump-responds-to-impeachment-deadline-i|archive-date=December 6, 2019}} Nadler responded in a statement, "We gave President Trump a fair opportunity to question witnesses and present his own to address the overwhelming evidence before us. After listening to him complain about the impeachment process, we had hoped that he might accept our invitation."{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2019/12/06/bfe7e3a0-1852-11ea-bf81-ebe89f477d1e_story.html|title=White House rejects House Democrats' invitation to participate in impeachment process as Trump focuses on friendly Senate|last=Kim|first=Seung Min|date=December 6, 2019|newspaper=The Washington Post|language=en|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191207184520/https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2019/12/06/bfe7e3a0-1852-11ea-bf81-ebe89f477d1e_story.html|archive-date=December 7, 2019|access-date=December 8, 2019}}

The first hearing, held on December 4, 2019, was an academic discussion on the definition of an impeachable offense. The witnesses invited by Democrats were law professors Noah Feldman from Harvard, Pamela S. Karlan from Stanford, and Michael Gerhardt from the University of North Carolina. Republicans invited Jonathan Turley, a constitutional scholar at George Washington University;{{cite news |url=https://www.politico.com/news/2019/12/02/judiciary-witnesses-impeachment-trump-074799|title=House Judiciary reveals witnesses for first impeachment hearing|date=December 2, 2019|work=Politico|access-date=December 4, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191203154406/https://www.politico.com/news/2019/12/02/judiciary-witnesses-impeachment-trump-074799|archive-date=December 3, 2019|url-status=live}}{{cite news |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/culture/culture-news/the-worst-congress-ever-161304/ |title=The Worst Congress Ever|date=October 17, 2006|magazine=Rolling Stone|url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061130111243/http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/story/12055360/cover_story_time_to_go_inside_the_worst_congress_ever/6|archive-date=November 30, 2006}} Turley, who had testified in favor of the impeachment of President Bill Clinton in 1999,{{cite web|url=https://jonathanturley.org/2007/08/20/clinton-impeachment-testimony-house-judiciary-committee/ |title=Clinton Impeachment Testimony|date=August 20, 2007|publisher=House Judiciary Committee|access-date=December 10, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191206222713/https://jonathanturley.org/2007/08/20/clinton-impeachment-testimony-house-judiciary-committee/|archive-date=December 6, 2019|url-status=live}}{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/politics/special/clinton/stories/articleiv121298.htm|title=The Impeachment Hearings, Debate on Article IV|date=December 12, 1998|publisher=Federal News Service|access-date=December 10, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20000817185716/https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/politics/special/clinton/stories/articleiv121298.htm |archive-date=August 17, 2000 |url-status=live}} testified against impeaching Trump, citing a lack of evidence.{{cite news |url=https://thehill.com/homenews/house/472957-gops-invited-witness-argues-against-trump-impeachment|title=GOP witness to say Trump impeachment would set a 'dangerous precedent'|date=December 4, 2019|website=The Hill|access-date=December 4, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191204173142/https://thehill.com/homenews/house/472957-gops-invited-witness-argues-against-trump-impeachment|archive-date=December 4, 2019|url-status=live}} It was observed that he contradicted his own opinion on impeachment from when Clinton was on trial.{{cite news |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/republican-witness-jonathan-turley-contradicted-impeachment-testimony-2019-12|title=The GOP's only impeachment witness on Wednesday contradicted his own previous testimony|last=Sheth|first=Sonam|date=December 4, 2019|work=Business Insider|access-date=December 5, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191205020545/https://www.businessinsider.com/republican-witness-jonathan-turley-contradicted-impeachment-testimony-2019-12|archive-date=December 5, 2019|url-status=live}}{{cite news |url=https://www.esquire.com/news-politics/politics/a30122007/jonathan-turley-impeachment-hearing-trump-ukraine/|title=Jonathan Turley Is Exhibit A That the Clinton Debacle Never Really Ended|last=Pierce|first=Charles|date=December 4, 2019|work=Esquire|access-date=December 5, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191211121744/https://www.esquire.com/news-politics/politics/a30122007/jonathan-turley-impeachment-hearing-trump-ukraine/|archive-date=December 11, 2019|url-status=live}}{{cite news |url=https://www.newsweek.com/clinton-trump-impeachment-constitutional-scholars-1475578|title=Trump impeachment hearings: Legal scholars' testimony in both Trump, Clinton cases stress 'Abuse of power'|last=Crowley|first=James|date=December 4, 2019|work=Newsweek|access-date=December 5, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191205011551/https://www.newsweek.com/clinton-trump-impeachment-constitutional-scholars-1475578|archive-date=December 5, 2019|url-status=live}}

Potential articles of impeachment outlined during the hearing include abuse of power for arranging a quid pro quo with the president of Ukraine, obstruction of Congress for hindering the House's investigation, and obstruction of justice for attempting to dismiss Robert Mueller during his investigation of Russian interference in the 2016 election.{{cite news |url=https://www.latimes.com/politics/story/2019-12-04/impeachment-hearing-sparks-partisan-brawl|title=Democrats outline potential articles of impeachment against Trump|last1=Megerian|first1=Chris |last2=Haberkorn|first2=Jennifer|last3=Wire|first3=Sarah D. |date=December 4, 2019|work=Los Angeles Times|access-date=December 4, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191204214820/https://www.latimes.com/politics/story/2019-12-04/impeachment-hearing-sparks-partisan-brawl|archive-date=December 4, 2019|url-status=live}} On December 5, Pelosi requested that the House Judiciary Committee draft articles of impeachment.{{cite news |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/congress/pelosi-make-statement-impeachment-n1096341|title=Pelosi announces full speed ahead with articles of impeachment against Trump|date=December 5, 2019|work=NBC News|access-date=December 5, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191206001640/https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/congress/pelosi-make-statement-impeachment-n1096341|archive-date=December 6, 2019|url-status=live}}{{cite news |url=http://www.startribune.com/pelosi-to-deliver-public-statement-on-trump-impeachment/565827182/|title=Democrats take big new step toward impeaching Trump|date=December 5, 2019|work=Star Tribune|access-date=December 5, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191205185449/http://www.startribune.com/pelosi-to-deliver-public-statement-on-trump-impeachment/565827182/|archive-date=December 5, 2019|url-status=dead }} After the vote, Pelosi said that, while this was "a great day for the Constitution", it was "a sad day for America". She also said, "I could not be prouder or more inspired by the moral courage of the House Democrats. We never asked one of them how they were going to vote. We never whipped this vote."{{cite web|url=https://www.connectedtoindia.com/us-president-donald-trump-impeached-6720.html|title=US President Donald Trump Impeached|date=December 19, 2019|work=ConnectedtoIndia|access-date=December 19, 2019|archive-date=January 8, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210108015907/https://www.connectedtoindia.com/us-president-donald-trump-impeached-6720.html|url-status=live}}

{{wikisource|Articles of Impeachment against Donald Trump}}

File:Articles of Impeachment Read into Congressional Record.webm by Reading Clerk Joe Novotny]]

File:House Resolution 755 — Articles of Impeachment Against President Donald J. Trump.pdf

On December 10, 2019, Democrats on the House Judiciary Committee announced they would levy two articles of impeachment, designated H. Res. 755: (1) abuse of power, and (2) obstruction of Congress,{{cite news |url=https://www.politico.com/news/2019/12/10/democrats-ready-reveal-of-articles-of-impeachment-079950|title=Democrats unveil 2 articles of impeachment against Trump|last1=Desiderio|first1=Andrew|last2=Cheney|first2=Kyle|date=December 10, 2019|website=Politico|language=en|url-status=live|access-date=December 10, 2019|last3=Caygle|first3=Heather|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191210133015/https://www.politico.com/news/2019/12/10/democrats-ready-reveal-of-articles-of-impeachment-079950|archive-date=December 10, 2019}}{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/12/10/us/politics/trump-impeachment-articles.html|title=House Democrats Unveil Articles of Impeachment Against Trump|last=Fandos|first=Nicholas |author-link=Nicholas Fandos |date=December 10, 2019|work=The New York Times|access-date=December 10, 2019|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191210140011/https://www.nytimes.com/2019/12/10/us/politics/trump-impeachment-articles.html|archive-date=December 10, 2019|url-status=live}} in its investigation of the President's conduct regarding Ukraine.{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/trump-impeachment-live-updates/2019/12/10/7b3c093c-1b38-11ea-b4c1-fd0d91b60d9e_story.html|newspaper=The Washington Post|date=December 10, 2019|author1=Wagner, John|author2=Epstein, Kayla|author3=Brice-Saddler, Michael|title=House Democrats unveil two articles of impeachment against Trump; White House predicts 'full exoneration' in GOP-led Senate|access-date=December 11, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191211003657/https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/trump-impeachment-live-updates/2019/12/10/7b3c093c-1b38-11ea-b4c1-fd0d91b60d9e_story.html|archive-date=December 11, 2019|url-status=live}} Draft text of the articles was released later that day,{{cite web |url=https://www.axios.com/articles-of-impeachment-trump-read-7cedb632-d990-40b0-963f-047900cd30d5.html|title=Read the articles of impeachment against Trump|date=December 10, 2019|website=Axios|language=en|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191210161704/https://www.axios.com/articles-of-impeachment-trump-read-7cedb632-d990-40b0-963f-047900cd30d5.html|archive-date=December 10, 2019|access-date=December 10, 2019}} as well as a report by the judiciary committee outlining the constitutional case for impeachment and asserting that "impeachment is part of democratic governance".{{cite news |url=https://www.cnn.com/2019/12/10/politics/articles-impeachment-trump/index.html|title=READ: Articles of impeachment against President Trump|date=December 10, 2019|publisher=CNN|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191210164014/https://www.cnn.com/2019/12/10/politics/articles-impeachment-trump/index.html|archive-date=December 10, 2019|access-date=December 10, 2019}}{{Rp|51}} The committee planned to vote on the articles on December 12,{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2019/dec/09/trump-impeachment-inquiry-what-are-next-steps|title=Trump impeachment inquiry: what are the next steps?|last=McCarthy|first=Tom|date=December 10, 2019|work=The Guardian|access-date=December 10, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191210010349/https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2019/dec/09/trump-impeachment-inquiry-what-are-next-steps|archive-date=December 10, 2019|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://judiciary.house.gov/legislation/markups/h-res-755-articles-impeachment-against-president-donald-j-trump|title=H. Res. 755, Articles of Impeachment Against President Donald J. Trump|date=December 11, 2019|publisher=Committee on the Judiciary – Democrats|access-date=December 18, 2019|archive-date=January 8, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210108015850/https://judiciary.house.gov/calendar/eventsingle.aspx?EventID=2270|url-status=live}} but postponed it to the next day after the 14-hour partisan debate on the final versions of the articles lasted until after 11:00 p.m. EST.{{cite news |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/trump-impeachment-inquiry/judiciary-committee-nears-vote-impeachment-articles-against-trump-n1100811|title=In surprise move infuriating Republicans, Judiciary Committee delays impeachment vote until Friday|first=Rebecca|last=Shabad|date=December 12, 2019|work=NBC News|access-date=December 12, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191213011003/https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/trump-impeachment-inquiry/judiciary-committee-nears-vote-impeachment-articles-against-trump-n1100811|archive-date=December 13, 2019|url-status=live}} On December 13, the Judiciary Committee voted along party lines to pass both articles of impeachment; both articles passed 23–17, with all Democrats present voting in support and all Republicans voting in opposition. Democrat Ted Lieu was ill and not present to vote.{{cite AV media |people=Wolf Blitzer |date=December 13, 2019 |title=Watch the full House Judiciary Committee vote on impeachment |publisher=CNN |at=7:50 |via=YouTube |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZSIe-CTt9U0&t=472s |quote=One Democrat, Ted Lieu of California, he's ill. He could not vote.}}

