House Speaker Nancy Pelosi told reporters the president cannot escape impeachment, even if the Senate acquits him of all charges, which it is expected to do in the coming weeks.
“On Dec. 18, the House of Representatives impeached the president of the United States,” Pelosi said Wednesday. “An impeachment that will last forever.”
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Pelosi announced seven House Democrats who will serve as impeachment managers in the Senate. The trial is expected to begin Jan. 21 and last several weeks. It’s highly unlikely 67 senators will vote to convict Trump on either of the two impeachment articles charging Trump with abuse of power and obstruction of Congress.
“He will be held accountable, “ Pelosi said. “He has been held accountable. He has been impeached. They can never erase that.”
Pelosi said Trump undermined national security, jeopardized the integrity of the nation’s elections, and violated his oath of office by using federal funds “as his private ATM machine.”
Democrats allege Trump withheld $391 million in security aid from Ukraine in a scheme to get Ukrainian government officials to pledge publicly to investigate former Vice President Joe Biden. Biden is the leading Democratic contender for his party’s presidential nomination.
House Republicans criticized Pelosi’s comments and said they show the political nature of the Democrats’ impeachment effort.
Some of the most liberal members of the Democratic caucus have been calling for Trump’s impeachment since he took office, Rep. Lee Zeldin tweeted.
“History is going to be so brutal to Pelosi on PROCESS & SUBSTANCE for ripping the US in 1/2 to pander to an enraged activist liberal base w/ this sham,” the New York Republican said.
