What happened?
On Wednesday, Jan. 14, Donald Trump became the first president in U.S. history to be impeached for a second time. With some bipartisan cooperation, the House of Representatives voted 232 to 197 to favor the impeachment article on the basis of “incitement of insurrection” following the U.S. Capitol riot on Jan. 6. Colorado representatives were split among party lines with all Democrats in favor and all Republicans opposed.
Following the November election, Trump continually refuted electoral results and inspired his supporters to take matters into their own hands. Prior to the insurrection, Trump had called upon his legal team to dispute electoral vote counts in Pennsylvania, Georgia, Michigan, Wisconsin, Arizona, Nevada, Minnesota and New Mexico. Ultimately, Trump’s rhetoric and legal challenges amounted to the U.S. Capitol riot, leaving five dead and disrupting the electoral vote certification process.
What is next?
Impeachment requires participation from both the House and Senate. The House voted in favor of the Constitutional indictment, and the Senate is now responsible for the trial. At the House vote, a single impeachment article was presented, stating the President “threatened the integrity of the democratic system, interfered with the peaceful transition of power, and imperiled a coequal branch of government.”
The article referred to Section 3 of the 14th Amendment which prohibits any elected official’s participation in an insurrection. This is in response to Trump’s false claims regarding election fraud and the pressure that campaign Georgia officials faced to overturn their electoral college vote. The Senate will now hold a trial about President Trump’s activities as they pertain to inciting rebellion.
Following the House vote on Wednesday, Senator Mitch McConnell commented that the Senate trial will not take place until after President-Elect Biden’s inauguration on Jan. 20. Citing concerns for the orderly transition of power, McConnell stated it would be in the best interest of the nation to wait until after the inauguration. The responsibility of holding the trial will be with Democrats who now have a one-vote Senate majority following the Georgia Senate run-off.
In a separate comment, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi stated that House managers appointed to prosecute Trump during his impeachment case are preparing for the Senate trial. Representatives Diana DeGette and Joe Neguse of Colorado have both been selected as two of the nine Democratic House members serving as impeachment managers.
While this is the fourth impeachment in U.S. history, there is no precedent for a trial after the president has left office. A Senate impeachment would not automatically prohibit Trump from holding office again and would require an additional Senate vote, most likely ending up before the Supreme Court. Furthermore, a Senate conviction would not impact his post-presidential benefits such as a Secret Service detail and pension.
President Trump has stated he will not be in attendance at President-Elect Biden’s inauguration on Wednesday. Trump is not the first President to skip a successor’s inauguration. According to the White House Historical Association, presidents John Adams, John Quincy Adams and Andrew Johson also skipped their successors’ inauguration.
Trump’s announcement comes at a time of increased Capitol security with 25,000 National Guard troops deployed in preparation to support the Secret Service and other law enforcement. Other security measures such as barricades, credential checks and bag screenings come after several officials expressed concern of a repeat of the Jan. 6 riot on inauguration day. The security precautions have proven successful thus far. On Saturday, a man was arrested at a D.C. checkpoint for “unauthorized inauguration credentials” and carrying unregistered ammunition and a handgun.
Where can you learn more?
With the inauguration coming this Wednesday, the Korbel School of International Relations will host a virtual discussion from 2 to 3 p.m. MST about the Biden Administration and how an impeachment trial might impact this transition. Online registration details for “Inauguration Day: What Can the Biden Administration Hope to Achieve?” can be found here.
Additionally, we understand politics and the current state of the world can be stressful for students. DU Health and Counseling services are always available to provide support should this political moment cause anxiety.
