House sends articles of impeachment The House on

House sends articles of impeachment

The House on Wednesday in the Capitol formally presented two articles of impeachment to the Senate after voting to approve the seven managers to prosecute the case against President Donald Trump, the next step in the process that marks the beginning of the third Senate impeachment trial of a US President in history. Those two articles of impeachment are charges of: abuse of power and obstruction of Congress. The House managers walked the articles across the Capitol and were received by the Senate just after 5 p. m. ET on Wednesday. Senate Majority Leader Mitch Mc. Connell said that the House managers would formally present the articles at noon today after which both Chief Justice John Roberts (who will preside over the trial) and US senators (who will serve as the jury for the trial to decide whether the President should be removed from office) will be sworn in. Earlier Wednesday, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi appointed managers including Intelligence Chairman Adam Schiff of California, a key player from the House's impeachment inquiry. Also today, it is expected that the President will be officially summoned and given time to respond to the charges. Senate Majority Leader Mitch Mc. Connell said the substance of the trial is likely to get underway on Tuesday, January 21.

n n n In Other News A reminder that, in greater detail, the two articles of impeachment are charges that (1) President Trump abused his office by pressuring Ukraine to investigate his political rivals (including Joe Biden) ahead of the 2020 election by withholding $400 million in monetary aid that was already approved by Congress. And (2) that President Trump obstructed the investigation into his misconduct with a blanket blockade of subpoenas and refusing to allow key senior officials to testify before Congress. Even with the historic impeachment trial, Senators of both parties are expected to come together Thursday morning to pass the Trump administration's foremost legislative priority -- the revised North American Free Trade Agreement, now called the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement. Among other changes, the deal includes new provisions for digital commerce, implements more stringent rules of origin for auto parts and includes new minimum wage requirements for certain workers in the auto manufacturing sector. One specific change for example, is that the USMCA requires 75% of a vehicle's parts to be made in one of the three countries -- up from the current 62. 5% rule -- in order to remain free from tariffs when moving between the three signatory countries. Russia's government (prime minister and cabinet members) has resigned, hours after President Vladimir Putin proposed sweeping constitutional changes that could prolong his stay in power. If approved by the public, the proposals would transfer some powers from the presidency to the prime minister parliament. Putin is due to step down in 2024 when his fourth term of office comes to an end. But there is speculation he could seek a new role or hold on to power behind the scenes.