President Donald Trump made history yesterday when he became the first president to be impeached twice.
The House impeached President Trump on Wednesday for a second time, charging him with “incitement of insurrection” for his role in the violent riot by a pro-Trump mob at the U.S. Capitol last week.
In a bipartisan rebuke, lawmakers voted 232-197 to approve the single impeachment article. Ten Republicans broke with their party and voted against Trump.
The final word on Trump’s legacy now falls on the Senate where Trump will face a trial, which is likely to come after he’s left office.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., said that the trial would begin after the Senate reconvenes on Tuesday, the day before President-elect Joe Biden takes office.
If Trump is convicted in the Senate, he could be barred from ever seeking elected federal office again.
With a two-thirds majority required to convict, Democrats will need at least 17 Republican senators to break ranks to convict Trump — a high hurdle that will require changing the minds of lawmakers who have been fiercely loyal to the president.
The outcome could come down to McConnell, who has publicly flirted this week with supporting a conviction for Trump’s role in the deadly attack on the Capitol.
If McConnell were to back conviction, he could lead more reluctant senators to follow suit. For now, he says he is undecided.
One way or the other, Trump’s impeachment may define the shape of the divided Republican Party for generations to come, writes NBC News’ Sahil Kapur.
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