On December 16, the House Judiciary Committee released a 658-page report on the articles of impeachment, specifying criminal bribery and wire fraud charges as part of the abuse of power article.{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/trump-impeachment-live-updates/2019/12/16/3529da74-1ff1-11ea-bed5-880264cc91a9_story.html|title=Democrats accuse Trump of criminal bribery, wire fraud in report that explains articles of impeachment|date=December 16, 2019|newspaper=The Washington Post|access-date=December 16, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191216130037/https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/trump-impeachment-live-updates/2019/12/16/3529da74-1ff1-11ea-bed5-880264cc91a9_story.html|archive-date=December 16, 2019|url-status=live}} The articles were forwarded to the full House for debate and a vote on whether to impeach the president on December 18.{{cite news|url=https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/house-judiciary-committee-set-vote-trump-impeachment-articles/story?id=67706093|last1=Siegel|first1=Benjamin|last2=Faulders|first2=Katherine|title=House Judiciary Committee passes articles of impeachment against President Trump|date=December 13, 2019|work=ABC News|access-date=December 13, 2019|archive-date=January 8, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210108015901/https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/house-judiciary-committee-set-vote-trump-impeachment-articles/story?id=67706093|url-status=live}}

Article I, Section 2, Clause 5 of the U.S. Constitution states that "The House of Representatives{{Nbsp}}... shall have the sole Power of Impeachment."{{cite web|url=https://www.senate.gov/civics/constitution_item/constitution.htm#a1_sec2|title=Constitution of the United States|website=Senate.gov|publisher=United States Senate|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140210235825/http://www.senate.gov/civics/constitution_item/constitution.htm#a1_sec2|archive-date=February 10, 2014|access-date=December 19, 2019}}

File:WATCH Rep. Hoyer's full statement ahead of House impeachment vote Trump impeachment.webm's full statement ahead of house vote]]

On December 17, the House Rules Committee held a hearing to write the rules governing the debate over impeachment.{{cite web |url=https://rules.house.gov/press-releases/rules-committee-announces-meeting-consider-resolution-impeaching-donald-john-trump|title=Rules Committee Announces Meeting to Consider Resolution Impeaching Donald John Trump, President of the United States, for High Crimes and Misdemeanors|date=December 13, 2019|publisher=House of Representatives Committee on Rules|access-date=December 18, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191213230319/https://rules.house.gov/press-releases/rules-committee-announces-meeting-consider-resolution-impeaching-donald-john-trump|archive-date=December 13, 2019|url-status=live}} The first of three votes was on the rules governing debate: 228 to 197, with all Republicans and two Democrats voting no.{{cite news |url=https://www.cnn.com/2019/12/18/politics/house-impeachment-vote/index.html|title=House debates impeachment of President Donald Trump ahead of historic vote Wednesday|first1=Jeremy|last1=Herb|first2=Manu|last2=Raju|publisher=CNN|access-date=December 18, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191218131025/https://www.cnn.com/2019/12/18/politics/house-impeachment-vote/index.html|archive-date=December 18, 2019|url-status=live}} This was followed by six hours of debate. One of the highlights of this contentious event was Georgia representative Barry Loudermilk comparing the impeachment inquiry of President Trump to the trial of Jesus Christ, saying that the Christian savior was treated far better by the authorities.{{cite news |url=https://www.cnn.com/videos/politics/2019/12/18/house-debate-impeachment-rules-barry-loudermilk-trump-jesus-vpx.cnn|title=Rep. Barry Loudermilk compares Trump impeachment to trial of Jesus Christ – CNN Video|publisher=CNN|access-date=December 18, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191218215400/https://www.cnn.com/videos/politics/2019/12/18/house-debate-impeachment-rules-barry-loudermilk-trump-jesus-vpx.cnn|archive-date=December 18, 2019|url-status=live}} Maryland representative Steny Hoyer contributed closing arguments: "All of us feel a sense of loyalty to party{{Nbsp}}... It's what makes our two-party system function. It's what helps hold presidents and majorities accountable. But party loyalty must have its limits."{{cite web|url=https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2019/12/18/21029136/house-impeachment-debate-steny-hoyer-closing-statement|title=Rep. Steny Hoyer made a quiet, powerful case for bipartisanship during the impeachment debate|last=Collins|first=Sean|date=December 18, 2019|website=Vox|language=en|access-date=January 1, 2020|archive-date=January 12, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200112042503/https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2019/12/18/21029136/house-impeachment-debate-steny-hoyer-closing-statement|url-status=live}}

File:WATCH House votes to impeach Trump Trump impeachment.webm

The formal impeachment vote in the House of Representatives took place on December 18, 2019.{{Cite news |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2019/12/18/house-approves-articles-impeachment-trump-historic-vote/2679963001/ |title=House impeaches Donald Trump in historic vote, reshuffling U.S. politics on eve of 2020 |last=Fritze |first=John |date=December 18, 2019 |work=USA Today |access-date=December 18, 2019 |language=en-US |archive-date=January 8, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210108015905/https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2019/12/18/house-approves-articles-impeachment-trump-historic-vote/2679963001/ |url-status=live }} Shortly after 8:30 p.m. EST, both articles of impeachment passed.{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-50840934|title=Trump becomes third president to be impeached|date=December 18, 2019|work=BBC News|access-date=December 18, 2019|language=en-GB|archive-date=January 8, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210108015853/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-50840934|url-status=live}} The votes for the charge of abuse of power were 230 in favor, 197 against, and 1 present: House Democrats all voted in support, except Collin Peterson and Jeff Van Drew, who voted against,{{cite news |last=Edmondson |first=Catie |date=December 18, 2019 |title=On Historic Impeachment Votes, Three Democrats Cross Party Lines to Vote 'No' |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/12/18/us/politics/how-democrats-voted-on-impeaching-trump.html |quote=Representatives Collin C. Peterson of Minnesota and Jeff Van Drew of New Jersey broke with their party on the abuse of power charge, while Representative Jared Golden of Maine joined them in opposition to the article accusing the president of obstruction of Congress. |access-date=January 11, 2020 |archive-date=January 12, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200112024645/https://www.nytimes.com/2019/12/18/us/politics/how-democrats-voted-on-impeaching-trump.html |url-status=live }} and Tulsi Gabbard, who voted "present"; all House Republicans voted against, although Justin Amash, an independent who was previously Republican, voted in support of both articles.{{Cite news |url=https://www.latimes.com/politics/story/2019-12-18/house-on-track-to-impeach-trump |title=U.S. House impeaches President Trump |last1=Haberkorn |first1=Jennifer |date=December 18, 2019 |work=Los Angeles Times |access-date=December 18, 2019 |url-status=live |last2=Wire |first2=Sarah D. |language=en-US |last3=Megerian |first3=Chris |last4=O'Toole |first4=Molly |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191218140236/https://www.latimes.com/politics/story/2019-12-18/house-on-track-to-impeach-trump |archive-date=December 18, 2019}} The votes for the charge of obstruction of Congress were 229 in favor, 198 against, and 1 present: all Democrats voted in support, except Peterson, Van Drew, and Jared Golden, who voted against; and Gabbard, who again voted "present";{{Cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/12/18/us/politics/trump-impeached.html |title=Trump Impeached for Abuse of Power and Obstruction of Congress |last1=Fandos |first1=Nicholas |author-link=Nicholas Fandos |last2=Shear |first2=Michael D. |author2-link=Michael D. Shear |date=December 18, 2019 |work=The New York Times |access-date=December 18, 2019 |url-status=live |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191218190005/https://www.nytimes.com/2019/12/18/us/politics/trump-impeached.html |archive-date=December 18, 2019}} all Republicans voted against.

