WASHINGTON, Dec. 10 (Xinhua) -- U.S. House Democrats on Tuesday announced two articles of impeachment, accusing President Donald Trump of abuse of power and obstruction of Congress.
House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerry Nadler, flanked by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and other Democratic committee chairs, said that Democrats were going forward with charges of abuse of power and obstruction of Congress.
"The president's continuing abuse of power has left us no choice," said House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff.
The evidence of the president's impeachable conduct is "overwhelming and uncontested" regarding abuse of power with regard to Ukraine, Schiff said.
"When the president got caught, he committed his second impeachable act," Schiff said, referring to obstruction of Congress.
"To Impeach a President who has proven through results, including producing perhaps the strongest economy in our country's history, to have one of the most successful presidencies ever, and most importantly, who has done NOTHING wrong, is sheer Political Madness! #2020Election," Trump tweeted Tuesday morning.
After the announcement, Pelosi, who called it a "solemn" occasion, walked out of the room together with other Democrats without taking questions.
The House Judiciary Committee, which is responsible for writing articles of impeachment, would vote on the articles on Thursday and a full House vote will take place next week, multiple local media outlets predicted.
The White House has not participated in the impeachment proceedings, accusing Democrats of an unfair process.
According to the nation's constitution, the House shall have the sole power of impeachment while the Senate shall have the sole power to try all impeachments.
Trump will be impeached if the House approves any of the articles of impeachment the House Judiciary Committee has recommended by a simple majority vote.
Trump is the fourth U.S. president in American history to face impeachment. If impeached, he will be the third U.S. president to face a trial in the Senate.
However, conviction can only happen in the Senate and requires at least two-thirds of its members, or 67 senators, to vote in favor after a trial. Currently, the Senate has 53 Republicans, 45 Democrats and two independents. Enditem
