What Does Impeachment Mean?
Impeachment is a constitutional process where the House of Representatives brings charges against a federal official. It is not removal from office, but rather an indictment. The Senate then holds a trial to decide whether to convict and remove the official.
Trump's Impeachments
Donald Trump was impeached twice by the House. The first impeachment in 2019 centered on abuse of power and obstruction of Congress related to Ukraine. The second impeachment in 2021 focused on incitement of insurrection following the January 6 attack on the Capitol. He was acquitted by the Senate both times.
Why Supporters Argue Impeachment Was Necessary
Advocates for impeachment argue that a president's actions, such as pressuring a foreign government for personal political gain or undermining the peaceful transfer of power, constitute high crimes and misdemeanors. They point to official House proceedings and the constitutional framework for accountability. The full House impeachment report is available at https://www.congress.gov.