Days before the impeachment vote, it was leaked that Jeff Van Drew was planning to switch parties from Democratic to Republican.{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/12/14/us/politics/jeff-van-drew-democrat-republican.html|title=Representative Jeff Van Drew, Anti-Impeachment Democrat, Plans to Switch Parties|first1=Jonathan|last1=Martin|first2=Nick|last2=Corasaniti|date=December 14, 2019|access-date=December 19, 2019|work=The New York Times|archive-date=December 18, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191218211308/https://www.nytimes.com/2019/12/14/us/politics/jeff-van-drew-democrat-republican.html|url-status=live}} A day after the vote, he officially announced that he was switching parties.{{cite web|url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/jeff-van-drew-switches-parties-trump_n_5dfbd87ae4b0eb2264d6a68a|title=Rep. Jeff Van Drew Officially Switches Parties, Pledges 'Undying Support' For Trump|first=Hayley|last=Miller|date=December 19, 2019|website=HuffPost|access-date=July 15, 2020|archive-date=November 25, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201125230258/https://www.huffpost.com/entry/jeff-van-drew-switches-parties-trump_n_5dfbd87ae4b0eb2264d6a68a|url-status=live}}

Three representatives pending retirement did not vote: Republican Duncan D. Hunter, who was banned from voting under the House's rules after pleading guilty to illegally using campaign funds; Democrat José E. Serrano, who had a health setback after being diagnosed with Parkinson's disease earlier in the year; and Republican John Shimkus, who was visiting his son in Tanzania.{{cite news |url=https://www.usnews.com/news/politics/articles/2019-12-18/3-lawmakers-miss-historic-impeachment-votes |title=3 Lawmakers Miss Historic Impeachment Votes |first=Matthew |last=Daly |date=December 18, 2019 |agency=Associated Press |work=U.S. News & World Report |access-date=December 19, 2019 |language=en-US |archive-date=January 8, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210108015900/https://www.usnews.com/news/politics/articles/2019-12-18/3-lawmakers-miss-historic-impeachment-votes |url-status=live }}

{{clear}}

A day after Trump's impeachment, the evangelical magazine Christianity Today published an editorial calling for his removal from office, stating that the president "attempted to use his political power to coerce a foreign leader to harass and discredit one of the president's political opponents. That is not only a violation of the Constitution; more importantly, it is profoundly immoral."{{cite web|url=https://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2019/december-web-only/trump-should-be-removed-from-office.html|title=Trump Should Be Removed from Office|last=Galli|first=Mark|date=December 19, 2019|website=Christianity Today|access-date=December 23, 2019|archive-date=December 23, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191223004204/https://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2019/december-web-only/trump-should-be-removed-from-office.html|url-status=live}}{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2019/dec/19/trump-evangelical-christian-magazine-impeachment|title=Evangelical magazine Christianity Today calls for Trump's removal after impeachment|last1=Ho|first1=Vivian|date=December 19, 2019|work=The Guardian|access-date=December 19, 2019|archive-date=December 20, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191220005629/https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2019/dec/19/trump-evangelical-christian-magazine-impeachment|url-status=live}}

On December 21, conservative Bill Kristol and a group calling itself "Republicans for the Rule of Law" released an ad encouraging viewers to call their senators to demand top Trump officials be forced to testify in his impeachment trial.{{citation|work=HuffPost|date=December 21, 2019|access-date=December 23, 2019|title=Witnesses 'Must Testify' At Impeachment Trial, Declares GOP Group. 'Call Your Senators.'|last=Papenfuss|first=Mary|url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/republicans-for-the-rule-of-law-impeachment-witnesses_n_5dfec4afe4b0843d35fd0c00?|archive-date=December 23, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191223064216/https://www.huffpost.com/entry/republicans-for-the-rule-of-law-impeachment-witnesses_n_5dfec4afe4b0843d35fd0c00|url-status=live}}

Trump questioned the validity of the impeachment, citing Harvard law professor Noah Feldman, who argued that the impeachment technically had not taken place until the articles were handed to the Senate.{{cite news |last1=Wolf |first1=Zachary B. |title=A technical argument is Trump's new line of attack |url=https://www.cnn.com/2019/12/24/politics/impeachment-watch-december-23/index.html |access-date=December 24, 2019 |work=CNN |date=December 24, 2019 |archive-date=December 24, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191224054010/https://www.cnn.com/2019/12/24/politics/impeachment-watch-december-23/index.html |url-status=live }} Jonathan Turley later refuted this argument in an op-ed.{{cite news |last1=Wulfsohn |first1=Joseph A. |title=Jonathan Turley refutes Dem lawyer, says Trump was impeached despite withheld articles |url=https://www.foxnews.com/media/jonathan-turley-noah-feldman-trump-impeached |website=Fox News |access-date=December 28, 2019 |date=December 27, 2019 |archive-date=December 28, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191228012224/https://www.foxnews.com/media/jonathan-turley-noah-feldman-trump-impeached |url-status=live }} Trump tweeted or retweeted over 20 messages criticizing Pelosi's handling of the impeachment during the first week of his holiday vacation to Mar-a-Lago.{{cite news |last1=Swanson |first1=Ian |title=Pelosi gets under Trump's skin on impeachment |url=https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/476068-pelosi-gets-under-trumps-skin-on-impeachment |access-date=January 3, 2020 |work=The Hill |date=December 28, 2019 |archive-date=December 30, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191230195812/https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/476068-pelosi-gets-under-trumps-skin-on-impeachment |url-status=live }} On Christmas Day, he tweeted:

{{blockquote|Why should Crazy Nancy Pelosi, just because she has a slight majority in the House, be allowed to Impeach the President of the United States? Got ZERO Republican votes, there was no crime, the call with Ukraine was perfect, with "no pressure." She said it must be "bipartisan & overwhelming," but this Scam Impeachment was neither. Also, very unfair with no Due Process, proper representation, or witnesses. Now Pelosi is demanding everything the Republicans weren't allowed to have in the House. Dems want to run majority Republican Senate. Hypocrites!{{cite news |last1=Frazin |first1=Rachel |title=Trump lashes out at Pelosi on Christmas, decries 'scam impeachment' |url=https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/475928-trump-lashes-out-at-pelosi-in-christmas-tweets-decries-scam-impeachment |access-date=December 26, 2019 |work=The Hill |date=December 25, 2019 |archive-date=December 26, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191226041005/https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/475928-trump-lashes-out-at-pelosi-in-christmas-tweets-decries-scam-impeachment |url-status=live }}}}

Attorney George T. Conway III and others noted that if the relevant witnesses were not allowed to testify, Trump's defenders would be negatively affected by "the very evidence they sought to suppress".{{cite news |last1=Sargent |first1=Greg |title=Opinion {{!}} Explosive new revelations just weakened Trump's impeachment defenses |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2019/12/30/explosive-new-revelations-just-weakened-trumps-impeachment-defenses/ |access-date=December 30, 2019 |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=December 30, 2019 |archive-date=December 30, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191230152005/https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2019/12/30/explosive-new-revelations-just-weakened-trumps-impeachment-defenses/ |url-status=live }}

Prior to the House impeachment vote, Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell and Senate Judiciary Committee chairman Lindsey Graham expressed their intentions not to be impartial jurors, contrary to the oath they must take.{{cite news|url=https://www.cnn.com/2019/12/16/politics/senate-rules-impeachment-trial/index.html|title=15 things you need to know about how Senate impeachment trials work|last=Wolf|first=Zachary B.|date=December 18, 2019|work=CNN|access-date=December 18, 2019|archive-date=December 18, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191218003025/https://www.cnn.com/2019/12/16/politics/senate-rules-impeachment-trial/index.html|url-status=live}}{{cite news |last1=Swanson |first1=Ian |title=Law professor writes Kentucky newspaper op-ed accusing McConnell of breaking two oaths |url=https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/476042-law-professor-writes-kentucky-newspaper-op-ed-accusing-mcconnell-of-breaking |access-date=December 28, 2019 |work=The Hill |date=December 27, 2019 |archive-date=December 27, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191227190940/https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/476042-law-professor-writes-kentucky-newspaper-op-ed-accusing-mcconnell-of-breaking |url-status=live }} McConnell said, "I'm not an impartial juror. This is a political process. There is not anything judicial about it. Impeachment is a political decision."{{cite news|url=https://www.cnn.com/2019/12/17/politics/mcconnell-impartial-juror-impeachment/index.html|title=Mitch McConnell: 'I'm not an impartial juror' ahead of Senate impeachment trial|first1=Ted|last1=Barrett|first2=Ali|last2=Zaslav|publisher=CNN|date=December 17, 2019|access-date=December 22, 2019|archive-date=January 8, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210108015843/https://www.cnn.com/2019/12/17/politics/mcconnell-impartial-juror-impeachment/index.html|url-status=live}} Graham said, "I am trying to give a pretty clear signal I have made up my mind. I'm not trying to pretend to be a fair juror here{{Nbsp}}... I will do everything I can to make [the impeachment trial] die quickly."{{cite news|url=https://www.cnn.com/2019/12/14/politics/lindsey-graham-trump-impeachment-trial/index.html|title='I'm not trying to pretend to be a fair juror here': Graham predicts Trump impeachment will 'die quickly' in Senate|first=Veronica|last=Stracqualursi|publisher=CNN|date=December 14, 2019|access-date=December 22, 2019|archive-date=November 17, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201117025432/https://www.cnn.com/2019/12/14/politics/lindsey-graham-trump-impeachment-trial/index.html|url-status=live}}

