Donald Trump made history on January 13, 2021, becoming the first president in United States history to be impeached twice by the House of Representatives. The second impeachment came just one week before the end of his presidency, following the January 6 Capitol riot that shocked the nation and the world.
The House voted 232-197 to impeach Trump on a single article charging him with “incitement of insurrection.” Ten Republicans joined Democrats in voting for impeachment, making it the most bipartisan impeachment in U.S. history. The vote came after Trump gave a speech to supporters who later stormed the Capitol building while Congress was certifying Joe Biden’s electoral victory.
Trump’s first impeachment occurred in December 2019, when the House charged him with abuse of power and obstruction of Congress. These charges stemmed from allegations that he pressured Ukraine to investigate his political rival Joe Biden and withheld military aid as leverage. The Senate ultimately acquitted Trump in February 2020.
The second impeachment process moved with unprecedented speed, reflecting the gravity of the January 6 events and the limited time remaining in Trump’s term. Unlike his first impeachment, which followed months of investigations and hearings, the second impeachment was completed in just one week.
During the House debate, Democrats argued that Trump’s actions posed a clear danger to democracy and required an immediate response. They cited his pre-riot speech, in which he urged supporters to “fight like hell” and march to the Capitol. Republican supporters of impeachment, including Representative Liz Cheney of Wyoming, stated that “the President of the United States summoned this mob, assembled the mob, and lit the flame of this attack.”
The Senate trial began after Trump had already left office, raising constitutional questions about trying a former president. While he was again acquitted in the Senate vote of February 13, 2021, seven Republican senators joined all Democrats in voting to convict – the most bipartisan support for conviction in any presidential impeachment trial in U.S. history.
These two impeachments marked a significant moment in American political history, setting new precedents and highlighting deep divisions within the country. The events surrounding Trump’s second impeachment, particularly the Capitol riot, led to increased scrutiny of presidential rhetoric and its potential impact on democratic institutions. The legacy of these impeachments continues to influence discussions about presidential power, accountability, and the strength of American democratic norms.
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