On Wednesday, Jan. 13, former President Donald Trump was impeached for a second time after inciting an insurrection. This is referring to his encouragement and support of those who stormed the Capitol on Jan. 6. This makes Trump the first president in American history to be impeached twice. 

The House of Representatives voted to impeach him in a vote of 232 to 197, with more members of his party voting in favor of impeachment than any other president in history, according to the New York Times. Trump denied the allegations put on him and called the trial unconstitutional. The trial then moved to the Senate, which began the week of Feb. 8, where two thirds of the Senate would have to vote to convict him.

There have been disputes regarding the importance of an impeachment trial if Trump is no longer in office. The main reason for the trial is to hold him accountable, regardless of whether or not he is still the president. 

“But healing and unity will only come if there is truth and accountability,” Senate Majority Leader Chuck Shumer said in an article from the Associated Press. “And that is what this trial will provide.”

Trump still holds a lot of power over the Republican party, even though 10 Republicans in the House of Representatives voted to impeach him. According to the Associated Press, most of the Senate Republicans voted to dismiss the impeachment trial. However, to convict Trump, 17 Republicans would have to vote against him. 

If Trump is convicted of the crimes accused of him, it is possible that the Senate could move to ban him from ever holding office ever again. 

As the trial began on Feb. 8, up to four hours could be used to debate the constitutionality of impeaching a former president. In a vote of 56-44, the Senate finalized the constitutionality of the trial and it is moving forward. On Wednesday, Feb. 10, the prosecutors began their opening arguments. According to The New York Times, oral arguments from both Trump’s lawyers and the prosecutors could stretch into next week.

Stay up to date with Impeachment proceedings on www.smnw.com.