Nancy Pelosi has launched a formal impeachment inquiry into Donald Trump over allegations he sought help from a foreign government to undermine political rival Joe Biden.
Ms Pelosi said the president must be ‘held accountable’ for his actions which she said ‘have seriously violated the Constitution’.
The inquiry will focus on whether Mr Trump abused his presidential powers to benefit his own re-election through a phone call with Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskiy.
The US president is reported to have called on Mr Zelenskiy for help in investigating former Vice President Mr Biden – who is running for election in 2020 – and his son.
Before the telephone call took place, Mr Trump was reported to have withheld almost $400m (£320m) in aid for the Ukraine.
The president denies the decision has anything to do with his later conversation with Mr Zelenskiy.
The times have found us. The actions taken to date by the President have seriously violated the Constitution. It is for this reason that the House of Representatives is moving forward with an official impeachment inquiry. pic.twitter.com/cHq7zgKJ1g
— Nancy Pelosi (@SpeakerPelosi) September 24, 2019
Until now, Democrats have lacked Ms Pelosi’s support but, as the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, her push for impeachment has proved to be a huge advance as it is the most severe course of action that could be taken against a sitting president.
The impeachment enquiry follows months of investigations, led by Democrats, into Trump’s administration, including whether it conspired with Russia to influence the 2016 elections, as highlighted in the Mueller Report.
While the president has never faced charges in relation to the report, Robert Mueller later said it did not completely exonerate Mr Trump.
Mr Mueller told Congress: ‘The president was not exculpated for the acts that he allegedly committed.’
The six House committees – who are already involved in the investigation into Mr Trump – will continue to look into allegations of impropriety from the president.
The chairs will then make recommendations of impeachment to the House of judiciary committee.
If the judiciary panel agrees on impeachment, the full House will then vote on whether Mr Trump should be ousted.
If a majority votes in favour, the vote then goes to the Senate. The Senate requires two thirds of the vote to subsqeuently force Mr Trump out of office.
Mr Trump has denied allegations he called on the Ukrainian president to look into Mr Biden, and accused the Democratic Party of launching a ‘witch hunt’ against his administration.
He said: ‘The Democrats are so focused on hurting the Republican Party and the President that they are unable to get anything done because of it, including legislation on gun safety, lowering of prescription drug prices, infrastructure, etc. So bad for our country!’
PRESIDENTIAL HARASSMENT!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 24, 2019
The president has authorised the release of the full, unredacted transcript of the phone call with Mr Zelenskiy.
He said: ‘You will see it was a very friendly and totally appropriate call. No pressure and, unlike Joe Biden and his son, no quid pro quo!
‘This is nothing more than a continuation of the greatest and most destructive witch hunt of all time!’
MORE: Greta Thunberg changes her Twitter bio to hit back at Donald Trump
MORE: Donald Trump says he is ready to strike ‘magnificent trade deal’ with Britain
