US House formalizes Trump impeachment process in landmark vote

The US House of Representatives is set to vote on how the impeachment inquiry into President Donald Trump should proceed.

The resolution to be voted on sets out a more public phase of the process and is not a ballot on whether or not to impeach the president, BBC reported.

 

The measure also sets out the rights Trump's lawyers would have. This will be the first formal test of support for the inquiry in the Democratic-controlled House.

 

President Trump is accused of trying to pressure Ukraine into investigating unsubstantiated corruption claims against his political rival, Joe Biden, and his son who worked with Ukrainian gas company Burisma.

 

Trump denies wrongdoing and calls the impeachment inquiry a "witch hunt".

Later on Thursday evening, the Congress formally opened a new, public phase of its presidential investigation Thursday as US lawmakers voted for the first time to advance the impeachment process against Donald Trump.

"Today, the House takes the next step forward as we establish the procedures for open hearings conducted by the House Intelligence Committee so that the public can see the facts for themselves," House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said shortly before the vote.

The chamber voted largely along party lines, 232 to 196, to formalise the process, which also provides for opportunities for Trump's counsel to cross-examine witnesses.

The US House of Representatives is set to vote on how the impeachment inquiry into President Donald Trump should proceed.

Donald Trump has lambasted at the Democrats for their 'greatest witch hunt' on Twitter.

 

The Greatest Witch Hunt In American History!

Republicans have criticised Democrats for the closed hearings up to this point, in which Republican lawmakers have also taken part. But Democrats insist they were needed to gather evidence ahead of the public stage of the inquiry, and deny allegations they have been secretive.