WASHINGTON, D.C., USA — The U.S. Senate began the process for trying President Donald Trump Tuesday based on abuse of power and obstruction as outlined by the U.S. House of Representatives in December 2019.
Trump was impeached on charges of abuse of power by withholding U.S. military aid to Ukraine as he pressed the country to announce an investigation into Democratic rival Joe Biden, and obstruction of Congress by refusing to comply with the House investigation.
The Senate trial will determine if the president is guilty of what he is accused of, which takes a two-thirds vote. If found guilty, the president is removed from office.
Trump said the whole thing was a hoax, and he was sure it would “work out fine."
How it works:
After the House of Representatives went through the process of setting their case for impeachment and presented it to the Senate, the trial began.
The Senate trial is to be presided by Chief Justice John Roberts, who decides how the proceedings will go. The Senate also had a say the rules of the trial.
It takes 67 votes to convict the President, but it only takes 51 votes to acquit the president.
What the Congress members think:
Primarily, democratic representatives voted in favor of the impeachment. As of Jan. 18, 2020, the majority of senators declined to answer or said they were undecided on whether they will support removing Trump from office.
Seven senators have said they do not support removing President Trump from office: John Barrasso (R-Wyoming), Mike Lee (R-Utah), Marsha Blackburn (R-Tennessee), Steve Daines (R-Montana), Roger Wicker (R-Mississippi), Mike Braun (R-Indiana) and Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas).
RELATED:
President Trump's response to the Articles of Impeachment:
President Trump said the Senate should reject the Articles of Impeachment and that the Senate should immediately acquit him.
The House of Representatives respond to President Trump's answer:
The House of Representatives responded to President Trump's response, saying he was wrong in calling the impeachment "a partisan 'hoax'" and that the House denies the president's allegations.
FOR NEWS IN YOUR COMMUNITY, DOWNLOAD THE ABC10 APP:
►Stay In the Know! Sign up now for ABC10's Daily Blend Newsletter