‘No one’ above the law
Donald Trump's impeachment Wednesday confirmed that "no one is above the law," US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said after the defiant Republican president was impeached for the second time in 13 months.
"Today in a bipartisan way the House demonstrated that no one is above the law, not even the president of the United States," the top Democrat in Congress said at a ceremony at which she signed the article of impeachment.
Trump, 74, was impeached for "incitement of insurrection" after he exhorted his supporters to march on the US Capitol and "fight," leading to a mob storming the seat of American democracy.
The Senate will not hold a trial before January 20, when Democrat Joe Biden assumes the presidency, meaning the real estate tycoon will escape the ignominy of being forced to leave early.
He is set, however, to face a Senate trial later, and if convicted he might be barred in a follow-up vote from seeking the presidency again in 2024.
"Given the rules, procedures, and Senate precedents that govern presidential impeachment trials, there is simply no chance that a fair or serious trial could conclude before President-elect (Joe) Biden is sworn in next week," Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said in a statement.
But "even if the Senate process were to begin this week and move promptly, no final verdict would be reached until after President Trump had left office," added McConnell.
He noted that the three previous impeachment trials -- of Andrew Johnson in 1868, Bill Clinton in 1999 and Trump last year -- lasted 83 days, 37 days, and 21 days respectively.
McConnell, the most powerful Republican in Congress, has said he would not reconvene the chamber, currently in recess, before its scheduled resumption January 19, one day before the inauguration.
But the chamber's top Democrat, Chuck Schumer, stressed that McConnell could begin a trial "immediately" if he chose to reconvene for an emergency session. If not, the process could launch after Biden's inauguration.
"But make no mistake, there will be an impeachment trial in the United States Senate," Schumer said in a statement.
"There will be a vote on convicting the president for high crimes and misdemeanors, and if the president is convicted, there will be a vote on barring him from running again."
Schumer -- who is on track to become the majority leader once two new Democratic senators are sworn in and Biden takes office -- said Trump will face trial "for his role in inciting the violent insurrection at the US Capitol on January 6th and attempting to overturn a free and fair election."
Trump "has deservedly become the first president in American history to bear the stain of impeachment twice over," Schumer said.
AVOID VIOLENCE
Holed up in the White House, Trump issued a videotaped address in which he made no mention of impeachment.
Instead, the comments focused on an appeal for Americans to be "united," avoid violence and "overcome the passions of the moment."
"There is never a justification for violence. No excuses, no exceptions: America is a nation of laws. Those who engaged in the attacks last week will be brought to justice," he said.
Biden, who inherits the pandemic and an ailing economy amid many other woes, welcomed Wednesday's decision but urged the Senate to address his priorities such as approving cabinet nominations while also dealing with Trump's trial.
"I hope that the Senate leadership will find a way to deal with their Constitutional responsibilities on impeachment while also working on the other urgent business of this nation," Biden said in a statement.
Despite Trump's denunciation of violence following the mayhem inflicted by his followers when they invaded Congress, fears of unrest are high.
Armed National Guards deployed across the capital, and downtown Washington streets were blocked to traffic.
In the Capitol building, guards in military fatigues and carrying assault rifles assembled, some of them grabbing naps early Wednesday under the ornate statues and historical paintings.
Pelosi also announced fines of up to $10,000 for lawmakers who refuse to go through newly installed metal detectors after several Republican lawmakers pushed past police even after setting them off.
"It is tragic that this step is necessary, but the Chamber of the People's House must and will be safe," she said.
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