On December 15, with the support of all 47 Senate Democrats, Senate minority leader Charles Schumer wrote a letter to McConnell calling for Mick Mulvaney, Robert Blair,{{efn|One of Mulvaney's top aides until being promoted by Trump on December 23 to a special representative for global telecommunications policy.{{cite news |last1=Cheney |first1=Kyle |title=Trump elevates Mulvaney aide weeks after he defied impeachment subpoena |url=https://www.politico.com/news/2019/12/23/trum-robert-blair-mulvaney-089648 |access-date=January 5, 2020 |work=Politico |date=December 23, 2019 |archive-date=December 27, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191227142602/https://www.politico.com/news/2019/12/23/trum-robert-blair-mulvaney-089648 |url-status=live }}}} John Bolton,{{efn|The former national security advisor did not attend his scheduled House deposition on November 7, 2019, and threatened to take legal action if he was subpoenaed. According to a House Intelligence Committee official, this is evidence of the president's obstruction of Congress.{{cite news |last1=Desiderio |first1=Andrew |title=Impeachment investigators pressing forward without John Bolton |url=https://www.politico.com/news/2019/11/07/john-bolton-impeachment-067318 |access-date=January 7, 2020 |work=Politico |date=November 7, 2019 |archive-date=December 22, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191222212016/https://www.politico.com/news/2019/11/07/john-bolton-impeachment-067318 |url-status=live }} On January 6, 2020, Bolton said that he would be willing to testify in the Senate trial if subpoenaed.{{cite news |last1=Fandos |first1=Nicholas |last2=Schmidt |first2=Michael S. |title=Bolton Is Willing to Testify in Trump Impeachment Trial, Raising Pressure for Witnesses |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/01/06/us/politics/bolton-testify-impeachment-trial.html |access-date=January 6, 2020 |work=The New York Times |date=January 6, 2020 |archive-date=January 6, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200106170006/https://www.nytimes.com/2020/01/06/us/politics/bolton-testify-impeachment-trial.html |url-status=live }} However, Trump has said that he would invoke executive privilege to keep him from testifying.}} and Michael Duffey to testify, suggesting that pre-trial proceedings take place on January 6, 2020.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-50806222|title=Democrats call for witnesses in impeachment trial|date=December 16, 2019|work=BBC|access-date=December 16, 2019|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191216181006/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-50806222|archive-date=December 16, 2019|language=en-GB}}{{cite news |last1=Homan |first1=Timothy R. |title=GOP predicts bipartisan acquittal at Trump impeachment trial |url=https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/475754-gop-predicts-bipartisan-acquittal-at-trump-impeachment-trial |access-date=December 26, 2019 |work=The Hill |date=December 26, 2019 |archive-date=December 26, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191226112005/https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/475754-gop-predicts-bipartisan-acquittal-at-trump-impeachment-trial |url-status=live }} Two days later, McConnell rejected the call for witnesses to testify, saying that the Senate's role is simply to act as "judge and jury" and not to aid the impeachment process.{{cite news |last1=Morgan |first1=David |last2=Cornwell |first2=Susan |title=On eve of expected impeachment, Trump lashes out at Pelosi, Democrats |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-trump-impeachment/top-senate-republican-opposes-demand-for-witnesses-in-trump-impeachment-trial-idUSKBN1YL15V?il=0 |work=Reuters |date=December 17, 2019 |access-date=December 20, 2019 |archive-date=November 20, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201120195825/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-trump-impeachment/top-senate-republican-opposes-demand-for-witnesses-in-trump-impeachment-trial-idUSKBN1YL15V?il=0 |url-status=live }}{{cite news|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/nletter/onpolitics/2019/12/17/impeachment-mcconnell-shuts-down-democrats-house-panel-debates-rules/2678381001/|title=Trump impeachment debate|last=Coogan|first=Steve|date=December 17, 2019|work=USA Today|access-date=December 20, 2019|archive-date=December 20, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191220140322/https://amp.usatoday.com/amp/2678381001|url-status=live}} He also suggested that witnesses be called during the trial, as had happened after Clinton's impeachment.{{efn|name=proposal|Graham also proposed that the trial "use the Clinton model, where you ... let the House managers ... make the argument, let the president make his argument why the two articles are flawed, and then we'll decide whether we want witnesses."}}{{efn|name=Collins}} Schumer said that he "did not hear a single sentence, a single argument as to why the witnesses I suggested should not give testimony",{{cite news|last=Edelman|first=Adam|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/trump-impeachment-inquiry/mcconnell-shreds-house-s-slapdash-impeachment-investigation-hits-schumer-wanting-n1103206|title=McConnell shreds House's 'slapdash' impeachment investigation, hits Schumer for wanting new witnesses|work=NBC News|access-date=December 19, 2019|date=December 17, 2019|archive-date=December 18, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191218150154/https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/trump-impeachment-inquiry/mcconnell-shreds-house-s-slapdash-impeachment-investigation-hits-schumer-wanting-n1103206|url-status=live}} citing bipartisan public support for testimony which could fill in gaps caused by Trump having prevented his staff from testifying in the House investigation.{{cite news|url=https://www.cnn.com/2019/12/17/politics/mitch-mcconnell-response-schumer-impeachment/index.html|title=McConnell rejects Schumer's call for witnesses at impeachment trial|last=Barrett|first=Ted|date=December 17, 2019|work=CNN|access-date=December 18, 2019|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191217223700/https://www.cnn.com/2019/12/17/politics/mitch-mcconnell-response-schumer-impeachment/index.html|archive-date=December 17, 2019}}{{cite web|url=https://lawandcrime.com/high-profile/mitch-mcconnell-wont-allow-witnesses-at-trumps-senate-impeachment-trial/|title='Cover Up': McConnell Won't Allow Crucial Witnesses to Testify at Trump Impeachment Trial|last=Lambe|first=Jerry|date=December 17, 2019|website=Law & Crime|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191217221646/https://lawandcrime.com/high-profile/mitch-mcconnell-wont-allow-witnesses-at-trumps-senate-impeachment-trial/|archive-date=December 17, 2019|access-date=December 17, 2019}} On January 2, 2020, Schumer called newly unredacted emails from Trump administration officials "a devastating blow to Senator McConnell's push to have a trial without the documents and witnesses we've requested".{{cite web |last=Brannen |first=Kate |title=Exclusive: Unredacted Ukraine Documents Reveal Extent of Pentagon's Legal Concerns |url=https://www.justsecurity.org/67863/exclusive-unredacted-ukraine-documents-reveal-extent-of-pentagons-legal-concerns/ |website=Just Security |access-date=January 3, 2020 |date=January 2, 2020 |archive-date=January 2, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200102225655/https://www.justsecurity.org/67863/exclusive-unredacted-ukraine-documents-reveal-extent-of-pentagons-legal-concerns/ |url-status=live }}{{efn|A further 20 emails remain fully undisclosed.{{cite news |last1=Polantz |first1=Katelyn |last2=Kelly |first2=Caroline |title=New York Times: Trump administration withholds emails on Ukraine aid |url=https://www.cnn.com/2020/01/03/politics/trump-administration-emails-foia-ukraine-aid/index.html |access-date=January 7, 2020 |work=CNN |date=January 3, 2020 |archive-date=January 7, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200107002300/https://www.cnn.com/2020/01/03/politics/trump-administration-emails-foia-ukraine-aid/index.html |url-status=live }}}} At least four Republican senators needed to vote with Democrats for witnesses to be called.{{efn|name=Collins|Senators Susan Collins and Mitt Romney expressed their openness to calling witnesses. McConnell, Graham, Murkowski, and Collins suggested that this happen later in the trial,{{cite news |last1=Carney |first1=Jordain |title=Schumer: Newly revealed emails a 'devastating blow' to McConnell's impeachment trial plans |url=https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/476534-schumer-emails-a-devastating-blow-to-mcconnell-impeachment-trial-plans |access-date=January 3, 2020 |work=The Hill |date=January 2, 2020 |archive-date=January 2, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200102204323/https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/476534-schumer-emails-a-devastating-blow-to-mcconnell-impeachment-trial-plans |url-status=live }} with McConnell citing the {{nowrap|100–0}} agreement on a similar process following Clinton's impeachment.{{cite news |last1=Bolton |first1=Alexander |title=McConnell has the votes to block Democrats' witness demands in Trump impeachment trial |url=https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/477045-mcconnell-has-the-votes-to-block-democrats-witness-demands-in-trump |access-date=January 7, 2020 |work=The Hill |date=January 6, 2020 |archive-date=January 7, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200107010027/https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/477045-mcconnell-has-the-votes-to-block-democrats-witness-demands-in-trump |url-status=live }}}}

Republicans suggested calling Joe and Hunter Biden to testify;{{cite news |last1=LeBlanc |first1=Paul |title=Biden reiterates that he won't testify in a Senate impeachment trial |url=https://www.cnn.com/2019/12/27/politics/joe-biden-senate-impeachment-trial-testify/index.html |website=CNN |access-date=December 28, 2019 |date=December 27, 2019 |archive-date=December 28, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191228050006/https://www.cnn.com/2019/12/27/politics/joe-biden-senate-impeachment-trial-testify/index.html |url-status=live }} the former stated his objection to this, but said he would obey a subpoena.{{cite news |last1=Pfannenstiel |first1=Brianne |title='I would obey any subpoena': Joe Biden now says |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/elections/2019/12/28/election-2020-joe-biden-now-says-he-would-obey-any-subpoena-in-impeachment/2768077001/ |access-date=December 29, 2019 |work=USA Today |date=December 28, 2019 |archive-date=December 29, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191229050003/https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/elections/2019/12/28/election-2020-joe-biden-now-says-he-would-obey-any-subpoena-in-impeachment/2768077001/ |url-status=live }} Rudy Giuliani stated his willingness to testify or even try the impeachment "as a racketeering case", despite being Trump's personal attorney and allegedly attempting to help him politically while searching for evidence against the Bidens in Ukraine.{{cite news |last1=Cummings |first1=William |title=Giuliani says he would be willing to testify in impeachment trial and would 'love to try the case' |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2020/01/01/rudy-giuliani-willing-testify-senate-trial/2789777001/ |access-date=January 1, 2020 |work=USA Today |date=January 1, 2020 |archive-date=January 1, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200101183005/https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2020/01/01/rudy-giuliani-willing-testify-senate-trial/2789777001/ |url-status=live }} On January 10, 2020, Trump told Laura Ingraham of Fox News that he would likely invoke executive privilege to keep Bolton from testifying "for the sake of the office".{{cite news |last1=Fabian |first1=Jordan |title=Trump Will Invoke Executive Privilege to Block Bolton Testimony |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-01-10/trump-will-invoke-executive-privilege-to-block-bolton-testimony |access-date=January 10, 2020 |work=Bloomberg |date=January 10, 2020 |archive-date=January 10, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200110210451/https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-01-10/trump-will-invoke-executive-privilege-to-block-bolton-testimony |url-status=live }}

