Here’s What Would Have To Happen For Trump To Be Impeached – Forbes

Topline: As House Democrats begin their impeachment inquiry into President Trump and whether he violated his oath of office⁠—as alleged in an explosive whistleblower report⁠—here’s what might happen next in the process.

• The first step in impeachment was completed September 24, when House speaker Nancy Pelosi announced a formal impeachment inquiry.
• The second step will be for the House Judiciary Committee to investigate Trump. Pelosi said that six committees already investigating Trump will fall under the “umbrella” of the impeachment inquiry.
• Third, the House judiciary committee finishes its investigation and decides whether to draft articles of impeachment. If the committee finds no wrongdoing, the impeachment inquiry would stop and Trump would remain in office.
• The fourth step is for the entire House to vote on the articles. If the House votes yes on any of the articles by a simple majority, Trump would then officially be impeached.
• But the decision to remove Trump from office lies with the Senate, which can conduct a trial. The fifth step is for Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell to decide whether to put Trump on trial or hold a vote to dismiss the articles of impeachment.
• If a trial does occur⁠—the sixth step⁠—Supreme Court chief justice John Roberts would preside. After deliberating in private, the Senate would hold a public vote. A two-thirds majority is required to convict Trump and oust him from office.

Surprising fact: Besides the president, the U.S. Constitution says other elected officials, like federal judges, can be impeached if Congress believes they committed “treason, bribery, or other high crimes and misdemeanors.”

What to watch for: The speed at which the impeachment inquiry occurs. And if the House Judiciary Committee finds that Trump did commit wrongdoing. 

Key background: Two presidents have been impeached in U.S. history. They were Andrew Johnson in 1868 and Bill Clinton in 1998. Johnson was acquitted by the Senate with three votes to spare, while Clinton was acquitted with a wider margin. Richard Nixon resigned in 1974 before the House could vote on his impeachment. According to CNN, every president since Ronald Reagan has faced threats of impeachment by the House.