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Trump is expected to be impeached for the second time during his presidency, this time with bipartisan support.
- The US House of Representatives is debating the rules on a planned impeachment vote against President Donald Trump, accusing him of “inciting insurgency” for his behavior and remarks ahead of Wednesday’s siege on the US Capitol.
- Members are expected to vote on the article around 3:00 p.m. EST (8:00 p.m. GMT) and all eyes are on the number of Republicans who will join Democrats in voting for impeachment.
- Several Republicans, including the third-highest House Republican, Wyoming Rep. Liz Cheney – the daughter of former Vice President Dick Cheney – have indicated they support impeachment.
- The move comes after Vice President Mike Pence said he would not invoke the 25th Amendment and declare Trump unable to perform his duties.
Welcome to Al Jazeera’s coverage of US politics. It’s Joseph Stepansky
Some Republican lawmakers say impeachment will divide further
While several House Republicans have indicated their support for Trump’s impeachment, others have argued it will further divide the country during the already tense period.
“I cannot think of any action the House cannot take that is more likely to further divide the American people than the action we envision today,” Republican Congressman Tom Cole said during the debate on the rules proceeding. of an expected debate on the article of impeachment itself.
WATCH LIVE: The U.S. House of Representatives meets to consider an impeachment article against President Donald Trump.
Read more: https://t.co/RPDFsLf6w5 https://t.co/prw4PYIejI
– Al Jazeera News (@AJENews) January 13, 2021
Debate over ‘rules’ begins before impeachment vote
Debate followed by a procedural vote, which will start the debate on the indictment article itself.
Lawmakers were to debate for an hour.
Opening the proceedings, Democratic Representative Jim McGovern, chairman of the House Rules Committee, said, “We wouldn’t be here without the President of the United States.”
McGovern said Congress met to certify the election results at a “rally a mile and a half down Pennsylvania Avenue, Donald Trump stokes the ire of a violent crowd.”
“He said Vice President Pence had to come by and told the crowd to come down to Capitol Hill,” he said.
“We cannot have unity without truth and without accountability,” he said.
John Kelly says Trump suffers from ‘manhood’ problem
Former Trump chief of staff John Kelly said the president couldn’t admit making a mistake because “his manhood is at issue here.”
“I don’t understand it, even though I had to deal with it every day,” Kelly, a retired four-star Navy general, said at an event in Des Moines on Tuesday, reported the Des Moines Register.
Trump made his first public appearance on Tuesday, but refused to take responsibility for allegedly inciting rioters before the Capitol violence.
“People thought that what I said was totally appropriate, ”Trump said.
Congresswoman accuses colleagues of organizing ‘reconnaissance’ visits before Capitol breach
Representative Mikie Sherrill said she saw members of Congress leading “groups” across the Capitol on January 5, a day before rioters entered the compound, calling it “recognition for the next day.” reported the New Jersey newspaper, the Bergen Record.
Sherill made the statement during a live Facebook event Tuesday night, adding, “I will see that they are held accountable and, if necessary, ensure that they do not sit in Congress.”
Sherill did not say whether the groups in question were Trump supporters who came to Capitol Hill as Congress met to certify the vote.
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez: “ I thought I was going to die ”
Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, a progressive Democrat, recounted when rioters raped the US Capitol last week, saying, “I thought I was going to die.”
Cortez, in a video posted to his Instagram, said: “I didn’t know if I was going to make it to the end of this day alive…” Not just in a general sense, but in a very, very specific sense. . “
Cortez said she couldn’t further explain her statement, citing “security concerns” but said firmly, “I thought I was going to die”.
US House opens Trump impeachment session
The Democrat-controlled US House of Representatives on Wednesday opened debate on a historic second indictment of President Donald Trump following the attack on Capitol Hill by his supporters that left five dead.
Lawmakers in the lower house are expected to vote for impeachment around 3 p.m. (8 p.m. GMT) – marking the formal opening of proceedings against Trump.
The president is expected to be removed from office with bipartisan support.
Alia Chughtai / Al Jazeera
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