On December 18, 2019, the day of the impeachment, Pelosi declined to comment on when the impeachment resolution would be transmitted to the Senate, stating, "So far we haven't seen anything that looks fair to us."{{cite news |url=https://thehill.com/homenews/house/475239-pelosi-noncommittal-on-delivering-impeachment-articles-to-senate|title=Pelosi noncommittal on delivering impeachment articles to Senate|first=Ian|last=Swanson|date=December 18, 2019|website=The Hill|access-date=December 19, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191219024057/https://thehill.com/homenews/house/475239-pelosi-noncommittal-on-delivering-impeachment-articles-to-senate |archive-date=December 19, 2019 |url-status=live}}{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/12/18/us/politics/impeachment-trial.html|title=Timing of Trump Impeachment Trial in Limbo as Pelosi Holds Out for Assurances|last=Fandos|first=Nicholas|author-link=Nicholas Fandos|date=December 18, 2019|work=The New York Times|access-date=December 20, 2019|archive-date=December 19, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191219050243/https://www.nytimes.com/2019/12/18/us/politics/impeachment-trial.html|url-status=live}} The following day, McConnell met with Schumer briefly to discuss the trial.{{cite web|url=https://www.dw.com/en/trump-impeachment-democrats-try-to-delay-start-to-senate-trial/a-51745835|title=Trump impeachment: Democrats try to delay start to Senate trial|website=DW.com|date=December 20, 2019|access-date=December 26, 2019|archive-date=December 24, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191224073554/https://www.dw.com/en/trump-impeachment-democrats-try-to-delay-start-to-senate-trial/a-51745835|url-status=live}} After the Senate reconvened from its holiday break, Graham proposed that he and McConnell "change the rules of the Senate so we could start the trial without [Pelosi], if necessary".{{cite news |last1=Blitzer |first1=Ronn |title=Graham gives Pelosi ultimatum, proposes Senate rule change to remove her from impeachment process |url=https://www.foxnews.com/politics/graham-gives-pelosi-ultimatum-proposes-senate-rule-change-to-remove-her-from-impeachment-process |access-date=January 5, 2020 |work=Fox News |date=January 5, 2020 |archive-date=January 5, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200105180022/https://www.foxnews.com/politics/graham-gives-pelosi-ultimatum-proposes-senate-rule-change-to-remove-her-from-impeachment-process |url-status=live }}{{efn|name=proposal}} On January 7, 2020, McConnell announced he had the caucus backing to pass a blueprint for the trial, which discussed witnesses and evidence after the opening arguments.{{cite news |last1=Everett |first1=Burgess |last2=Levine |first2=Marianne |title=McConnell ready to start impeachment trial with partisan power play |url=https://www.politico.com/news/2020/01/07/mcconnell-prepares-to-move-forward-on-impeachment-trial-rules-without-democrats-095537 |access-date=January 7, 2020 |work=Politico |date=January 7, 2020 |archive-date=January 7, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200107171001/https://www.politico.com/news/2020/01/07/mcconnell-prepares-to-move-forward-on-impeachment-trial-rules-without-democrats-095537 |url-status=live }} Pelosi called for the resolution to be published before she could proceed with the next steps,{{cite news |last1=Sonmez |first1=Felicia |last2=Itkowitz |first2=Colby |last3=Wagner |first3=John |last4=Seung Min |first4=Kim |title=Pelosi says impeachment articles won't go to Senate until she learns more about how trial would be conducted |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/trump-impeachment-live-updates/2020/01/07/e0f49d52-313b-11ea-91fd-82d4e04a3fac_story.html |access-date=January 7, 2020 |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=January 7, 2020 |archive-date=January 7, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200107131016/https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/trump-impeachment-live-updates/2020/01/07/e0f49d52-313b-11ea-91fd-82d4e04a3fac_story.html |url-status=live }}{{cite web |last=Pelosi |first=Nancy |title=Dear Colleague on Senator McConnell's Untrue Claims Regarding Impeachment |url=https://www.speaker.gov/newsroom/1720-0 |publisher=Nancy Pelosi: Speaker of the House |access-date=January 7, 2020 |date=January 7, 2020 |archive-date=January 8, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200108054010/https://www.speaker.gov/newsroom/1720-0 |url-status=live }} but McConnell asserted that the House had no leverage and that there would be no negotiating over the trial.{{cite news |last1=Everett |first1=Burgess |title=McConnell rejects Pelosi's request for impeachment trial demands |url=https://www.politico.com/news/2020/01/08/mitch-mcconnell-pelosi-impeachment-trial-096158 |access-date=January 8, 2020 |work=Politico |date=January 8, 2020 |archive-date=January 8, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200108160025/https://www.politico.com/news/2020/01/08/mitch-mcconnell-pelosi-impeachment-trial-096158 |url-status=live }} This prompted several Democratic senators to voice their readiness to have the trial begin.{{cite news |last1=Everett |first1=Burgess |last2=Caygle |first2=Heather |title=Senate Democrats break with Pelosi over impeachment trial |url=https://www.politico.com/news/2020/01/08/senate-democrats-break-pelosi-over-impeachment-096224 |access-date=January 8, 2020 |work=Politico |date=January 8, 2020 |archive-date=January 8, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200108190028/https://www.politico.com/news/2020/01/08/senate-democrats-break-pelosi-over-impeachment-096224 |url-status=live }} On January 9, Pelosi said she would deliver the articles soon, but continued to cite a need for Republican transparency in the Senate;{{cite news |last1=Walsh |first1=Deirdre |last2=Snell |first2=Kelsey |title=Pelosi Signals An End To Her Hold On Articles Of Impeachment |url=https://www.npr.org/2020/01/09/794862940/pelosi-signals-an-end-to-her-hold-on-articles-of-impeachment |access-date=January 9, 2020 |work=NPR |date=January 9, 2020 |archive-date=January 9, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200109174011/https://www.npr.org/2020/01/09/794862940/pelosi-signals-an-end-to-her-hold-on-articles-of-impeachment |url-status=live }} that same day, McConnell informed members of his caucus that he expected the trial to begin the next week,{{cite news |last1=Everett |first1=Burgess |title=McConnell tells Republicans he expects impeachment trial next week |url=https://www.politico.com/news/2020/01/09/mitch-mcconnell-trump-impeachment-096786 |access-date=January 10, 2020 |work=Politico |date=January 9, 2020 |archive-date=January 9, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200109195010/https://www.politico.com/news/2020/01/09/mitch-mcconnell-trump-impeachment-096786 |url-status=live }} and Senator Josh Hawley announced that McConnell had signed on as a co-sponsor to his resolution to dismiss articles of impeachment not sent to the Senate within 25 days.{{cite news |last1=Carney |first1=Jordain |title=McConnell backs measure to change Senate rules, dismiss impeachment without articles |url=https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/477587-mcconnell-backs-measure-to-change-senate-rules-dismiss-impeachment-without |access-date=January 9, 2020 |work=The Hill |date=January 9, 2020 |archive-date=January 9, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200109203003/https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/477587-mcconnell-backs-measure-to-change-senate-rules-dismiss-impeachment-without |url-status=live }} On January 10, Pelosi announced she had "asked Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerry Nadler to be prepared to bring to the Floor next week a resolution to appoint managers and transmit articles of impeachment to the Senate".{{cite news |last1=Singman |first1=Brooke |title=Pelosi: House will move to transmit impeachment articles next week |url=https://www.foxnews.com/politics/pelosi-articles-of-impeachment-will-be-sent-to-senate-to-allow-trump-trial-to-begin-next-week |access-date=January 10, 2020 |work=Fox News |date=January 10, 2020 |archive-date=January 10, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200110171039/https://www.foxnews.com/politics/pelosi-articles-of-impeachment-will-be-sent-to-senate-to-allow-trump-trial-to-begin-next-week |url-status=live }}

File:Nancy Pelosi signs the articles of the first impeachment of Donald Trump 63.png

On January 14, 2020, Pelosi announced the House managers who would prosecute the case in the Senate.{{cite web |title=Pelosi Names Impeachment Managers |url=https://www.speaker.gov/newsroom/11520 |access-date=January 15, 2020 |publisher=Speaker of the United States House of Representatives |date=January 15, 2020 |archive-date=January 15, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200115153148/https://www.speaker.gov/newsroom/11520 |url-status=live }}{{cite news |last1=McCarthy |first1=Tom |last2=Gambino |first2=Lauren |last3=Glenza |first3=Jessica |title=Pelosi names trial managers to carry articles of impeachment to the Senate |url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2020/jan/15/trump-impeachment-democrats-articles-senate |access-date=January 15, 2020 |work=The Guardian |date=January 15, 2020 |archive-date=January 15, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200115140011/https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2020/jan/15/trump-impeachment-democrats-articles-senate |url-status=live }} On January 15, the House voted on Resolution 798, which appointed the impeachment managers and approved the articles of impeachment to be sent to the Senate. Later that afternoon, Pelosi held a rare public engrossment ceremony, followed by a stately procession of the managers and other House officers across the Capitol building, where the third impeachment of a U.S. president was announced to the Senate.{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/style/the-rare-and-bizarre-ritual-of-marching-the-impeachment-articles-from-the-house-to-the-senate/2020/01/15/7e34dc16-37c8-11ea-bf30-ad313e4ec754_story.html |title=The rare and bizarre ritual of marching the impeachment articles from the House to the Senate |newspaper=The Washington Post |access-date=January 16, 2020 |archive-date=January 16, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200116042012/https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/style/the-rare-and-bizarre-ritual-of-marching-the-impeachment-articles-from-the-house-to-the-senate/2020/01/15/7e34dc16-37c8-11ea-bf30-ad313e4ec754_story.html |url-status=live }} Except for the managers, who would conduct the trial, the House's involvement in the impeachment process came to an end.

