WASHINGTON — The House Judiciary Committee is expected to vote on two articles of impeachment by the end of the week, sending them to the House floor for a vote by Christmas. Next would come a Senate trial, likely in 2020.
Here’s what to expect next in the impeachment process:
House Judiciary Committee Vote
The House Judiciary panel is expected later this week to debate and vote on the two articles of impeachment. The articles, one charging President Donald Trump with abuse of power and the other charging him with obstruction of Congress, would be considered separately. The process could take two or three days.
House Floor Vote
Once the Judiciary panel approves them, the articles are sent to the House floor, where they could immediately be brought up for a vote. Democrats are expected to approve the articles by the end of next week, sending them to the Senate for a trial.
Senate Trial
The Senate is expected to hold a weekslong impeachment trial, likely in the first weeks of 2020.
The senators would act as jurors and certain House members would act as prosecutors, or impeachment managers. The chief justice of the Supreme Court presides. If the Senate approves an article of impeachment with a two-thirds vote of “guilty,” the president is convicted and removed from office. If all the articles are rejected, the president is acquitted.
This is the fourth time in history Congress has moved to impeach a president. If he were convicted by the Senate, Trump would be the first to be removed. But that is unlikely in the GOP-controlled Senate.
