Donald Trump
Second impeachment trial is on the way
Donald Trump has to face impeachment proceedings again.
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For the second time during Donald Trump's tenure, the House of Representatives is launching an impeachment against the US President.
Donald Trump (74) is still US President for a few days and yet the US House of Representatives is now seeking a second impeachment procedure within his term of office. Late on Wednesday evening, a total of 231 MPs in Washington voted for the so-called impeachment, 197 were against. Ten members of Trump's Republican Party also voted to open the process.
The charge: "inciting a riot" based on his speech immediately before the Senate was stormed by a violent mob of his supporters. A decision before his successor Joe Biden (78) is sworn in next week, however, seems impossible: the Senate would have to agree to impeachment. Mitch McConnell (78), the Republican majority leader there, has already turned down a necessary emergency meeting.
Whether a president can even be removed from office under the impeachment rules after officially resigning from office is highly controversial from a legal point of view and would be a unique event in US history. As a consequence of an impeachment brought to an end, however, pension payments and further financial claims of the ex-president could be suspended.