{{Main|First impeachment trial of Donald Trump}}

While the impeachment inquiry was underway, Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell started planning a possible trial. On October 8, 2019, he led a meeting on the subject, advising his caucus to say that they opposed the House process and as little else as possible.{{cite news|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/nation-world/ct-nw-impeachment-senate-republicans-20191109-bsrbhhe37vdy3bcdirub7lo4bm-story.html|title=How Mitch McConnell is managing impeachment and a fragmenting Republican response|last=Mascaro|first=Lisa|date=November 9, 2019|website=Chicago Tribune|access-date=December 19, 2019|archive-date=December 17, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191217011132/https://www.chicagotribune.com/nation-world/ct-nw-impeachment-senate-republicans-20191109-bsrbhhe37vdy3bcdirub7lo4bm-story.html|url-status=live}} In November, he shot down the idea that the articles of impeachment should be dismissed, stating that "the rules of impeachment are very clear, we'll have to have a trial."{{cite news |last1=Carney |first1=Jordain |title=GOP senator plans to seek dismissal of impeachment articles |url=https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/476582-gop-senator-plans-to-seek-dismissal-of-impeachment-articles |access-date=January 3, 2020 |work=The Hill |date=January 2, 2020 |archive-date=January 3, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200103000408/https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/476582-gop-senator-plans-to-seek-dismissal-of-impeachment-articles |url-status=live }} On December 12, as the articles were being considered by the House Judiciary Committee, McConnell met with White House counsel Pat Cipollone and Director of Legislative Affairs Eric Ueland. McConnell stated later that day, "Everything I do during this I'm coordinating with the White House counsel. There will be no difference between the president's position and [ours]{{cite news|url=https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/474399-mcconnell-says-hell-be-in-total-coordination-with-white-house-on-impeachment|title=McConnell says he'll be in 'total coordination' with White House on impeachment trial strategy|first=Jordain|last=Carney|date=December 12, 2019|website=The Hill|access-date=December 19, 2019|archive-date=November 20, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201120195811/https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/474399-mcconnell-says-hell-be-in-total-coordination-with-white-house-on-impeachment|url-status=live}}{{Nbsp}}... I'm going to take my cues from the president's lawyers." McConnell added that the coordination with the White House would also pertain to whether witnesses would be allowed to testify,{{cite news |last1=Blake |first1=Aaron |title=McConnell indicates he'll let Trump's lawyers dictate Trump's impeachment trial |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2019/12/13/mcconnell-says-hell-let-trumps-white-house-dictate-trumps-impeachment-trial/ |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=December 14, 2019 |access-date=December 20, 2019 |archive-date=December 19, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191219124528/https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2019/12/13/mcconnell-says-hell-let-trumps-white-house-dictate-trumps-impeachment-trial/ |url-status=live }} and told Sean Hannity of Fox News that there was no chance Trump would be convicted, expressing his hope that all Senate Republicans would acquit the president of both charges.{{cite news|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/trump-impeachment-inquiry/mcconnell-there-s-no-chance-trump-removed-office-n1101286|title=McConnell: 'There's no chance' Trump is removed from office|last1=Egan|first1=Lauren|date=December 13, 2019|work=NBC News|access-date=December 16, 2019|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191215202600/https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/trump-impeachment-inquiry/mcconnell-there-s-no-chance-trump-removed-office-n1101286|archive-date=December 15, 2019}} Republican senators Lisa Murkowski and Susan Collins criticized McConnell's comments regarding coordinating with the White House.{{cite news |last1=Fearnow |first1=Benjamin |title=Second Republican senator, Susan Collins, criticizes Mitch McConnell for impeachment bias, says she's open to calling witnesses |url=https://www.newsweek.com/susan-collins-second-republican-criticizes-mcconnell-fair-senate-impeachment-trial-clinton-model-1479842 |access-date=December 31, 2019 |work=Newsweek |date=December 31, 2019 |archive-date=December 31, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191231152014/https://www.newsweek.com/susan-collins-second-republican-criticizes-mcconnell-fair-senate-impeachment-trial-clinton-model-1479842 |url-status=live }} Collins was also critical of Democratic senator Elizabeth Warren for prejudging the trial.{{cite news |last1=Carney |first1=Jordain |title=Collins knocks McConnell, Democrats: 'Inappropriate' to prejudge Trump trial |url=https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/476350-collins-knocks-mcconnell-dems-inappropriate-to-prejudge-trump-trial |access-date=January 7, 2020 |work=The Hill |date=December 31, 2019 |archive-date=January 3, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200103062052/https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/476350-collins-knocks-mcconnell-dems-inappropriate-to-prejudge-trump-trial |url-status=live }}

The U.S. Constitution stipulates that the chief justice of the United States presides over impeachment proceedings when the president is tried.{{cite web |url=https://www.senate.gov/reference/Index/Impeachment.htm |title=U.S. Senate: Impeachment |publisher=Senate.gov |date=January 13, 1993 |access-date=January 16, 2020 |archive-date=January 13, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200113190646/https://www.senate.gov/reference/Index/Impeachment.htm |url-status=live }}{{cite news |first=Nina |last=Totenberg |author-link=Nina Totenberg |date=January 10, 2020 |url=https://www.npr.org/2020/01/10/794749544/at-impeachment-trial-chief-justice-roberts-may-have-more-prestige-than-power |title=At Impeachment Trial, Chief Justice Roberts May Have More Prestige Than Power |website=NPR |access-date=January 11, 2020 |archive-date=January 11, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200111144028/https://www.npr.org/2020/01/10/794749544/at-impeachment-trial-chief-justice-roberts-may-have-more-prestige-than-power |url-status=live }}{{efn|The office of Chief Justice is only mentioned once in the constitution and it is in relation to impeachment trials of the president.{{cite web |first=Steven R. |last=Shapiro |date=September 12, 2005 |access-date=January 27, 2020 |url=https://www.aclu.org/blog/speakeasy/role-chief-justice |title=The Role of Chief Justice |website=American Civil Liberties Union |archive-date=December 29, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181229082841/https://www.aclu.org/blog/speakeasy/role-chief-justice |url-status=live }}}} The current chief justice was John Roberts, who was appointed by President George W. Bush in 2005. The House managers, acting as prosecutors for the case, were several Democratic representatives, consisting of Adam Schiff as lead manager, Jerry Nadler, Zoe Lofgren, Hakeem Jeffries, Val Demings, Jason Crow, and Sylvia Garcia. Trump named a defense team led by White House Counsel Pat Cipollone and his private attorney Jay Sekulow, who previously represented Trump in the Russia investigation. They were joined by celebrity law professor Alan Dershowitz, former independent counsel Kenneth Starr, former deputy independent counsel Robert Ray, former Florida attorney general Pam Bondi, and former federal prosecutor Jane Raskin.{{cite web |url=https://www.npr.org/2020/01/14/795929276/here-are-the-lawyers-who-will-defend-president-trump-against-impeachment |title=Trump Impeachment Defense Team Includes Cipollone, Sekulow |publisher=NPR |date=April 26, 2017 |access-date=January 16, 2020 |archive-date=January 15, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200115170430/https://www.npr.org/2020/01/14/795929276/here-are-the-lawyers-who-will-defend-president-trump-against-impeachment |url-status=live }}

Article I, Section 3, Clause 6 of the U.S. Constitution states that "[t]he Senate shall have the sole Power to try all Impeachments." Per the Senate's impeachment rules adopted in 1986, the submission of the articles to the Senate initiated the trial.{{cite web |title=Rules of Procedure and Practice in the Senate When Sitting on Impeachment Trials |url=https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/SMAN-113/pdf/SMAN-113-pg223.pdf |website=U.S. Government Publishing Office |access-date=January 3, 2020 |page=223 |archive-date=December 15, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191215042254/https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/SMAN-113/pdf/SMAN-113-pg223.pdf |url-status=live }} The articles were formally delivered on January 15, 2020, and were presented the following day.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-51139740|title=Impeachment trial: Why did Pelosi use so many pens?|agency=BBC|date=January 16, 2020|access-date=January 16, 2020|author=Helier Cheung|archive-date=January 16, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200116223006/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-51139740|url-status=live}}

