HERE'S THE DEAL
IMPEACHMENT EDITION

Phases one, two and three of the Democrats' impeachment inquiry are now over. (For those keeping track: closed-door witness hearings, public witness hearings, public Judiciary Committee impeachment proceedings.)  

Thanks to votes in the House Judiciary Committee this morning, we are moving to the final stage in the House of Representatives, a vote by all the members. 

What happened? And what happens next? Watch our video summary. Or keep reading.

House Judiciary Committee votes to recommend articles of impeachment

• The House Judiciary Committee approved two articles of impeachment and sent them to the full House for a vote. Both passed on party-line votes.

• Article One: Abuse of power.  The committee voted 23-17 to forward this charge against the president.

• Article Two: Obstruction of Congress. The committee likewise voted 23-17 to forward this charge against the president.

• Republicans proposed amendments to delete each article of impeachment as well as to remove the language calling for impeachment and to add language about Hunter Biden, the son of former vice president Joe Biden. All were defeated in party-line votes. 

President Trump defends himself, criticizes Democrats on Twitter

• President Trump did not speak publicly about impeachment yesterday.

• But he did turn to Twitter, with a burst of at least 89 tweets or retweets, which the Washington Post reported was one of his most active days.

• Most of his tweets were retweeted quotes or videos sent out by Republicans. But in his own tweet, the president asserted that his statement to Ukrainian President Zelensky, “do us a favor, though” was asking for a favor on behalf of the country, not himself.

Full House impeachment vote

• The full House looks likely to vote on impeachment next Wednesday, if nothing changes, according to a senior Democratic aide.

• If either or both articles of impeachment gets a majority vote, it will trigger a Senate trial to determine if the president is guilty and should be removed from office.

Senate Republicans beginning to outline trial

• Senate Republican leaders are circling around a plan to begin any impeachment trial  with straight-forward presentations by the Democrats , laying out their charges, and the president’s team, giving their defense.

• According to several Republican senators, at that point the Senate could determine if there need to be additional witnesses either behind-closed-doors or in public. 

• Senators currently expect any impeachment trial to begin, and possibly end, in January.