After the first stage of the procedures for impeaching the US president, which was represented by a vote by the House of Representatives in favor of holding him accountable, completing the process requires a number of steps at the level of the Senate, according to the US constitution.
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Once the House vote on the impeachment resolution ends, Speaker Nancy Pelosi can refer the list to the Senate immediately or she can wait a while. Pelosi’s nomination of nine impeachment directors to bring the case against Trump in the Senate trial suggests that she will not be late in passing the documents over to the senators.
Once this step is completed, which usually takes place through the formal procession from the House of Representatives to the Senate, the majority leader in the Senate must begin the trial process, with the House reviewing the parliamentary accusations file and hearing the legal arguments, so that the person in question faces impeachment trial and possible punishment.
According to the US Constitution, “The Senate alone has the authority to conduct the trial in all of the representative indictments. When the Senate meets for that purpose, all of its members swear by oath or affirmative. When the US President is tried, the President of the Supreme Court presides over the hearings.”
The constitution stipulates that “no person may be convicted without the approval of two-thirds of the members present. The rulings in cases of parliamentary accusation do not exceed the threshold of removal from office, preventing the assumption and holding of a ceremonial position or requiring confidence or gaining profit in the United States, but the convicted person remains liable nonetheless. He is subject to accusation, trial, sentencing and punishment according to the law. “
There are specific time periods for arguments and responses, and all Senate questions brought to the House of Representatives and Trump’s attorney must be submitted in writing and recited by the Chief Justice.
It is not known, yet, when the trial might begin after Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell made it clear that he would not return senators until Trump’s last day, which is January 19, at best.
Certainly, the trial cannot be completed in a day, but may extend for weeks. Therefore, in practice, the trial cannot begin until after the inauguration of the president-elect, Joe Biden, on January 20.
What is the use of trying a former president?
Although the goal of impeachment procedures may be based on removing the US president from his post if he is convicted by the Senate, the House can hold another vote to demand that the US president not run again.
Trump had announced his intention to run again for the presidency in the 2024 election.
Trump’s conviction could prevent him from receiving some post-presidential benefits, such as a pension, according to CNN.
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What is different this time from the previous trial?
Trump’s first trial, which was related to Trump’s dealings with the President of Ukraine, came after a lengthy investigation and listening to testimonies of a number of government officials. While Democrats have unanimously criticized Trump’s actions and accused him of abusing power, the accusations demanded an investigation into a complex web of evidence.
This time, Democrats argue that there is little need for an investigation, as the Capitol was stormed live, and most members of Congress were in the building during the incident.
And the previous trial was supported by only one Republican senator, Mitt Romney, but this time the number grew, and some Republicans, including Pennsylvania Senator Pat Tommy and Alaska Senator Lisa Murkowski, called Trump to resign.
Another thing to keep in mind is that Senator Chuck Chomer will become the leader of the Democratic majority in the Senate, once the Democratic senators for Georgia, John Usoff, Rafael and Warnock, are confirmed as winners in the state’s midterm elections.
However, it is too early to confirm the Republicans vote in the House in favor of impeaching Trump, as the Senate needs a two-thirds vote to convict Trump, or 67 of the 100 total votes in the House.
The history of America witnessed three presidential trials, which were against the President, Andrew Johnson, and he survived by one vote, and Bill Clinton, who was acquitted, to Trump in his first trial.
Source: RT + agencies + American media
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