Democrats in the US House of Representatives said they were standing in a 'crime scene' and that Trump had to face the music for a campaign of 'lies and conspiracy theories' which had fomented violence.
He incited his supporters to storm the Capitol while the lawmakers were authorizing the results of the presidential election.
Trump's Republican allies did not defend Trump's behavior but instead pitched censuring the president or launching a 9/11-style commission, more fitting punishments they argued for someone who was already leaving office, according to the Daily Mail.
If a trial is underway, it can continue. Most legal experts say if it has not begun, it can, but there is a minority who say impeachment cannot continue if the president is not in the office.
Later Wednesday, at least five Republicans are certain to vote for impeachment, led by Liz Cheney, the number three in the caucus, who issued a fiery denunciation of Trump when she announced her vote, saying he 'lit the flame on insurrection.'
Members of the House walked into the chamber past rows of National Guard members sleeping holding their rifles, while outside thousands of troops surrounded the building, the first time troops have been stationed in it since the Civil War.
In the Senate, which will have to hold a trial of Trump in the wake of the vote as soon as it receives the article, Republican majority leader Mitch McConnell is said to be leaning 'more than 50/50' towards convicting Trump, to 'purge' the party of him.
How many other Republicans are on board is unknown, with only Mitt Romney certain so far to back impeachment, while on Wednesday Lindsey Graham accused McConnell of risking more violence by backing impeachment?
In the first procedural vote of the day in the House, Democrats voted en masse 221 to 205 against a Republican effort to install a commission.
A second procedural hurdle was also passed with only Democratic votes.
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