At the end of the session on January 21, the Senate voted along party lines to pass McConnell's proposed trial rules and reject 11 amendments proposed by Democrats.{{cite news |last1=Fox |first1=Lauren |last2=Raju |first2=Manu |last3=Herb |first3=Jeremy |title=Impeachment resolution shortens trial's opening arguments to two days per side |url=https://www.cnn.com/2020/01/20/politics/senate-organizing-resolution-released/index.html |access-date=January 20, 2020 |work=CNN |date=January 20, 2020 |archive-date=January 20, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200120230025/https://www.cnn.com/2020/01/20/politics/senate-organizing-resolution-released/index.html |url-status=live }} McConnell stated that he wanted to follow the rules laid down during the Clinton trial in 1999, which had the morning reserved for Senate business and the afternoon hours reserved for the trial,{{cite news|access-date=January 27, 2020|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/politics/special/clinton/stories/senaterules.htm|newspaper=The Washington Post|title=Special Report: Clinton Accused|archive-date=June 17, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170617155756/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/politics/special/clinton/stories/senaterules.htm|url-status=live}} but his resolution increased the hours spent per day on opening arguments from six to eight hours.{{cite news |last1=Faulders |first1=Katherine |last2=Turner |first2=Trish |last3=Siegel |first3=Benjamin |last4=Ebbs |first4=Stephanie |last5=Owen |first5=Quinn |title=Trump impeachment: GOP-led Senate rejects amendments, approves rules of trial |url=https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/trump-impeachment-trial-live-updates-senate-rejects-democrats/story?id=68410003 |access-date=January 22, 2020 |work=ABC News |date=January 21, 2020 |archive-date=January 8, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210108015904/https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/trump-impeachment-trial-live-updates-senate-rejects-democrats/story?id=68410003 |url-status=live }} The resolution also included provisions for a vote on whether to subpoena witnesses or documents after opening arguments.{{cite news |title=Senate adopts ground rules for impeachment trial, delaying a decision on witnesses until after much of the proceedings |first1=Seung Min |last1=Kim |first2=Felicia |last2=Sonmez |first3=Mike |last3=DeBonis |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/republicans-ease-some-restrictions-as-trump-impeachment-trial-kicks-into-gear/2020/01/21/b0514516-3c75-11ea-8872-5df698785a4e_story.html |date=January 22, 2020 |access-date=January 22, 2020 |newspaper=The Washington Post |archive-date=January 22, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200122015036/https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/republicans-ease-some-restrictions-as-trump-impeachment-trial-kicks-into-gear/2020/01/21/b0514516-3c75-11ea-8872-5df698785a4e_story.html |url-status=live }}{{cite news |title=Senate adopts trial rules after bitter debate over evidence. |url=https://www.nytimes.com/live/2020/impeachment-trial-01-21/senate-trial-rules |access-date=January 22, 2020 |newspaper=The New York Times |date=January 22, 2020 |archive-date=January 22, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200122070050/https://www.nytimes.com/live/2020/impeachment-trial-01-21/senate-trial-rules |url-status=live |last1=Shear |first1=Michael D. }}

The prosecution's opening arguments and presentation of evidence took place between January 22 and 24, 2020.{{Cite news|url=https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/senate-impeachment-trial-live-updates-democrats-make-case/story?id=68448840|title=Senate impeachment trial live updates: Democrats make their case against Trump|website=ABC News|author1=Benjamin Siegel|author2=Trish Turner|author3=Katherine Faulders|author4=Stephanie Ebbs|author5=Quinn Owen|date=January 22, 2020|access-date=January 22, 2020|archive-date=January 22, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200122210012/https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/senate-impeachment-trial-live-updates-democrats-make-case/story?id=68448840|url-status=live}} On the first day, Schumer called the previous evening "a dark night for the Senate", when the White House, in response to a Freedom of Information Act lawsuit, released new evidence including a string of heavily redacted emails revealing details about how the Office of Management and Budget froze aid to Ukraine.{{Cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/01/22/us/politics/ukraine-aid.html|title=Emails Show Budget Office Working to Carry Out Ukraine Aid Freeze|first=Eric|last=Lipton|date=January 22, 2020|work=The New York Times|access-date=January 22, 2020|archive-date=January 22, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200122220304/https://www.nytimes.com/2020/01/22/us/politics/ukraine-aid.html|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|url=https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/479311-trump-admin-releases-trove-of-documents-on-ukrainian-military-aid|title=Trump admin releases trove of documents on Ukrainian military aid|first=Justin|last=Wise|date=January 22, 2020|website=The Hill|access-date=January 22, 2020|archive-date=January 22, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200122175738/https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/479311-trump-admin-releases-trove-of-documents-on-ukrainian-military-aid|url-status=live}}{{efn|The night after the Senate voted against subpoenaing witnesses in the trial, the Justice Department and a lawyer for the Office of Management and Budget acknowledged that some of the emails which remain undisclosed due to executive privilege contain details about why military aid to Ukraine was frozen.{{cite news |last1=Itkowitz |first1=Colby |title=Justice Department acknowledges 24 emails reveal Trump's thinking on Ukraine |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/justice-dept-acknowledges-24-emails-reveal-trumps-thinking-on-ukraine/2020/02/01/7deea84c-450e-11ea-b503-2b077c436617_story.html |access-date=February 2, 2020 |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=February 1, 2020 |archive-date=February 2, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200202010322/https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/justice-dept-acknowledges-24-emails-reveal-trumps-thinking-on-ukraine/2020/02/01/7deea84c-450e-11ea-b503-2b077c436617_story.html |url-status=live }}}}

Trump's defense presentation began on January 25. The primary arguments were a lack of direct evidence of wrongdoing and that Democrats were attempting to use the impeachment to steal the 2020 election.{{efn|Trump has also argued that the impeachment's timing was designed to hurt Bernie Sanders' presidential campaign by forcing him to focus on the trial instead.{{cite news |last1=Lejeune |first1=Tristan |title=Trump: Impeachment timing intended to hurt Sanders |url=https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/478763-trump-impeachment-trial-timing-intended-to-hurt-sanders |website=The Hill |access-date=January 25, 2020 |date=January 17, 2020 |archive-date=January 25, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200125095641/https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/478763-trump-impeachment-trial-timing-intended-to-hurt-sanders |url-status=live }}}} Professor Alan Dershowitz argued that while a president can be impeached for committing a criminal act, irrespective of motive, the idea of a quid pro quo being a basis for removal from office requires that the 'quo' be something illegal, and that simply having mixed motives for requesting a legal act (an investigation into alleged corruption) would not be sufficient grounds for impeachment. He observed that all politicians act with an eye and motive toward re-election and that such motive neither makes illegal acts lawful nor unlawful act legal.{{Cite news|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/democrats-are-lying-about-my-argument-11580773517|title=Opinion {{!}} Democrats Are Lying About My Argument|last=Dershowitz|first=Alan M.|date=February 3, 2020|work=The Wall Street Journal|access-date=February 4, 2020|language=en-US|issn=0099-9660|archive-date=February 4, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200204014210/https://www.wsj.com/articles/democrats-are-lying-about-my-argument-11580773517|url-status=live}} This position was criticized by Democratic political consultant and commentator Paul Begala in an editorial that did not address the legality/illegality aspect of the analysis.{{Cite web|url=https://www.cnn.com/2020/01/29/opinions/begala-impeachment-trial-dershowitz-doctrine/index.html|title=The ludicrous 'Dershowitz Doctrine'|last=Begala|first=Paul|website=CNN|date=January 30, 2020 |access-date=February 4, 2020|archive-date=February 3, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200203222116/https://www.cnn.com/2020/01/29/opinions/begala-impeachment-trial-dershowitz-doctrine/index.html|url-status=live}}

On January 31, after a planned debate session, the Senate voted 51–49 against allowing subpoenas to call witnesses, including former national security advisor John Bolton,{{Efn|In his book The Room Where It Happened, published later that year, Bulton describes Trump's involvement in the freezing of aid to Ukraine.{{cite web |first1=Maggie |last1=Haberman |first2=Michael S. |last2=Schmidt |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/01/26/us/politics/trump-bolton-book-ukraine.html |title=Trump Tied Ukraine Aid to Inquiries He Sought, Bolton Book Says |work=The New York Times |date=January 26, 2020 |access-date=January 26, 2020 |archive-date=February 1, 2020 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200201193640/https://www.nytimes.com/2020/01/26/us/politics/trump-bolton-book-ukraine.html |url-status=live }}}} or documents.{{cite news |last1=Herb |first1=Jeremy |last2=Mattingly |first2=Phil |last3=Raju |first3=Manu |last4=Fox |first4=Lauren |title=Senate impeachment trial: Wednesday acquittal vote scheduled after effort to have witnesses, fails |url=https://www.cnn.com/2020/01/31/politics/senate-impeachment-trial-last-day/index.html |access-date=February 2, 2020 |work=CNN |date=January 31, 2020 |archive-date=February 2, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200202035520/https://www.cnn.com/2020/01/31/politics/senate-impeachment-trial-last-day/index.html |url-status=live }} 51 Republican senators voted against calling witnesses, while 45 Democratic senators, two independents who typically voted Democratic, and two Republicans (Mitt Romney and Susan Collins) voted for witnesses.{{cite web|first1=John|last1=Haltiwanger|first2=Sonam|last2=Sheth|title=In an Unprecedented Move, the Senate Voted against Calling Witnesses in Trump's Impeachment Trial|work=Business Insider|date=January 31, 2020|url=http://www.businessinsider.com/senate-voted-against-calling-witnesses-in-trump-impeachment-trial-2020-1|access-date=February 2, 2020|archive-date=February 1, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200201130022/https://www.businessinsider.com/senate-voted-against-calling-witnesses-in-trump-impeachment-trial-2020-1|url-status=live}}

