Popular businessman and television personality Donald Trump began his presidential bid. On 9 November 2016, he became the 45th President of the United States of America.
During his world-renowned and tumultuous administration, many things happened. His Presidency and time as POTUS were very eventful. Such events included two impeachments.
What is impeachment?
Impeachment is a political process. It is a charge of misconduct made against the holder of a public office. An impeachment charge may call into question the integrity of a public official. Impeachment may also question the validity of something. Such as an action done by someone in government authority.
Donald Trump’s Impeachment
In the US a sitting POTUS is not protected from such charges against them. Impeachment against the President of the US process occurred four times. Such trials aim to assert whether the President is guilty of the alleged activity.
In US history Donald Trump is the only POTUS impeached twice. Trump had impeachment articles filed against him in 2019 and 2021 during his same presidential term. He is the third and fourth impeached US President.
The first impeachment trial of Donald Trump
In 2019 an impeachment inquiry against Donald Trump began. On 18 December 2019, Donald Trump became the third impeached US President. The House of Representatives of the 116th United States Congress impeached him.
The accusations he faced were an abuse of power and obstruction of Congress. The abuse of power allegations alleged that he abused his authority. Thereby committing malfeasance in office. He was also accused of impeding US Congress.
This first impeachment trial of Donald Trump stemmed from a whistleblower and complaints. Various allegations of unlawful misconduct.
The 2020 US presidential elections were on the horizon. So were allegations that Trump misused his presidential powers. Accusations that he attempted to garner foreign intervention into the 2020 elections. Allegations that Trump attempted to coerce Ukraine and other foreign regions.
Suggestions that he wanted them to provide information on Joe Biden and his son. What information he allegedly wanted? Information that would negatively impact Joe Biden’s 2020 presidential bid. After his first impeachment trial, Trump was acquitted.
The second impeachment trial of Donald Trump
After the 2020 US Presidential election, counting of the votes took place. Joe Biden and his VP candidate Kamala Harris proved victorious.
After these results, Trump was adamant that the election results were fraudulent. He was upfront about his feelings on social media such as his infamous Twitter account.
Trump tried to overturn the 2020 presidential election results. He used many litigation processes. In addition to Trump, many of his supporters also agreed that the results were illegal.
On 6 January 2021 shocking events took place at US Capitol Hill. It is now dubbed the storming of the United States Capitol. There was a riot and violent attack on the 117th United States Congress. The world watched as many individuals breached the US Capitol.
Once again breaking news reports circulated. Allegations that Trump was responsible for these events. This became the outcry of many politicians and news commentators. Trump’s rhetoric tweets and speeches were his alleged medium of incitement. Social media platforms such as Twitter banned him permanently. He was publicly lambasted and accused of willfully inciting his supporters to breach the US Capitol.
The U.S. House of Representatives impeached Trump again on 13 January 2021. This occurred one week after the storming of the US Capital. Incidentally, this was a mere one week before he vacated office. The new US President Joe Biden assumed office on 20 January 2021.
Donald Trump’s second impeachment was on a charge of incitement of insurrection. Insurrection means a violent revolt against the government. Besides Trump, no other president was ever impeached twice. Let alone in the same term of his presidency.
The trial of his second impeachment charges of incitement of insurrection took 5 days. However, on 13 February 2021 Former US President Donald Trump was acquitted
