Details of The Impeachment Trial

The US House of Representatives Impeachment Managers delivered the long-awaited Articles of

Impeachment against President Donald J. Trump to the US Senate today. 

The Articles, on Abuse of Power and Contempt of Congress, were approved by the House on December 18, 2019, making Trump the third President in US History to be impeached by the US House.

Under Article 1, Section 3, Clause 6 of the US Constitution, the US Senate has "the sole Power to try all Impeachments."  If the Senate, by a two-thirds vote, convicts Trump then he will be removed from office.

The Trial

In the Senate trail phase House Managers act as prosecutors, the members of the Senate act as jurors, and the President's legal team acts as the defense.

The Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, John Roberts, acts as presiding judge during the trial.

The managers, announced today by Speaker Nancy Pelosi, include seven members of the US House who will provide opening and closing statements, present the facts collected by the House investigations, and cross-examine witnesses.

Of the Managers, Speaker Pelosi said, "The emphasis is on litigators. The emphasis is on comfort level in the courtroom. The emphasis is on making the strongest possible case to protect and defend our Constitution, to seek the truth for the American people."

The Prosecutors

Congressman Adam Schiff (CA) is the "Lead Manager." As Chairman of the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, Schiff has been a critical player in the investigations and hearings involving the President.

Prior to being to elected to the US House in 2000, he served in the California State Senate and, previously, as an Assistant United States Attorney for the Central District of California.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is flanked by House Managers (L-R) Hakeem Jefferies, Sylvia Garcia, Jerry Nadler, Adam Schiff, Val Demings, Zoe Lofgren and Jason Crow (Susan Walsh/AP)

Congressman Jason Crow (CO)

A member of the House Armed Services, Crow was elected to Congress in 2018 after unseating a Republican incumbent. A former Army Ranger, he served three combat tours in Iraq and Afghanistan and was awarded the Bronze Star before going onto a career as a private litigator.

Congresswoman Val Demings (FLA)

A member of both the House Intelligence and Judiciary Committees, Demings is in her second term. She previously served as Chief of the Orlando Police Department, the first woman to hold the position.

Congresswoman Sylvia Garcia (TX)

In 2018, Garcia became one of the first two Latina Congresswomen elected from Texas. A member of the House Judiciary Committee, she previously served as Houston City Comptroller, the first woman and hispanic judge elected to the Harris County Commissioner's Court, and as an elected State Senator. 

	The Clerk of the House, Sergeant-at-Arms and the House Managers deliver the Articles to the Senate (AFP/Daily Mail)

Congressman Hakeem Jeffries (NY)

In his fourth term, Jeffries serves on the House Judiciary Committee and as Chair of the House Democratic Caucus. A corporate lawyer and litigator by profession, he was also an elected New York State Assemblyman.

Congresswoman Zoe Logren (CA)

This is the third impeachment process for Zoe Lofgren, who served as a Judiciary Committee staffer during preparations for the 1974 impeachment hearings of President Richard Nixon, and as a member of the House Judiciary Committee during President Bill Clinton's impeachment in 1998. A lawyer by trade, she is serving her 13th term in Congress, and is currently the Chair of the House Administration Committee.

Congressman Jerrold Nadler (NY)

Nadler is Chair of the House Judiciary Committee, which crafted the two articles of impeachment against the President and conducted ongoing investigations of Donald Trump. Now in his 15th term, Nadler was a member of the Judiciary Committee during President Bill Clinton's impeachment in 1998, and previously served for 16 years in the New York State Assembly.

The Senate trial will begin next Tuesday with oral arguments from the House Managers and the White House lawyers.

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