Reuters revealed in an exclusive report that the Democratic-led U.S. House Judiciary Committee could vote as early as next Thursday to recommend formal impeachment charges against US President Donald Trump for a full vote by the House of Representatives.
Reuters quoted two “people knowledgeable about the impeachment process” that the panel was expected to move on charges known as articles of impeachment early in the following week.
Earlier, House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi said that she has directed a House committee to draft articles of impeachment against President Trump, a last step in months long issue which triggers a fight over whether to oust him from office or not.
In a televised statement, Pelosi accused Trump of abusing his power and alluded to Britain's King George III, the monarch against whom the American colonies rebelled in forming the United States in 1776, saying in the United States "the people are the king."
"Our democracy is what is at stake. The president leaves us no choice but to act because he is trying to corrupt, once again, the election for his own benefit. The president has engaged in abuse of power, undermining our national security and jeopardizing the integrity of our elections," Pelosi said.
The impeachment started over complaint by a whistleblower twho said hat President Trump had withhold security aids to pressure his Ukranian counterpart to launch an investigation into corruption by Joe Biden's son, former vice president and a top contender for the Democratic nomination to face Trump in the November 2020 U.S. presidential election.
Hunter Biden had joined the board of Ukrainian energy company Burisma while his father was vice president.
"Sadly, but with confidence and humility, with allegiance to our founders and our heart full of love for America, today I am asking our chairman to proceed with articles of impeachment," Pelosi said.
In Specific, Pelosi was referring to Jerrold Nadler, whose House Judiciary Committee has the responsibility of drawing up the formal charges that would later be voted upon by the full House.
According to Reuters, the charges could include abuse of power, bribery, obstruction of Congress and obstruction of justice.
If the House passes the articles of impeachment as expected, that would lead to a trial in the Senate on whether to convict Trump and remove him from office.
In return to her remarks, Trump reacted to Pelosi's announcement on Twitter by writing, "The Do Nothing, Radical Left Democrats have just announced that they are going to seek to Impeach me over NOTHING."
"The good thing is that the Republicans have NEVER been more united. We will win!" Trump said.
Pelosi acted after receiving overwhelming support in a meeting with House Democrats on Wednesday night, a source familiar with the meeting told Reuters.
On Wednesday, the Judiciary Committee held a hearing in which three constitutional law experts called by Democratic lawmakers said Trump had engaged in conduct that represents impeachable offenses under the Constitution.
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