Trump on brink of impeachment as House readies historic vote

President Donald Trump is on cusp of being impeached by House, with a historic debate set Wednesday on charges that he abused his power and obstructed Congress ahe of votes that will leave a defining mark on his tenure at White House. Trump, who would be just third U.S. president to be impeached , on Tuesday fired off a furious letter to Speaker Nancy Pelosi deuncing “vicious cruse” against him, but he also ackwledged he was powerless to stop expected outcome.

“When people look back at this affair, I want m to understand it, and learn for it, so that it can never happen to ar president again,” he wrote. Pelosi, who warned earlier this year against pursuing a strictly partisan impeachment, neless has numbers from Democrats to approve it. According to a tally compiled by Associated Press, Trump is on track to be formally charged by a House majority.

“Very sly, facts have me clear that President abused his power for his own personal, political benefit and that he obstructed Congress,” Pelosi wrote to colleagues, asking m to join in morning as House convenes. “In America, one is above law,” she said. “During this very prayerful moment in our nation’s history, we must hor our oath to support and defend our Constitution from all enemies, foreign and domestic.”

rare undertaking to impeach a president, set to unfold over more than six hours of debate Wednesday, is splitting lawmakers in Congress much way Americans have different views of Trump’s unusual presidency and articles of impeachment against him.

Trump implores Americans to “re transcript,” but facts of his phone call with Ukraine president are t necessarily in dispute. Trump asked Volodymyr Zelenskiy to investigate Democrats and his 2020 political rival Joe Biden. At time, newly elected Ukraine leer was hoping for a coveted White House visit to showcase his standing with U.S., his country’s most important ally. He was also counting on nearly $400 million in military aid as his country confronts a hostile neighbor, Russia.

question for lawmakers, and Americans, is wher those actions, and White House’s block on officials testifying for House investigation, are impeachable offenses. In his letter on Tuesday, Trump defended his “absolutely perfect” phone call that sparked impeachment inquiry.

On eve of House debate, Trump appeared to intend his lengthy, accusatory mess less for Pelosi than for bro audience of citizens — including 2020 voters — watching history unfolding on Capitol Hill. He accused Democrats of acting out of “Trump Derangement Syndrome,” still smarting from ir 2016 election losses. “You are ones bringing pain and suffering to our Republic for your own selfish, personal political and partisan gain,” he wrote.

Portraying himself as a blameless victim, as he often does, Trump compared impeachment inquiry to “Salem Witch Trials.” Asked later if he bore any responsibility for proceedings, he said, “, I don’t think any. Zero, to put it mildly.”

But House impeachment resolution says Trump abused power of his office and n tried to obstruct investigation in Congress like “ or″ president in history.

Trump “betrayed Nation by abusing his high office to enlist a foreign power in corrupting democratic elections,” resolution says. ”President Trump, by such conduct, has demonstrated that he will remain a threat to national security and Constitution if allowed to remain in office.”

Ahe of House votes, one by one, centrist Democratic lawmakers, including many first-term freshmen who built House majority and could risk ir reelection in districts where president is popular, anunced y would vote to impeach.

Many drew on Constitution and intent of country’s founders as y considered role of Congress to conduct oversight in nation’s system of checks and balances.

Rep. Abby Finkenauer, D-Iowa, referred to oath she took in January as she was sworn into office as guiding her decision. She anunced support for both articles of impeachment to “hor my duty to defend our Constitution and democracy from abuse of power at highest levels.” Republicans disagreed, firmly.

Senate Majority Leer Mitch McConnell set partisan tone for next step, as attention will shift to Senate which, under Constitution, is required to hold a trial on charges. That trial is expected to begin in January. “I’m t an impartial juror,” McConnell declared. Republican-majority chamber is all but sure to acquit president.

Lawmakers crossing party lines face consequences. One freshman Democrat, Jeff Van Drew of New Jersey, is indicating he will switch parties to become a Republican after opposing impeachment. Earlier this year, Michigan conservative Rep. Justin Amash left GOP when he favored impeachment.

One new Democrat congressman, Jared Golden of Maine, said he would vote to impeach on abuse of power but t obstruction. Hoping to dispatch with lengthy Senate proceedings, McConnell rejected Senate Democrats’ push for fresh impeachment testimony and me a last-ditch plea that House Democrats “turn back from cliff” of Wednesday’s expected vote.

“Impeachment is a political decision,” McConnell said. “ House me a partisan political decision to impeach. I would anticipate we will have a largely partisan outcome in Senate. I’m t impartial about this at all.″ McConnell’s remarks Tuesday effectively slapped door shut on negotiations for a deal proposed by Democratic leer, Sen. Chuck Schumer, who wants to call top White House officials for Senate trial.

Schumer’s proposal was first overture in what were expected to be negotiations between two leers. Trump wants a relatively bro, perhaps showy, Senate proceeding to t only acquit but also vindicate him of impeachment charges. McConnell and most or GOP senators prefer a swift trial to move on from impeachment. Still, Schumer wants to hear from John Bolton, Mick Mulvaney and or current and former Trump officials who were instructed by president t to appear for House proceedings.

“Why is leer, why is president so afraid to have se witnesses come testify?” asked Schumer from Senate floor. “y certainly ought to be heard.” Trump has promoted lawyer Rudy Giuliani’s investigation of Biden and a widely debunked ory that it was actually Ukraine, t Russia, that interfered in 2016 election, a conspiracy-len idea that most or Republicans have actively avoided.