US House Sends Trump Impeachment Article to Senate... Senate Impeachment Trial to Begin Early Next Month

Former U.S. President Donald Trump [Photo by Reuters]

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Byung-hee] The U.S. House of Representatives is scheduled to send the impeachment articles against former President Donald Trump to the Senate late on the 25th (local time). This marks the beginning of the Senate impeachment proceedings against former President Trump.

According to major foreign media, nine House impeachment managers will deliver the articles of impeachment to the Senate late in the afternoon. According to Senate rules, once the articles arrive, the impeachment trial officially begins. The formal trial is set to start the day after the delivery.

However, the Democratic and Republican leadership have agreed to commence the actual proceedings in the second week starting February 8. Previously, the Republicans argued that former President Trump's team should be given two weeks to prepare for the trial, and the Democrats and President Joe Biden also proposed delaying the process, citing the need for time to confirm cabinet appointments and prepare responses to the COVID-19 crisis.

Accordingly, procedural formalities will take place first. Once the articles are delivered today, the Senators will convene a meeting on the 26th to take the oath as jurors. Then, the impeachment managers and former President Trump's legal team will have two weeks for preparation.

The political media outlet The Hill predicted that Trump's side will express their position on the articles by February 2, and after both sides submit their opinions, the trial could begin as early as the 9th.

The process of determining impeachment follows criminal trial procedures. The House impeachment managers act as prosecutors, and the Senators serve as the jury.

In cases involving a sitting president, the Chief Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court presides over the trial, but there is no clear regulation for former presidents. This trial will be presided over by Patrick Leahy, the acting President pro tempore of the Senate from the Democratic Party.

Former President Trump was impeached on the charge of effectively inciting the storming of the Capitol by protesters on the 6th. The House approved the articles of impeachment in a vote on the 13th.

The Senate impeachment threshold is two-thirds of the 100 Senators, which is 67 votes. Currently, the Senate is evenly split with 50 seats each for both parties. Even if all Democrats vote in favor, at least 17 Republicans must join to reach the threshold.