The trial is forecasted to last at least several weeks, and will no doubt attract breathless media coverage as Donald Trump faces weeks of public scrutiny over allegations that he solicited foreign assistance in the 2020 presidential election, abused the power of his office and obstructed a congressional inquiry.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi before signing articles of impeachment:
"When the managers walk down the hallway, we will cross a threshold in history."pic.twitter.com/DZidzOeutI
— The Washington Post (@washingtonpost) January 15, 2020
It formally commenced on Thursday, US time, when House managers formally presented the articles in a ceremony to the Senate chamber. On Wednesday night, the House voted to approve the impeachment managers selected by Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi and to send the articles of impeachment to the Senate for trial.
This evening, the House’s Managers delivered articles of impeachment against President Trump to the U.S. Senate ahead of its upcoming trial. #DefendOurDemocracy pic.twitter.com/b635WnVkxB
— Nancy Pelosi (@SpeakerPelosi) January 16, 2020
Pelosi named the seven impeachment managers who would prosecute the case for Trump’s removal in the Republican-controlled Senate. They included Representatives Adam B. Schiff of California, the chairman of the Intelligence Committee, Zoe Lofgren of California, Hakeem Jeffries of New York, Val B. Demings of Florida, Jason Crow of Colorado, Sylvia R. Garcia of Texas and Jerrold Nadler of New York, the chairman of the Judiciary Committee.
The seven managers were filmed walking across the Capitol with the two charges of high crimes and misdemeanours against the president enclosed in blue folders.
Pelosi took to Twitter to publicise the seven managers, with a brief biography on each.
The Managers of the impeachment trial of the President are public servants committed to protecting our Constitution – and have the litigation and courtroom experience necessary to execute this task. They will #DefendOurDemocracy. pic.twitter.com/nsGtEVh59n
— Nancy Pelosi (@SpeakerPelosi) January 15, 2020
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Tune in as the Impeachment Managers cross the U.S. Capitol for the exhibition of the House-passed articles of impeachment. https://t.co/9z9r5xLE1s
— Nancy Pelosi (@SpeakerPelosi) January 16, 2020
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In a pointed move yesterday, Pelosi also handed out souvenir pens to members of Congress. Writing her signature on the impeachment bill in tiny increments, she then handed the multiple pens out to excited members– a move which has incited Trump allies.