House formally launches Trump impeachment trial

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The U.S. House of Representatives on Monday formally charged Donald Trump with inciting insurrection - signaling the start of Trump’s second impeachment trial.

House Democrats, who will serve as prosecutors, proceeded through the Capitol - still bearing the wounds from a deadly attack by Trump supporters - bringing the article of impeachment to the Senate.

Senate leaders have agreed not to start the trial until February 9, which gives Trump more time to prepare a defense and allows the Senate to focus on President Joe Biden’s early priorities, like Cabinet appointments.

BIDEN: "The more time we have to get up and running to meet these crises, the better."

A two-thirds Senate majority will be needed to convict Trump, meaning Democrats will need the support of 17 Republicans in order to do so.

Some Republicans, including Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell, have publicly condemned the violent assault on the Capitol and have criticized Trump for inciting it.

MCCONNELL: "The mob was fed lies. They were provoked by the president..."

Republican Senator Mitt Romney had strong words for Trump on CNN, Sunday, saying "I believe that what is being alleged and what we saw, which is incitement to insurrection, is an impeachable offense. If not, what is?”

But other Republicans, like Lindsey Graham and Marco Rubio, criticized the House impeachment as being rushed, saying it would be unconstitutional to put Trump on trial now that he is out of office, and that the focus should be on the rioters themselves.

No other president in U.S. history has faced trial after leaving office, nor has a president ever faced impeachment twice.