Under the U.S. Constitution, two-thirds of the Senate is required to convict the president. The possible penalties are the removal from office and disqualification from holding office in the future.{{cite web|url=https://www.senate.gov/artandhistory/history/common/briefing/Senate_Impeachment_Role.htm|title=Impeachment|website=Senate.gov|publisher=United States Senate|access-date=December 19, 2019|archive-date=December 2, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101202133604/http://senate.gov/artandhistory/history/common/briefing/Senate_Impeachment_Role.htm|url-status=live}}{{cite news|url=https://www.businessinsider.com/how-trump-could-be-impeached-convicted-but-win-reelection-2020-2019-11|title=Here's how Trump could be impeached, removed from office, and still win re-election in 2020|first=Grace|last=Panetta|publisher=Business Insider|date=December 18, 2019|access-date=January 21, 2020|archive-date=December 21, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191221160834/https://www.businessinsider.com/how-trump-could-be-impeached-convicted-but-win-reelection-2020-2019-11|url-status=live}}{{cite news |last1=Wolf |first1=Zachary B. |title=Top takeaways from the start of the Trump team's impeachment defense |url=https://www.cnn.com/2020/01/25/politics/impeachment-watch-january-25/index.html |access-date=January 26, 2020 |work=CNN |date=January 25, 2020 |archive-date=January 25, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200125232716/https://www.cnn.com/2020/01/25/politics/impeachment-watch-january-25/index.html |url-status=live }} On February 5, 2020, the Senate acquitted Trump on both counts. The votes were 48–52 to convict on the first count and 47–53 to convict on the second count, both short of the two-thirds majority needed to convict, therefore resulting in acquittal. The votes were sharply divided along party lines.{{cite web|title=How senators voted on Trump's impeachment|url=https://www.politico.com/interactives/2019/trump-impeachment-vote-count-senate-results/|publisher=Politico|access-date=February 5, 2020|date=February 5, 2020|archive-date=February 5, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200205215232/https://www.politico.com/interactives/2019/trump-impeachment-vote-count-senate-results/|url-status=live}} Mitt Romney became the first senator in history from an impeached president's party to vote to convict, voting "guilty" on the first count.

Before the trial, in mid-January 2020, Americans were sharply divided on whether Trump should be removed from office, with Democrats largely supporting removal, Republicans largely opposing, and independents divided.{{cite news|url=https://projects.fivethirtyeight.com/impeachment-polls/ |title=Do Americans Support Impeaching Trump? |last=Bycoffe |first=Aaron |date=January 20, 2019 |website=FiveThirtyEight|access-date=January 20, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200115143750/https://projects.fivethirtyeight.com/impeachment-polls/ |archive-date=January 15, 2020 |url-status=dead}} A USA Today / Suffolk University poll conducted between December 10 and 14, 2019, found that 45% of respondents supported the impeachment and removal of Trump from office, while 51% opposed it. A CNN poll conducted from December 12 to 15 also found 45% supported impeachment and removal, compared to 47% who opposed the idea. A Gallup poll released on the day of Trump's impeachment found that the president's approval rating increased by six points during the impeachment process, while support for the impeachment fell.{{cite web|url=https://news.gallup.com/poll/271691/trump-approval-inches-support-impeachment-dips.aspx|title=Trump Approval Inches Up, While Support for Impeachment Dips|last=McCarthy|first=Justin|date=December 18, 2019|website=Gallup|access-date=December 23, 2019|archive-date=December 21, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191221235436/https://news.gallup.com/poll/271691/trump-approval-inches-support-impeachment-dips.aspx|url-status=live}} Another CNN poll conducted between January 16 and 19, 2020, found that 51% supported Trump's removal from office, compared to 45% who opposed it. An NBC / Wall Street Journal poll released on January 2, 2020, showed 46% favored removal from office and 49% opposed, with the in favor/opposed being almost exclusively along party lines.{{Cite web|date=February 2, 2020|last=Murray|first=Mark|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/meet-the-press/nbc-wsj-poll-country-remains-divided-over-trump-s-impeachment-n1128326|title=NBC/WSJ poll: Country remains divided over Trump's impeachment trial|website=NBC News|language=en|archive-date=February 4, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200204064431/https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/meet-the-press/nbc-wsj-poll-country-remains-divided-over-trump-s-impeachment-n1128326|url-status=live}}

File:President Trump Delivers Remarks (49498772251).jpg reporting his acquittal during remarks on February 6, 2020, in the East Room of the White House]]

Two days after the Senate acquitted him in the impeachment trial, Trump fired two witnesses who testified in the impeachment inquiry about his conduct.{{cite news |last1=Baker |first1=Peter |last2=Haberman |first2=Maggie |last3=Hakim |first3=Danny |last4=Schmidt |first4=Michael |title=Trump Fires Impeachment Witnesses Gordon Sondland and Alexander Vindman in Post-Acquittal Purge |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/02/07/us/politics/alexander-vindman-gordon-sondland-fired.html |access-date=February 9, 2020 |work=The New York Times |date=February 7, 2020 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200208061052/https://www.nytimes.com/2020/02/07/us/politics/alexander-vindman-gordon-sondland-fired.html |archive-date=February 8, 2020}}{{cite news |title=Trump defends firing impeachment witness Alexander Vindman |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-51408704 |access-date=February 9, 2020 |work=BBC News |date=February 9, 2020 |archive-date=February 8, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200208152446/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-51408704 |url-status=live }} On February 7, Gordon Sondland's ambassadorship was terminated, and Lieutenant Colonel Alexander Vindman was escorted from the White House after a dismissal from his job on the National Security Council. At the same time, Vindman's twin brother, Yevgeny, likewise an Army lieutenant colonel on the National Security Council, was also dismissed. Shortly before the firings, Trump said he was "not happy" with Alexander Vindman; after the firings, Trump said he "didn't know" Alexander Vindman but he was "very insubordinate". Alexander Vindman's lawyer responded that his client "was asked to leave for telling the truth. His honor, his commitment to right, frightened the powerful." Sondland reacted by stating that he was "grateful to President Trump for the opportunity to serve".

In April 2020, Trump fired Inspector General of the Intelligence Community Michael K. Atkinson.{{cite news |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/03/us/trump-inspector-general-intelligence-fired.html |title=Trump to Fire Intelligence Watchdog Who Had Key Role in Ukraine Complaint |date=April 3, 2020 |access-date=January 7, 2021 |archive-date=December 14, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201214122011/https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/03/us/trump-inspector-general-intelligence-fired.html |url-status=live }}{{cite news |last1=Baker |first1=Peter |title=Trump Proceeds With Post-Impeachment Purge Amid Pandemic |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/04/us/politics/trump-coronavirus-post-impeachment-purge.html |access-date=April 24, 2020 |work=The New York Times |date=April 4, 2020 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200405041817/https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/04/us/politics/trump-coronavirus-post-impeachment-purge.html |url-status=live |archive-date=April 5, 2020}} Trump further complained that Atkinson "never even came in to see me. How can you [forward the complaint] without seeing the person?"; he also concluded that Atkinson was "not a big Trump fan".{{cite news |last1=Cook |first1=Nancy |title=Sideshow Don: Trump pursues a non-virus agenda |url=https://www.politico.com/news/2020/04/04/trump-non-coronavirus-agenda-165086 |access-date=April 24, 2020 |work=Politico |date=April 4, 2020 |archive-date=April 9, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200409025019/https://www.politico.com/news/2020/04/04/trump-non-coronavirus-agenda-165086 |url-status=live }} Atkinson responded that he believed Trump had fired him for "having faithfully discharged my legal obligations as an independent and impartial inspector general, and from my commitment to continue to do so".{{cite news |last1=Bowden |first1=John |title=Outgoing inspector general says Trump fired him for carrying out his 'legal obligations' |url=https://thehill.com/policy/national-security/491283-outgoing-inspector-general-suggests-trump-fired-him-for-carrying-out |access-date=April 24, 2020 |work=The Hill |date=April 5, 2020 |archive-date=April 10, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200410155956/https://thehill.com/policy/national-security/491283-outgoing-inspector-general-suggests-trump-fired-him-for-carrying-out |url-status=live }}

After 24 years in the House Schiff would be elected to the Senate in November 2024.

Biden would be elected president of the United States in November 2020. The subsequent storming of the U.S. Capitol would lead to Trump's unprecedented second impeachment.

• List of federal political scandals in the United States
• Second impeachment of Donald Trump

{{Notelist}}

{{reflist}}

{{commons category}}

• [https://www.c-span.org/video/?467441-1/us-house-impeaches-president-trump House impeaches President Trump] – live-stream archive via C-SPAN
• [https://www.cnn.com/interactive/2019/12/politics/house-impeachment-vote/ How each member of the House voted on impeachment] — via CNN
• {{cite web|url=https://projects.fivethirtyeight.com/impeachment-polls/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191021204815/https://projects.fivethirtyeight.com/impeachment-polls/|url-status=dead|archive-date=October 21, 2019|title=Do Americans Support Impeaching Trump?|first=Aaron Bycoffe, Ella Koeze, Nathaniel|last=Rakich|date=October 21, 2019|website=FiveThirtyEight}}
• [https://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/other/public_approval_of_the_impeachment_and_removal_of_president_trump-6957.html Real Clear Politics polling history: Trump Impeachment and Removal From Office: Support/Oppose]
• {{cite book | last1= Skowronek | first1= Stephen | last2= Dearborn | first2= John A. | last3= King | first3 = Desmond | name-list-style= amp | url= https://global.oup.com/academic/product/phantoms-of-a-beleaguered-republic-9780197543085?cc=us&lang=en& | title= Phantoms of a Beleaguered Republic: The Deep State and the Unitary Executive | publisher= Oxford University Press | year= 2021 |pages= 165–189| isbn= 978-0-19-754308-5 }}

{{First impeachment and impeachment trial of Donald Trump}}

{{First presidency of Donald Trump}}

{{Donald Trump}}

{{Federal impeachment in the United States}}

{{Legal affairs of Donald Trump}}

{{Portal bar|United States|Politics|2010s|2020s}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:Political corruption investigations in the United States

Category:Articles containing video clips