WASHINGTON (CN) – House Speaker Nancy Pelosi released two articles of impeachment on Tuesday morning, accusing President Donald Trump of abuse of power and obstruction of Congress, two high crimes and misdemeanors that the resolution calls "grossly incompatible with self-governance and rule of law.”
The articles are next destined for a vote in the House Judiciary Committee and then finally a full vote on the House floor.
“Using the powers of his high office, President Trump solicited interference of a foreign government, Ukraine, in the 2020 United States Presidential election,” the resolution states.
Trump’s conduct is dubbed a “scheme” throughout the resolution and described as one that he perpetrated solely to benefit his 2020 re-election bid while harming the prospects of his likely opponent, former Vice President Joe Biden.
Resolving a longstanding internal debate among Democrats, the articles of impeachment do not directly cite the report on Russian interference in the 2016 presidential elections compiled by former special counsel Robert Mueller. What the resolution makes does make clear, however, is that Trump’s conduct in Ukraine has a precedent.
“These actions were consistent with President Trump’s previous invitations of foreign interference in United States elections,” the articles state, under the passage detailing Trump’s alleged abuse of power.
The resolution says the 45th president of the United States abused his powers of the presidency in a manner that also compromised U.S. national security and the very integrity of the U.S. democratic process.
“On this solemn day, I recall that the first order of business for members of Congress is the solemn act of taking an oath to protect and defend the Constitution of the United States,” Pelosi declared, in front of four American flags and the iconic life-sized portrait of George Washington.
Appearing with Pelosi were Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerry Nadler, Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff, Ways and Means Committee Chairman Richard Neal, Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Eliot Engel, Financial Services Committee Chairwoman Maxine Waters, and Oversight and Reform Committee Chairwoman Carolyn Maloney.
"Our president holds the ultimate public trust,” New York Representative Nadler told reporters.
“When he betrays that trust and puts himself before country, he endangers the Constitution, he endangers our democracy, and he endangers our national security."
The article on obstruction is perhaps the most predictable decision from House Democrats following a weekslong tug-of-war with the White House as Trump has refused to submit to records requests or subpoenas and has regularly directed cabinet-level staff to defy congressional subpoenas.
“Without lawful cause or excuse, President Trump directed executive branch agencies, offices, and officials not to comply with those subpoenas,” the resolution states. “President Trump thus interposed the powers of the Presidency against the lawful subpoenas of the House of Representatives, and assumed to himself functions and judgments necessary to the exercise of the ‘sole power of impeachment’ vested by the Constitution in the House of Representatives.”
By directing the White House to defy subpoenas filed by investigating committees, Democrats argue this obstruction of Congress is an abuse of power in itself, too.